We are finally reaching Klal Yisroel's long-awaited exodus from Egypt. Preparing to leave the country of their bondage at long last, the Jews attempted to bake bread to take with them as provisions for the way. However, Hashem had other plans: they did not have enough time for the dough to rise and be baked as normal bread - instead, they had to carry the dough on their backs, where the hot Mediterranean sun baked it into matzos. Which, incidentally, was the same bread that they ate while suffering in Egypt. Why did Hashem bring about that the "bread of freedom" ended up being exactly like the bread of slavery?
Perhaps the answer is that at first glance, the pain and suffering in Egypt may seem to have been merely an unnecessary, miserable experience that would have been better off avoided if it had been possible. Therefore, Hashem made the bread of their freedom exactly like the bread of slavery to show them that it was not so: just like they understood and appreciated the obvious good in freedom, so to they must learn to understand and appreciate the not-so-obvious good in their slavery. And what good could there possibly be in slavery? The opportunity for Klal Yisroel to perfect themselves. Chazal tell us that the slavery in Egypt was for the Jews like a "kur habarzel" - an iron blast furnace - which purified us and forged us into the nation that merited to receive the Torah.
We must remember this principle in our everyday lives. When things don't go our way, when life's challenges seem nearly insurmountable, we must realize that the hardships we face are not in vain. Hashem is providing us with opportunities to grow, and to refine our neshamos. And if we accept our challenges with the right attitude, then we can use them as stepping stones to reach greater achievement than we ever would have thought imaginable.
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