None shall hurt, and none shall do harm, in all My holy mountain;
For the land shall be as full of the knowledge of God,
As the waters cover the sea. Is. 11:19

And it is also written:

It is not for you to complete the task
But neither can you ignore it. Mishneh Ohvos 16

Sweet water sustained us through years of desert wandering. The Medrash describes a miraculous well that arose in each place we camped: B'eir Miriam, Miriam's Well. This cup recalls the water that sprang up in barren places through the merit of Miriam, prophet and midwife. Wine we produce by our own labor, just as the journey out of slavery requires our own preparation and effort. But true liberation — like water, like birth — is beyond our devising. It comes from God. Once we have made ready, our only task is to receive our liberation with joy, as it is written,

Draw water in gladness from the wells of salvation. Is. 12:3

U'shaftem mayim b'sason mi mai- nei hayishuah

(Replace the goblet.)

Go and learn that our ancestors had no fixed dwellings; we began as people without a home. As it is written:

My father was a wandering Syrian, but he went down to Egypt, and sojourned there. Deut.26:5

And sojourned there– We never intended to settle in Egypt, only to stay for a little while. As it is written, They said to Pharaoh, We have come to sojourn in the land; there is no pasture for our flocks, for the famine is heavy in the land of Canaan. But the Pharaoh that Joseph served welcomed us gladly; we prospered, and became comfortable, as it is written, There we became a great nation, mighty and numerous. Gen. 47:4 Deut.26:5

Then Joseph died and was forgotten, as it is written, A new Pharaoh arose in Egypt, who knew nothing of Joseph. Pharaoh now saw no profit in us, only that we were different from his people; and he began to hate. Ex.1:8

The Egyptians declared us evil. They tormented us, and imposed cruel labors upon us. Deut.26:6

The Egyptians declared us evil - as it is written, Come, let us deal wisely with them, to keep them from becoming greater; lest, in war, they join with our enemies, and fight against us, and become rulers over the land. Ex.1:10

Let us deal wisely with them — we may learn that regardless of how foolish our fear, or how brutal its result, we will call it wisdom.

And tormented us — as it is written, They made them work in gangs with officers set over them, to break their spirit with hard labor. Thus they built treasure cities for Pharaoh, Pithom and Raamses. Ex.1:11

Treasure cities—we may learn that while excuses for oppression vary, money usually has something to do with it.

And imposed cruel labors upon us — as it is written, The Egyptians treated the Israelite slaves ruthlessly. Ex. 1:13

Ruthlessly—Even a short respite might have allowed us to consider our plight and remember the Source of our strength. Thus Pharaoh took care that our every moment be filled with labor and despair. So too the pharaohs of our own lives urge us to fill each hour with labor, acquisition, and escape, lest we give ourselves time to reflect, and recognize that our true yearning is for the lasting and holy.