Drawing Power from the Yetzer

כלה גרש יגרש.

“Completely He will surely drive out.”

The Sefat Emet begins by interpreting the verse as indicating a full and decisive expulsion.

י"ל הפי' שאחר העבודה במצרים היו בנ"י יגיעים מאוד.

One may explain that after the labor in Egypt, the Children of Israel were extremely exhausted.

This sets the spiritual background: Israel's condition was one of depletion and weariness after harsh bondage.

כמ"ש בזוה"ק ויהי בשלח שהיו שבורי לב מרוב היגיעה ע"ש.

As the Zohar (Vayehi Beshalach) states, they were brokenhearted from the overwhelming toil.

The Zohar emphasizes their inner brokenness, not only physical exhaustion.

לכן הבטיח השי"ת כי המצריים יגרשו אותם.

Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, promised that the Egyptians themselves would drive them out.

This Divine promise ensured that Israel would not need strength of their own for the final redemption.

והוא ללמוד הבטחה לכל אדם.

And this teaches a promise for every person.

The Sefat Emet universalizes the lesson: this spiritual pattern applies to each individual.

שאף שנתיגע נגד היצה"ר וניטל הכח ממנו.

That even if one struggles against the evil inclination and loses strength because of it,

Human fatigue in spiritual struggle mirrors Israel’s exhaustion in Egypt.

יוכל אח"כ לעשות בכח היצה"ר עצמו.

he can afterward act with the power of the evil inclination itself.

The yetzer hara ultimately becomes transformed into a force that assists rather than opposes.

וכמ"ש וקוי ה' יחליפו כח.

As it is written: “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”

Renewal of strength comes from reliance on God, not from human endurance alone.

והבן.

Understand this well.

A cue that the teaching contains deeper mystical implications.

וכ"כ בכל לבבך בשני יצריך שאח"כ מסייע גם הוא כמ"ש זוה"ק ואתחנן ע"ש.

So too, “with all your heart”—with both your inclinations—because afterward even the evil inclination assists, as the Zohar (Va’etchanan) teaches.

Ultimately both inclinations are harnessed in the service of God, completing the process of inner redemption.

Summary: The Sefat Emet explains that Israel’s exhaustion in Egypt mirrors a person’s weariness in spiritual struggle. God promises that just as Egypt ultimately expelled Israel, the evil inclination itself will eventually assist a person. Through hope in God, one receives renewed strength, enabling even the transformed yetzer hara to serve holiness.