Divine Mercy Beyond Justice

איתא במד' מדלג על ההרים בזכות אבות הקדים הגאולה קודם ששלמו ת' שנים.

It is stated in the Midrash: “He skips upon the mountains” — in the merit of the Patriarchs, God brought the redemption earlier, before the four hundred years were completed.

The Sefat Emet explains that the early redemption from Egypt came through the merit of the Patriarchs, which caused God to hasten the end even before the full decree of four hundred years was fulfilled.

ויש להבין הלא גם מקודם הי' זכות אבות ואעפ"כ נגזר להיות ת' שנים.

One must understand: even before this there was the merit of the Patriarchs, and nevertheless it was decreed that Israel should be in bondage for four hundred years.

The question arises: if the merit of the Patriarchs already existed, why was the harsh decree ever issued?

אך זה פי' וזוכר חסדי אבות כי האבות עשו לפנים משורת הדין ובדרך שאדם מודד מודדין לו.

But this is the meaning of “He remembers the loving deeds of the Patriarchs,” for the Patriarchs acted beyond the strict letter of the law, and in the measure a person uses, so is he measured.

The Sefat Emet teaches that the Fathers served God beyond obligation, and thus God responds to Israel in kind—rewarding them according to that elevated standard.

ולכן הגם שעפ"י הדין אפילו לשלם לאבות על מה שעשו לפנים משורת הדין מ"מ הי' הגזירה להיות ת' שנים.

Therefore, even though according to strict justice, even to repay the Patriarchs for what they did beyond the law, still the decree was that the bondage be four hundred years.

Strict judgment required that the decree of four hundred years remain in place, regardless of the Patriarchs’ merits.

אעפ"כ מלבד זה המשפט פרע להם הקב"ה מדה במדה לעשות עמהם לפנים משורת הדין והקדים להם הגאולה.

Nevertheless, aside from this judgment, the Holy One repaid them measure for measure, acting with Israel beyond the law, and He brought the redemption early.

In addition to maintaining the decree, God also acted with extra compassion, mirroring the Patriarchs’ higher service by hastening the redemption.

לכן הגזירה הי' במשפט. ומלבד זה עשה להם לפנים משורת הדין כי כן המדה.

Thus, the decree remained in justice, yet besides that He acted with them beyond the law, for such is the measure.

The Sefat Emet concludes: justice established the decree, but kindness overrode its full duration, because God’s measure reflects the elevated deeds of the Patriarchs.

Summary: The Sefat Emet teaches that although the decree of four hundred years of bondage was just, God nevertheless hastened the redemption as a measure-for-measure response to the Patriarchs’ service beyond the letter of the law.