One of the things that the Baal HaHaggadah mentions that is relevant to our days, although it doesn't seem so, is the Brit Ben HaBetarim , the deal that Hashem made with Avraham Avinu, where He tells Avraham, " Your children will be sojourners in a land that's not theirs, they'll work them, they'll pain them over 400 years. I will judge that nation and they will walk out with a great wealth." Right after that, we say, Hi She'amdah Lavoteinu Velanu . That promise of the Brit Ben HaBetarim stood for our forefathers and for us . And we all know it as a song, Shelo Echad Bilvad, Amad Alenu Lechaloteinu / Not only one wanted to destroy us, rather, in every generation they try to destroy us, but HaKadosh Baruch Hu Matzilenu M'Yadam saves us from their hand All that protection is traced back to the promise that God gave Avraham. But God promised Avraham Avinu about the exile of Egypt. What does that have to do with the exile that we're in today? The rabbis explain that Avraham Avinu was told his children would be in exile for 400 years. And yes, God did calculate the end, as it says, HaKadosh Baruch Hu chishav et haketz /He worked it out to get us out early so that we wouldn't be assimilated and reach the 50th level of tumah . But we really should have been there 400 years. And although God was able to work out the legalities and get us out earlier, we really did not get the full cleansing and purification that needed to happen. That is why we went back into future exiles. The Midrashim find hints in the Brit Ben HaBetarim , Avraham is going through his vision,to the four exiles. Because it was hinted there that we're going to end up going through four exiles, and the promise that Avraham Avinu got was for all four exiles, and the protection was also for all four exiles. This is important because in order for something to be defined as a miracle it has to be predetermined, pre-announced. The Ramban explains that Moshe Rabbenu's birth, which occurred when Yocheved was 130 years old, is not called a miracle in the Torah, because it was not mentioned, whereas the birth of Yitzchak from Sarah Imenu is, because Sarah Imenu's miracle was announced beforehand by the angels. It can't be after the fact. And this Brit Ben HaBetarim , which refers to our exile as well, means that God will protect us through our exile as well, and it turns our survival into a miracle, every single day. Like Yaakov Shwekey's song, We are a miracle. Rav Yaakov Emden states in the Hakdamah to his Siddur , in the section that's called Sulam Bet El , he says, I swear that I see something that's greater than the miracles of Yetziat Mitzrayim. Greater than the miracles performed then is the fact the Jewish people have survived throughout the long and difficult Galut that we're in. That's a greater wonder. It's been more years, it's been more time. Similarly, the Chovot HaLevavot says, if you want to look for a miracle today, similar to that of Yetziat Mitzrayim , look at us; look at the survival of the Jewish people. We are a miracle .And this is not just true on the national level, but every individual has to feel that way. One of the lessons of Yetziat Mitzrayim is that from the open miracles, we see the hidden miracles. The beautiful words of Yaakov Shwekey's song, We Are a Miracle, lyrics by Sophia Franco, really make this point. A nation in the desert We started out as slaves Made it to the motherland, and then came the Crusades It's been so many years crying so many tears don't you know don't you really know? We are pushed to the ground through our faith we are found standing strong. The Spanish Inquisition wanted us to bow But our backs ain't gonna bend Never then, and never now It's been so many years crying so many tears don't you know don't you really know? We are pushed to the ground through our faith we are found standing strong. Extermination was the plan When the devil was a man Oh oh But the few who carried on Live for millions who are gone It's been so many years crying so many tears Don't you know, don't you really know? Generations have passed Only we're here to last…. Standing strong. Every day we fight a battle On the news we are the stars As history repeats itself And makes us who we are Hate is all around us But we'll be here to sing this song… CHORUS : We are a miracle We are a miracle Through it all, we remain… Who can explain? We are a miracle… And that is really the story and the message of Vehi She'amdah . It's also worthwhile to quote the from the famous essay by Mark Twain concerning the Jews: He has made a marvelous fight in this world in all the ages, and has done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself and be excused for it. The Egyptians, the Babylonian, the Persians rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream stuff and passed away. The Greek and the Roman followed, and made a vast noise, and they are gone. Other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out and they sit in twilight now or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew. All other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his mortality? Obviously, we know the answer.