This was above and beyond what G-d promised to Avraham, which was simply to take us out of the physical bondage of Egypt. For this reason the Torah mentions the Exodus from Egypt 50 times, to demonstrate to us God’s loving kindness, by extricating us from the 49 levels of impurity and bringing us to the 50 levels of Kedusha. This is why we begin to count the days and weeks between Pesach and Shavuot.

Since the awesome event of the Exodus, 3,330 years ago, we commemorate that seven week journey, one day at a time, or Day by Day. Sefirat HaOmer teaches us that no challenge or obstacle is so great that it can’t be overcome, IF it is only broken down into manageable pieces. There was no way that Israel, just liberated from physical and spiritual slavery, could immediately achieve the level needed to accept the Holy Torah from the “Mouth” of G-d Himself. But the secret is, gradual STEP BY STEP spiritual growth, the achievements of each day become a resource for the spiritual challenges of the next day.

What I achieve today, gives me the spiritual capacity to do even more tomorrow. When Shlomo HaMelech dedicated the Beit HaMikdash, he prayed “that G-d would judge His people DEVAR YOM B’YOMO – to judge us, but each day, DAY BY DAY.” (Kings 1, ch 8) The message of Sefirat HaOmer is that living and progressing one day at a time, is a year-round success formula for facing and confronting the difficult challenges of life, and achieving spiritual growth. The motto is, today, is the first day of the rest of your life!