According to the Maharal, the manner of existence in the world simultaneously represents the purpose of that existence.
After the expulsions from Spain and Portugal in the end of the 15th century, new communities were created throughout the Ottoman Empire. This dispersion raised the question as to their existence as identifying Jews. Maharal's Nesah Yisrael must be read in the context of this sociological change. Maharal is also responding to Christianity in his argument for the indestructibility of the Jews. The question of Exile is more central than that of redemption.
"Exile" for the Maharal is a departure from the natural order. Part of the naturalness in the life of nations includes a natural place of its own, therefore any departure from that place cannot endure. The Jews have Israel as their natural place. Sin is not the cause of exile because the theological cause of exile cannot override the natural laws of existence. For the Maharal, the exile is not a punishment, but a mode of existence testifying to their chosensess.
In terms of nature, Israel is not different from any other nations. Therefore, since they cannot live forever in Exile, the redemption is promised by the laws of natural existence. 3 points in summary: 1) Exile is unnatural and therefore must come to an end. 2) Exile as a fact of existence testifies to the necessary redemption. 3) Exile does not exist because of sin, but for the sake of redemption.
Existence as a Chosen people and Existence in Exile
According to Maharal, Exile is a condition that contradicts the laws of unity and natural sovereignty. The Exile must be preserved as an anomaly, a departure from the normal order and not a new order. According to Maharal, God constantly sustains exile against the normal order.
The Secret of Exile
One of two things must then occur: 1) a return to the natural order and the end of exile or 2) Israel will be overwhelmed. Israel must accept the Exile as it is and not try to affect its change. Since the internal unity as opposed to a homeland is the center of Israel's existence, Jews must isolate themselves by means of custom, dress and turn exile inwards through the study of torah. In this constant awareness of the nature of Exile, Jewish existence grows. Furthermore, this consciousness itself guarantees the end of the Exile since it is unreasonable that the nation at the heart of the world should remain in eternal subjugation. Whereas to the Christians say that the Exile signified the end of Israel's status as a chosen nation, Maharal says that this condition as a testimony to Israel's chosen status.
Hints of Redemption Within Exile
When Israel prays, it is a type of exodus from the other nations and an ascension to God. Through Torah, they escape from the domain of nations and are brought into the domain of God. Maharal transforms the people Israel into the first emanation of God. Maharal extends this against Christianity by describing the relationship between God and Israel as a complete connection that cannot be broken through sin. The election of Israel was unconditional and therefore cannot be transferred. Even the promise to Avraham was made with regards to his children, not to him directly. If the covenant was really conditional with a beginning and an end, then according to the Maharal, why should the generations who sinned be counted as to nullify it for future generations.
The law of the covenant is determined by God's existence within Israel as its own internal unity - not be moral virtue, but a natural fact. Therefore, the giving of the Torah was a completion of creation. The fact that the Torah was forced on Israel (kafa aleihem har k'giggit) proves that it was naturally intended for Israel to accept the torah. Maharal uses the analogy of a rapist who forces himself upon a woman cannot divorce her, so too, God cannot divorce from Israel.
The Meaning of Suffering
Sufferings purify Israel by absorbing their sins similar to earth absorbing metals. Therefore, sufferings do not weaken the force of existence, but provide them with power. If the troubles were due to Israel's sins, then Israel would be destroyed. Since the nature of Israel is towards the spiritual, it does not make sense that they have a place in the physical.
The Eschatological Dimension Within Nature
The eschatology of being is the creation of new conditions of matter and the removal of obstacles to the emergence of a new order. According to Maharal, there is a "new world" which we cannot see since we are in the realm of natural order. There is a potential hidden dimension within nature. For example, different creatures within nature have different gestation periods, so there is no inherent reason why the gestation period for a woman should not change in the future with the further development of the species.