G-d told Moses to encourage the people to remember their history, recalling how G-d chose them to be His people, gave them the Torah, and shepherded them through the desert on their way from Egypt to the Land of Israel.
Recall the olden days; contemplate the years of all generations.Deut. 32:7
In order to understand that extraordinary phenomenon known as the Jewish people – a historical and social anomaly by any standard – the first thing we must do is to examine how this phenomenon began and what sustains it. Such an inquiry will lead us to the patriarchs and matriarchs.
To this day, the Jewish people refer to the patriarchs and matriarchs as our fathers and mothers: “Abraham, our father,” “Sarah, our mother,” and so on. This is because each one of us intuitively considers the patriarchs and matriarchs our personal parents, no less than our biological parents, who lovingly raise, educate, and provide for us. For the Jewish people, our forefathers are not merely ancestors from the distant past but living personalities who accompany us throughout our entire lives.
Knowing that the souls of these loving and concerned parents are always behind the scenes, soliciting G-d on our behalf, enhances our dedication to their ideals, as reflected in the Torah and its commandments.
--Daily Wisdom Volume 3