It Would Have Been Enough

Every year during the Jewish Passover Seder, a song is joyfully sung—repetitive, energetic, and filled with gratitude. It’s called Dayenu (דַּיֵּנוּ), which means "It would have been enough."

This ancient tradition reminds us not to take God’s blessings for granted, declaring that even one act of His kindness would have been sufficient—yet He gave us more. So much more.

What Is Dayenu?
Dayenu is more than just a song. It’s a declaration of thankfulness, humility, and worship. It recounts 15 miracles and mercies God performed for the Israelites during the Exodus. After each one, the people proclaim: Dayenu!—"Even if that had been the only thing God did, it would have been enough!"

Let's take a look at this powerful declaration of God's goodness and mercy today.

Dayenu is sung with clapping, celebration, and joy, and serves to:

• Cultivate hearts of thankfulness
• Acknowledge God’s overwhelming generosity
• Celebrate His steadfast faithfulness

But what if we looked at Dayenu through the lens of the Gospel? As Christians, we can see the deeper fulfillment of each “Dayenu” act in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ—our ultimate Passover Lamb. Each of the 15 stanzas ends with the joyful refrain: "Dayenu – It would have been enough!" Let’s walk through each, and see how Jesus fulfills every act.

1. If He had taken us out of Egypt…
   Freedom from slavery
   Jesus sets us free from slavery to sin. (John 8:36; Romans 6:6-7)
   
   
2. If He had executed judgments against the Egyptians…
   God judged injustice
   At the cross, God’s justice was satisfied in Christ, so we could receive mercy. (Isaiah 53:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
   
   
3. If He had split the sea for us…
   Miraculous deliverance
   Jesus is the Way—through the chaos and into peace. (John 14:6; 1 Corinthians 10:1–2)
   
   
4. If He had led us through on dry land…
   Safe passage
   Our Good Shepherd walks with us through valleys. (Psalm 23:4; John 10:11)
   
   
5. If He had drowned our oppressors…
   Destruction of the enemy
   Jesus conquered Satan, sin, and death once and for all. (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14)
   
   
6. If He had provided for our needs in the wilderness…
   Sustaining grace
   Jesus is our Bread of Life and Living Water. (John 6:35; 4:14)
   
   
7. If He had fed us manna…
   Daily provision
   He is the true manna from heaven. (John 6:32–33)
   
   
8. If He had given us Shabbat…
   Rest and holiness
   Jesus is our true Sabbath rest. (Hebrews 4:9–10; Matthew 11:28–30)
   
   
9. If He had brought us to Mount Sinai…
   God’s presence and revelation
   Jesus brings us into the New Covenant, written on hearts. (Hebrews 12:18–24; Jeremiah 31:33)
   
   
10. If He had given us the Torah…
    God’s instruction
    Jesus is the Word made flesh, fulfilling the Law. (John 1:14; Matthew 5:17)
    
    
11. If He had brought us into the Land of Israel…
    A promised inheritance
    We receive an eternal inheritance in Christ. (1 Peter 1:3–4; Hebrews 11:16)
    
    
12. If He had built the Temple for us…
     A dwelling place for God’s presence
    Jesus is the true Temple—God with us. (John 2:19–21; 1 Corinthians 6:19)
    
    
13. If He had forgiven our sins…
    Mercy and pardon
    Through Christ’s blood, we are fully forgiven. (Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 10:17–18)
    
    
14. If He had clothed us with His righteousness…
    Covering and identity
    We are robed in righteousness, not our own but Christ’s. (Isaiah 61:10; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
    
    
15. If He had drawn us near to Himself…
    Fellowship with God
    Through Christ, we are brought near—into unbroken relationship. (Ephesians 2:13; James 4:8)

Dayenu calls us to stop, reflect, and rejoice. It reminds us that even one of God's gifts would have been enough, yet He gives us abundantly more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Jesus is more than enough. In Him, we don’t just see echoes of the Exodus—we see its fulfillment. The One who sets captives free, walks us through our wilderness, feeds our souls, and brings us all the way home. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15)!

A Challenge for Us Today: What if we lived with Dayenu on our lips? What if we whispered to our weary hearts: “If all I had was Jesus... Dayenu—it would be enough.” He is more than enough, friend. Always has been. Always will be.

​What if we truly believed that just one act of God’s mercy—one answered prayer, one moment of grace--was enough to live a life of gratitude? Would our hearts still overflow with thankfulness like the song of Dayenu?