Dayeinu - Would it have been enough?

Layla Blenden asks: I was looking through a haggadah and I was puzzled by dayenu. The beginning of it seems out of order- first Ha-shem took us out of Egypt, then He executed judgement against the Mitzrim, then He destroyed their idols, then He killed their first born, then gave us their possessions, and split the sea. The second stanza and on could have been in order since we learned (in Shemot 3:22, Sforno) that B'nai Yisrael were meant to only borrow the Egyptian's possessions, but once the Mitzrim chase them and it turned into a war, they got to collect the spoils [and then they crossed the Yam Suf]; but how could taking us out of Egypt come at the beginning---even before makat bechrot? Also, why would we consider bringing us into Eretz Yisrael a "favor"-I know we should be grateful for that, but if Ha-shem promised it to Avraham, isn't it inevitable that he would bring us there after taking us out of slavery?

Hi Layla, great question! I think that taking Bnei Israel out of Egypt comes first because Dayeinu does not focus on the chronology of what came first in Yetziat Mitzrayim, but instead focuses on our praising of G-d for each step of the redemption. We are saying that if G-d had taken us out of Egypt and freed us without drama of the formidable 10 Makkot, that would have been enough for us. We would have been grateful to be freed in just a normal way, but we are thanking G-d for going the extra step and for freeing us with the יד חזקה of the 10 Makkot.

This idea is developed in a great (and short!) shiur by Rabbi Menachem Leibtag: http://www.tanach.org/special/dayenu.htm . He explains why in Dayeinu we can state that it would be enough if G-d had just taken us out of Egypt, but not given us the Torah, or given us the Torah but not brought us to Israel - which clearly, would not have been enough! He explains that Dayeinu acts as the bridge in the Seder between Maggid and Hallel, and therefore we now exclaim that each act that G-d did would have been enough to cause us to praise G-d, helping us appreciate each stage of the redemption (he also then connects it to Yom Ha'atzmaut, check it out!). Therefore, to answer the last part of your question, even if it's inevitable that G-d would keep His promise to bring the Jews to Israel, we still must praise G-d for this significant action - especially since this is the culminating purpose of why we were brought out of Egypt. Praising G-d for each stage, helps us value and appreciate each part of the process and see that nothing is taken for granted. A great attitude for both Pesach and for how to appreciate the events that happen in our own lives as well.