The Maharal (Haggadah of Pesach) wrote that the ten plagues were given to the Egyptians due to the merit of the ten tests that our forefather Abraham underwent and successfully passed. He explains that the tenth time reveals the essence of the matter, and consequently, only when Abraham passed the tenth test did it become evident that he was inherently righteous. Similarly, with the plagues of Egypt, only with the tenth plague did the Egyptians truly succumb.

It can also be said, in further explanation of the connection between the tests of our forefather Abraham and the ten plagues, that Abraham, by withstanding the tests, established and ingrained faith in Hashem in the entire world. Likewise, the ten plagues instilled faith in Hashem in the world.