Understanding and knowing G-d takes a lot of effort. Most people only know G-d on a superficial level and content themselves with that. G-d could have taken the Children of Israel out without the ten plagues. It would seem, therefore, that the ten plagues had some other purpose. Indeed, the real purpose was וידעתם כי אני יי' "You shall know that I am the L-rd" (Shemoth 10:2). This requires knowledge of G-d and recognizing His power.
We are commanded to strive to always reach this goal of knowing G-d. One of the ways to achieve it is by being stringent in the recitation of blessings. The Rambam explains that the Hakhamim instituted many blessings which are not for the performance of a commandment or for receiving some benefit, but were instituted as praise and gratitude and requests. From this we see that the true goal of the blessings is to know and recognize the Creator.
There are two types of recognizing G-d, one is called Yedi'ah (knowledge) and the other is Habanah (understanding). Yedi'ah is a deep absolute knowledge of G-d, whereas Habanah is a more superficial one. Since the Pasuq (verse) uses the term Yedi'ah (you shall know), and did not use the term Habanah, we learn that the reason for the ten plagues was because G-d does not want us to have a superficial knowledge of him, but we must strive to have a thorough one.
(See Dibrei Mordekhai, Parashath Bo)
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divrei mordechai eliyahu, sh'mot, shmos, b'nai yisroel yisrael, hachamim, borei olam, pesukim, p'sukim, yediah and havanah
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