Parshat Beshallach; Exodus 13:17-17:16 by Rabbi Denise L. Eger

With this portion, the journey of the Children of Israel toward freedom really begins and it opens with an explanation of the route to the land of Israel. God doesn’t send them the most direct route, which would be the coastal route, (the way of the Philistines) but instead sends them out into the desert. The Philistines had a strong and sophisticated army. One could hardly expect the rag-tagged group of Israelites to face this battle as their first after escape from Egypt. This might frighten them into returning to Egypt let alone get them defeated right away and carried off into slavery in Philistia. Thus the journey although more arduous will take the Israelites across the Reed Sea and deep into the Sinai desert.

The Children of Israel have already been witness to the mighty hand of God through the plagues that descend upon Egypt. But they also are witness this week to the miracle of the splitting of the Reed Sea. God commands Moses, “to lift up your staff and stretch out your arm over the sea and split it; and the Children of Israel shall come into the midst of the sea on dry land (Ex.14:16-17).”

This is how the Children of Israel escape the pursuing Egyptians. Although Pharaoh had agreed to let the Israelites go free, again he changes his mind and sends his army after them. As if the death of the first born of Egypt wasn’t enough, now God will humiliate the army of Pharaoh as they are cast into the sea as it crashes back down on the Egyptians after the Israelites cross safely. As the Egyptian come into the path of land made clear by the splitting sea, their chariots are trapped as Moses once again stretches out his arm and the waves of the Sea come crashing down on the entire army of Pharaoh. “God churned Egypt into the midst of the sea (Ex. 14:27).

Moses in Shirat Hayam—the song of the sea, celebrates this miracle and the defeat of the Egyptians, which is a triumphal poem beginning in Chapter 15 of Exodus. It proclaims God’s power, strength and victory over the Egyptians. Famously, in 15:11 are the words that became part of our prayers—the Mi Camocha—Who is like You mighty in holiness awesome and doing wonders?

We learn too of Moses’ sister Miriam in this parasha. She leads the women with timbrel and with drums and dances and sings out the poem of victory. Miriam is referred to as a prophetess. An important position and some say, she is part of a triumvirate of leadership with her brothers Moses and Aaron.

The portion concludes with the first of complaints of the Children of Israel; a theme that will repeat itself with regularity. Although they have just witnessed the greatest of miracles, and they have experienced God’s saving hand—the children of Israel’s next response is to kvetch and complain about a lack of water and food. They seem to doubt God’s power at the very beginning of their journey. Although these amazing miracles were just done for them, they had little faith. Their attitude can be summed up in the phrase—so what have you done for me lately?
But God’s infinite love provides, water, manna and quail to satisfy their thirst and hunger. Even as Moses and God tries to teach the Israelite a lesson by the rules of collecting the manna, the lesson of following God’s commandments, the children of Israel test and test, and refuse to open their own hearts to God’s power, strength, and love.

This theme of the Israelites’ stubbornness will repeat throughout the rest of the Tanach and will cause both Moses and God to show anger at different times.

The truth is that we still are a stubborn people—often refusing to follow God’s mitzvot and complaining that God doesn’t provide for us. Perhaps we only need to open our eyes and hearts to the miracles that still abound.

Posted by Lee at January 18, 2005 04:03 PM