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

In this week’s torah portion, water plays an important role. In the beginning of the portion we have the Children of Israel at the shores of the Yam Suf, the Sea of Reeds. They are frightened as the Egyptian army has been sent after them and the Sea is before them. They are ready to return to Egypt and enslavement rather than die on the sea shore.

But this set of circumstances is no impediment for God. The greatest of miracles happens before their own eyes. A new kind of darkness and cloud covers the Egyptian army. Reminiscent of the recent plague that descend upon all of Egypt, the darkness and cloud obscures their vision and view of the Israelites. God slows the wheels of their chariots in the dust storm. While God instructs Moses to lift his staff over the waters and watch the walls of water split so that the Children of Israel may safely escape the Egyptian army. The waters do part and the Children of Israel, like a child coming through the birth canal, move through the waters to the other side.

The waters of the Yam Suf are life giving waters to the Israelites but to the Egyptian army they were waters of oblivion and death. The splitting of the sea was a miracle to some and a plague to others. No different than the 10 plagues that descended upon Egypt. For the Israelites the 10 plagues inspired them to see the raw power and might of God’s outstretched hand but to the Egyptians they were plagues and brought horror and shame upon the land, its gods and goddesses, the people and defeat to Pharaoh.

Immediately following the Israelites celebration at the shores of the Sea singing of God’s victory on their behalf, they set out on their journey. But they had no water. After three days journey they came to a brackish pool and oasis, called Marah (which in Hebrew means bitter). God instructed Moses on the process of making the water potable and the Israelites were able to drink. As the great commentator Nachmanides says: “As Ibn Ezra points out in his comment…that this “healing of the water is the reverse of the first plague directed against the Egyptians, showing that God can turn bitter water into sweet and sweet into bitter” (The Commentators Bible: JPS 2005, p. 121). Yet another faith building moment for the Children of Israel seeing with their own eyes and tasting with their own mouths the strength of Moses and the power of God.

Water continues to link our portion because next they arrive at Elim which is described as a place of twelve springs. This becomes a place of respite for the Israelites who encamp there. Why 12? Of course one for each of the tribes!

The portion closes with chapter 17. The Children of Israel now encamped at Rephidim complain to Moses because they have no water to drink. This is the first time God tells Moses to take his staff and strike the rock. Out came waters to quench the thirst of the Israelites. This is different than the story in the book of Numbers in that God told Moses in that story to speak to the rock. Some commentators maintain that this difference is part of Moses’ confusion in the book of Numbers. Once he was commanded to strike the rock and once commanded by God to speak to the rock. But the rock in this portion is described as at Mt. Horeb often associated with Mt. Sinai. Abarbanel comments that “Since Torah is likened to water, it was proper that the water come from the same place Torah would come from” (ibid, 132).

The thirst of the Israelites is quenched but not their lack of faith. They had seen so many miracles and signs and wonders before their very eyes already. But their faith was fragile.
The minute they are with out food or water they cry out to Moses and God.

The Children of Israel needs for water, food and sustenance are outlined in this portion and they are given water in every place they go. God provides the manna to eat and quail to satiate their desire for meat.

But in truth the real sustenance is their faith in God. They have yet to recognize this. And this is the message of the portion. That God indeed provides water to drink, and food to eat. God provides safety and protection from their enemies but the Israelites must take their faith seriously and this is their real portion. Their faith in God and by extension Moses and Aaron and yes, Miriam as prophetess must supersede there momentary doubts and transitory fears.

This will be a hard lesson for the people Israel. It is a lesson that we are still trying to learn today. There are signs of wonder and awe all around us. We are often to narrow and way too literal to see them and even acknowledge them. Our cynicism is the cloud that covers us in darkness. Yet faith in difficult times can help us overcome our deepest fears and propel us towards hope.

The water of this portion is nurturing and sustaining and purifying waters for the Children of Israel. This portion points the way even in our time to that ability of our tradition to nurture and sustain us and purify us from the hopelessness that is so prevalent. Like the Children of Israel crossing the Yam Suf we do have to stick our big toes in first! Hopefully we will be inspired by this week’s portion to do so.

Posted by Jimmy at February 2, 2009 05:27 PM