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parasha Beshalach 5784

Moving Forward into the Waters of Renewal

The Children of Israel, in their haste to leave Egypt were undeterred in their flight to freedom. Yet, they were fleeing with a purpose, moving toward the culmination of the Exodus. Rather than running away, they were running toward their newfound destiny as a people, who would enter an eternal covenant with G-d at Sinai. Despite the many years of captivity that had worn heavy on their souls, they now had volition as a free people, yearning for the fulfillment of the dreams of a Promised Land that had been passed down to them from generation to generation.

On the precipice of freedom from their past, they are pursued by Pharaoh and his chariots, horses and riders (Exodus 14:8-9). For Pharaoh and his courtiers had a change of heart; he relented of letting the people go free from serving Egypt (Exodus 14:5). And the Egyptian people also changed their minds. What caused this reversal of thought, concerning Bnei Yisrael, who went into the desert, at the behest of Pharaoh and his courtiers, who urged them to leave, after the last straw, when the Plague of the First Born took the life of an Egyptian in every household?

Ohr HaChayim comments, that for the Egyptian people, reality finally settled in, after several days, and they realized that there was now a great gap in the work force, whereof they would need to make up the difference. There had never been an ounce of compassion toward the Children of Israel. If there had been, then the Egyptians would not want to put them under servitude again. Only fear for the sake of self-preservation motivated them to oust the Hebrews.

Pharaoh’s hard-heartedness returned, replete with his pride, compelling him to retrieve the Hebrew people. The fear for his life that prompted him to let them go, now became fear of survival, without the people he enslaved. His recklessness led his army into a greater peril. Pharaoh and his army raced headlong to their ruin, without considering the lessons they should have learned throughout the Makos (Plagues).

“An the L-RD said unto Moses: ‘Wherefore criest thou unto Me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.” – Exodus 14:15, JPS 1917 Tanach

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Prime Cause

“What I have wrought [aliyot] upon Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that you may know that I am the L-RD.” – Exodus 10:2

“The reason that G’d’s activities are referred to by a word which hints at עילה [connoting pretext] is that He is the prime Cause of everything which transpires. All His actions have been inspired by His original planning when He created the universe and man.” – R’ Bachya, sefaria.org

It is mentioned in Pirkei Avos (Ethics of our Fathers) that the staff of Moses was created, that is to say, that it was amongst ten things first and foremost in His mind, on the eve of the first Shabbat (Pirkei Avos 5:6). Thus, we learn of H’Shems initial intentions and foresight, when creating the world. Inasmuch that he foresaw the captivity and enslavement of B’nei Yisrael, He had already provided the remedy for the ailment (the cure for the sickness).

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