Parashat Beshalach

Saturday 23 January 2016                                              Shevat  13  5776

Parashat Beshalach
Exodus 13:17-17:16; Judges 4:4-5:31; Colossians 2:22-29

After the heat of the final plague – the death of the first born son – Pharaoh relented and let Israel go. However, he soon relented from making that decision and he pursued them with his chosen chariot corps and a huge army. As soon as they faced an imminent hardship, the Israelites rebeled and cried out to Moses, "Weren't there enough graves in Egypt? Why did you bring us out here to die in the desert?" The Yam Soof, the Sea of Reeds (usually mistranslated as the Red Sea) was divided and they crossed over on dry land. However, when the Egyptians pursued them, the sea returned and they drowned. Moses with the men and Miriam with the women -- each separately -- sang praises of thanks to the Almighty.

Then, they arrived at the bitter (in their view) waters of Marah and once again, they complained. Following HaShem’s instructions, Moses threw a certain tree into the water to make it drinkable. The Almighty then told the Israelites, "If you obey God your Lord and do what is upright in His eyes, carefully heeding all His commandments and keeping all His decrees, then I will not strike you with any of the sicknesses that I brought on Egypt. I am God who heals you’.

Later the Israelites again rebelled over the lack of food. G-d caused quails to fall in the camp and they ate their fill. Hashem also provided manna (a double portion was given on the sixth day to last through Shabbat which is why we have two challahs for the Shabbat table. The two plaited loaves commemorate the double portion of manna). Moses then instructed them concerning the laws of Shabbat.

Concerning the manna, Torah states:
“The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed’ (Ex 16:17-18).

What a remarkable statement and may it guide our prayers. More often than not, we want more than we need. Our eyesd brighten when we see something new, something desirable, even though we might not actually need it. R. Sha’ul taught in Phil 4:19 that “my G-d shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by the Messiah”. HaShem's promise is that of we walk in His ways in humility and obedience, we will lack no good thing. “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed’. That is the promise of  G-d to you! Just remarkable!

The Torah states: "The entire assembly of the Children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the Wilderness ... "You have taken us out to this Wilderness to kill this entire congregation by famine." God said to Moses, "Behold! -- I shall rain down for you food from heaven; let the people go out and pick each day's portion on its day." (Ex. 16:2-4).

Rabbi Mendel of Rimanov taught that the manna was a necessary precursor for accepting the Torah. The Torah forbids stealing and coveting others' possessions. It forbids lying, cheating, taking usury and all methods of unlawful enrichment. These laws are in opposition to the innate acquisitive drives within people. How can people abide by laws that defy innate drives?

The manna served as a lesson that a person would get only that which he actually needed. If he had less, God would increase his portion to meet his needs. If he took more than his needs, his greed would result in the excess portion rotting. Once the Israelites developed the trust that God would provide for their needs and that accumulating excess was futile, they could accept laws that opposed their acquisitive drives.

At Rephidim, they rebelled again over water. God told Moses to strike a rock which then gave forth water. What is fascinating is a Jewish legend which claims that this rock followed them throughout their wilderness wandering and provided water and nourishment to them. In 1 Corinthians 10, Sha’ul gives a midrash and explains that the Rock was in fact Messiah Himself! He is the fount of living waters and the One who sustains us!
Neh 9:21
21  Forty years You sustained them in the wilderness; They lacked nothing; Their clothes did not wear out And their feet did not swell.

G-d is faithful! May this truth grip our hearts and minds that we would trust Him, even and especially when the going gets tough in the year ahead! G-d is faithful and there is nothing that is too difficult for Him!