2022/5782

In Parashat Beshalach, we encounter the famous story of Keri’at Yam Suf, Hashem splitting the Yam Suf for Bnei Yisrael to cross through and escape from the Egyptians. Hashem preceded this miracle by saying to Moshe: ״מה תצעק אלי דבר אל בני ישראל ויסעו ואתה הרם את מטך ונטה את ידך על הים ובקעהו ויבאו בני ישראל בתוך הים ביבשה ואני הנני מחזק את לב מצרים ויבאו אחריהם ואכבדה בפרעה ובכל חילו ברכבו ובפרשיו” (Shemot 14:15-17). In these Pesukim, Hashem is telling Moshe to split the sea for Bnei Yisrael to cross through on dry land. Then, when the Egyptians pursue Bnei Yisrael, Hashem will bring the sea crashing down on them, drowning them. These Pesukim present two main active characters: Hashem and Bnei Yisrael. The way that the Pesukim are written seem to indicate that Bnei Yisrael were expected to approach the ים סוף even before it split.  They would enter the sea with all of their families and possessions and only afterwards would Moshe and Hashem split the waters. The obvious question on this is how would that be possible, especially considering how illogical that decision seems to be?

The answer to this question really explains the nature of the  miracle of קריעת ים סוף. This miracle required Bnei Yisrael to try everything to escape the Egyptians on their own. Only after trying everything would Hashem step in and supernaturally save Bnei Yisrael. From this alone we can learn a very important lesson: crying out to Hashem is a last resort. A person should try to do everything in their power to solve their own problem before asking for Hashem’s intervention. The Midrash Tanchuma gives another illustration of this idea, involving Avraham Avinu. He presents the famous idea that when Avraham went to fulfill Hashem’s command and sacrifice his son at עקידת יצחק, the שטן tried very hard to stop Avraham. One method he employed was placing a river in Avraham’s path so that he would be forced to turn around. Avraham tried crossing the river on his own and only when the water reached his neck did he turn to Hashem for help. If Avraham employed this rule of not immediately relying on Hashem, certainly we should learn from him and try to solve our problems by ourselves before we turn to Hashem so hastily. 

Additionally, Bnei Yisrael’s willingness to walk straight into the water showed the Egyptians the extent to which Bnei Yisrael would go to avoid returning to Egypt. It also showed how absolutely confident Bnei Yisrael were that Hashem would save them. 

The basis of the idea of Bnei Yisrael walking straight into the water comes from the Gemara (Sota 37a): ״אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי יְהוּדָה לֹא כָּךְ הָיָה מַעֲשֶׂה אֶלָּא זֶה אוֹמֵר אֵין אֲנִי יוֹרֵד תְּחִילָּה לַיָּם וְזֶה אוֹמֵר אֵין אֲנִי יוֹרֵד תְּחִילָּה לַיָּם קָפַץ נַחְשׁוֹן בֶּן עַמִּינָדָב וְיָרַד לַיָּם תְּחִילָּה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר סְבָבֻנִי בְכַחַשׁ אֶפְרַיִם וּבְמִרְמָה בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל וִיהוּדָה עֹד רָד עִם אֵל״. This Gemara, quoting Rabi Yehuda speaking to Rabi Meir, says that none of the tribes wanted to be the first to enter the waters until נחשון בן עמינדב, the future נשיא of שבט יהודה, jumped into the water. This story parallels another one in Tanach, found in שופטים פרק ד. In this story Bnei Yisrael are saved from the invading army of סיסרא, a very powerful general, through Devorah and Barak. Barak and his men were comfortably located in a refugee atop הר תבור when Devorah tells them ״ק֗וּם כִּ֣י זֶ֤ה הַיּוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁר֩ נָתַ֨ן ה’ אֶת־סִֽיסְרָא֙ בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ״. In this Pasuk, Devorah is telling them that Hashem wants them to leave their safe hideout on top of the mountain and defeat the army of סיסרא. Although the valley below was filled with enemy soldiers and would be difficult for his army in which to maneuver, ברק nonetheless immediately led his army into the valley where they miraculously defeated the terrifying and powerful army of סיסרא and יבין מלך חצור, the Canaanite king from whose nation סיסרא was. They were able to win only when they put their faith in Hashem and ignored the odds. This is a second lesson we take away from both the story of קריעת ים סוף and the war with  סיסרא- although we should try to solve our problems on our own, when we are forced to turn to Hashem, we must have unwavering faith that Hashem will save us, and only then, will He do just that.