B"H
Thursday, Shevat 11, 5779 / January 17, 2019
This week’s Parsha, B’Shalach, covers the period of six weeks in the history of the Jewish people, between the Exodus and them coming to Mount Sinai, to receive the Torah.
The Parsha begins how Pharaoh and the Egyptians were chasing after the Jewish people. With the sea in front of them, the desert to the side and the Egyptians behind them, they were trapped and frightened. They complained to Moshe, “Why did you take us out of Egypt?”
Moshe prayed and G-d told him to tell the people to goforward into the sea. As soon as the first person jumped into the water, the miracle of the splitting of the sea happened and the Jewish people crossed through and were saved while the Egyptians drowned.
Our sages point to an interesting fact. The miracle didn’t happen until the first person jumped into the water. Why didn’t G-d perform the miracle before he jumped in? To teach us that at times G-d waits for us to do our part; to take that leap of faithand then G-d does His part.
Then, they walked in the desert three days and didn’t have any water. They came to Marah, but the water there was bitter and they complained that there was nothing to drink. G-d showed Moshe a stick, which he threw into the water and the water became sweet.
At Marah, G-d gave them a few mitzvot. G-d said, “If you will listen to the voice of G-d; and you will do that which is just in His eyes and you will listen to His commandments; and observe His statutes – then all the sickness that I have placed upon Egypt I will not place upon you, for I am G-d your healer.”
Another test in the Parsha is when the food they took with them from Egypt was finished and they had nothing to eat. Again they complained against Moshe and Aaron for taking them out of Egypt to die of hunger in the desert. G-d then began sending the manna from heaven. For the next forty years, every day, except Shabbat, a portion of manna came down from heaven. On Friday there was a double portion; one for Friday and one for Shabbat.
When they came to Refidim and they didn’t have any water. Again they complained to Moshe, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt only to make us, our children and our livestock die of thirst?” G-d told Moshe to take his staff and strike the rock which He will show him and water flowed forth from the rock.
Q. Why did G-d put the Jewish people through all these tests immediately after the Exodus?
A. The Hebrew word for “test” is “Nes.” Nesalso means “to lift up high.” The purpose of a test is to overcome it. After passing the test, a person is lifted higher spiritually. This is also the reason for the tests which G-d places before us, sometimes even on a daily basis. They are intended to strengthen us and elevate us when we pass these tests.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY