Parshah Beshalach
It is all G-d…
“Who is like You, Adonai, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, awesome in praises, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11 TLV
Our familiar liturgy comes from this week’s Torah portion when Bnei Israel sang the song of praise to our G-d with the mighty defeat of Egypt and after crossing the Red Sea.
Let’s investigate and see the provision of Adonai with three miraculous deliverances by HaShem.
The first we see in Torah, in Exodus 14.
Bnei Israel, with the wealth of Egypt in hand and after experiencing the many miracles of Adonai’s provision days, weeks before their Exodus from Egypt, become terrified when they see Pharaoh’s army approaching behind them when they are camped by the sea.
In verse 10, they cry out to Adonai and say to Moses, “Have you taken us away to die in the wilderness because there were no graves in Egypt? Why have you dealt this way with us, to bring us out of Egypt? Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Let us alone, so that we may serve the Egyptians?’ It was better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!”TLV
Moses in response, full of trust in Adonai, declares boldly…
“Don’t be afraid! Stand still, and see the salvation of Adonai, which He will perform for you today, ” Exodus14:13a TLV
The next verse sounds a bit puzzling at first glance… Adonai questions Moses…why are you crying to Me? I personally do not believe that Moses after declaring that bold statement, went crying to Adonai. I think the “you” which HaShem was speaking to was Bnei Israel as His response to verse 10.
Moses was their representative, their mediator and received His instructions directly from Adonai.
Adonai had spoken to Moses back in verse 4, telling him that He would harden, or strengthen Pharoahs heart and through that He would be glorified….
Exodus 14:19-28, reveals that miraculous provision. HaShem who sent the Angel of Elohim, and with the pillar of Cloud, makes a separation between Egypt and Israel. Providing light on one side, darkness on the other, And with waters being divided, G-d was bringing His order.
Just as He did in B’resheet. Elohim made separation, distinction between light and darkness; separation of water above and water below. Distinction between Israel and Egypt.
Would this give Bnei Israel comfort and assurance?
Would they remember just days before of the distinction of light and darkness back in Egypt?
Would they relate this deliverance which came through water back to Ex 1:22: where “Pharaoh charged all his people saying, “You are to cast every son that is born into the river, but let every daughter live.” The death that Pharoah sowed years before was coming to a full harvest for reaping.
Adonai certainly warred for Israel and brought His children out with a mighty hand, and not one of Israel’s enemy remained.
Haftarah: Judges 4:14-16
Our Haftarah portion comes from Judges 4, the defeat of King Jabin of Canaan. Deborah the prophetess, leader and judge of Israel, summons Barak son of Abinoam of Naphtali, giving Adonai’s instructions to deliver Sisera’s army into his hands. Sisera being informed of Barak and the Israelites mobilization (through the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali) calls for 900 iron chariots to go against Israel. These chariots did not fare any better than the Egyptians chariots. In the end Sisera is defeated by Yael, a hammer, and tent peg.
In this account we see a similarity and parallel to our Torah readings. This portion also ends with a song of praise to Adonai…and the last verse
“So let all Your enemies perish, Adonai! But may those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might.” Then the land had peace for 40 years.” Judges 5:31TLV
Brith Hadoshah: Acts 12:5-11
Our Brith Hadoshah portion is the miraculous account in Acts with Peter’s deliverance from jail.
During the period of Passover and unleavened bread, Peter was captured. He was placed in chains and in jail. Herod was intending to bring Peter before the people to put him to death to please the people. Fervent, continuous prayer was being offered to G-d by Messiah’s community. We see G-d respond to those prayers and we see Peters deliverance.
It is all G-d…
If God is for us, who can be against us? HaShem is our provider, sustainer and deliverer. Is not G-d the same yesterday today and forever? Will he not fight on our behalf? We don’t have to be perfect for Him to fight as we see from our readings, but we do need to participate in His plans. We need to step up and step out.
- Israel needed to say yes to walking forward into the Red Sea.
- Barak needed to say yes with 10,000 from Naphtali and Zebulun, and Deborah at his side.
- Peter didn’t back up for a minute on preaching the good news of Messiah Yeshua even after James death by the sword.
And there were those who were praying fervently for Peter, but then were astonished to see their prayers answered.
We need to walk in the strength of Adonai, step out to do His bidding, staying with His plans and purposes for our lives and for those around us, that He has given to us.
And expecting … that Adonai is true to His Word, answering our fervent prayers, providing our miraculous deliverance and giving us His perfect peace.
Today’s parsha is titled Beshalach- Let go. I think it is meant as Pharaoh let go of the Children of Israel, but the children of Israel needed to let go of Egypt. And we need to let go of the things that bind us down and hold us back and instead grab onto faith and trust, and stand firm in our G-d…
“But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid! Stand still, and see the salvation of Adonai, which He will perform for you today. You have seen the Egyptians today, but you will never see them again, ever! Adonai will fight for you, while you hold your peace.” Exodus 14:13-14 TLV
Amen