Be Shalach (Sent Out)

Exodus 13:17-17:16

Judges 4:4-5:31

John 6:22-40

(Shemot 13:17)

It happened when Pharaoh let the people go…  Oh what a glorious day!  Salvation, freedom, no more enslavement!  We see how G-d rescued our people, a time when they should have been aware that the G-d of their fathers is their own G-d.  They should have known the G-d who loves them orchestrated the great and mighty feat of salvation and everything that lead up to it.  Instead of being aware of all these events as acts of love, all they saw in front of them was an impassable obstacle and all they saw behind them, coming quickly, were the chariots of Pharaoh’s army.  All they saw represented death to them.

As we look into the Scriptures, we see that water is a source of life and freedom.  It represents a new life, to become a new creation, no longer enslaved to the bondage of Pharaoh and no longer the property of any evil force.  We are now a part of the family of the Living G-d, Who personally rescues us.  In these passages we see how the waters of the Sea of Reeds (mistakenly known in history as the Red Sea) parted for the children of Israel, giving them a way out and a way from Pharaoh’s hands.  This resulted in a free people who could become a free and independent nation.  This people should have been aware of Almighty G-d.  Instead we see that they were fearful at the water’s edge, not wanting, at first, to see the Hand of Salvation that was about to occur.

Later in this Torah portion we see that the people rebelled when they came to the bitter water at Marah.  They were thirsty.  Again, they did not have faith in the salvation of  G-d.  If they had faith, they would eagerly wait to see how G-d would provide for their need.

Water is a source of blessing and life, but to the unfaithful it was bitter.  The Scriptures state that water brings forth life and not death.  Even when they went into the midst of the waters, fearful of death at any second, they came out a new free people.  We too have come through the Sea of Reeds, having been born anew by dying in the mikveh (immersion) of our Messiah.  We have been resurrected into a new life (Romans 6:3-5).  No longer are we under the influence of the Pharaoh of this world, but under the influence of the new life we have in Yeshua.

Shavua Tov

Rabbi Z.

Return to D'var Torah Menu