בס”ד
In this week’s Torah reading we find the Jewish people in middle of two problems: the Reed sea on one side and the army of Pharaoh on the other. And Pharaoh decided to move forward… Our sages teach us, based on one word, an amazing lesson in the perspective towards problems in life.
Parshat Beshalach – The Lesson from Pharaoh’s Nearness
This week’s Torah portion is Beshalach, which means “when he sent.” It refers to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, who sent the Jewish people out of Egypt. They traveled through the desert on their way to the Land of Israel. However, G-d did not guide them through the land of the Philistines because they would encounter war and see giant, powerful, and difficult people. Instead, G-d led them through the Sea of Reeds.
As the Jewish people walked, the sea stood before them, and suddenly, Pharaoh changed his mind. He wanted his slaves back, so he gathered 600 of his best chariots and soldiers and pursued them. At this moment in the story, the Jewish people were trapped—the sea in front of them and Pharaoh’s army behind them. The Torah describes how Pharaoh “came closer,” and the people grew anxious. They saw four options:
- Return to Egypt and remain slaves.
- Fight Pharaoh’s army, despite lacking battle experience.
- Jump into the sea and end it all.
- Cry out to G-d for help.
The Torah tells us that none of these options were correct. Instead, G-d commanded: “Be silent, I will fight for you. Just move forward.” And then, the sea miraculously split, allowing them to cross.
The Deeper Meaning of “He Came Closer”
The Torah uses the Hebrew word hikriv to describe Pharaoh’s approach. This word can be translated in two ways:
- He came closer – meaning Pharaoh himself physically approached the Jewish people.
- He brought others closer – but to whom?
Our sages explain that by coming closer to the Jewish people, Pharaoh actually brought them closer to G-d. In their fear and desperation, they cried out to Him, strengthening their faith.
The Lesson for Us
In life, we all face challenges—symbolized by Pharaoh. Pharaoh was not just any enemy; he was cruel, having murdered Jewish children and bathed in their blood. The difficulties he represented were both intense and overwhelming.
Why does G-d send us such hardships? The answer is that these struggles exist to bring us closer to Him. Even before we face a challenge, G-d has already given us the strength to overcome it. The key is to trust Him, move forward, and recognize that every difficulty is an opportunity for spiritual growth., this paves the way for the complete redemption with the coming of Mashiach, speedily in our days.
Talk from Rabbi Tuvia Serber
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