Weekly Torah Teaching

February 4th, 2012

Parashah: B’Shalach - “When he let go”

Torah Reading: Exodus 13:17 - 17:16

Haftarah: Judges 4:4-5:31

Apostolic Writings: Revelation 19:1-20:6


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GOD’S WAYS ARE TRUSTWORTHY

When Pharaoh finally allowed the Hebrew people to leave Egypt, they did not immediately step into the Promised Land. It was certainly promised to them and it was there waiting to be conquered, but in between lay a vast desert that had to be crossed. It was a frightful place where no food could grow and no comforts were found. There they were totally dependant on YHVH’s provision and protection. It was there the people needed to learn how to live as a nation.

This Parasha takes us from Succoth to the Sea of Reeds where they experienced a most dramatic and final deliverance from Pharaoh and Egypt. After a worship service to YHVH Israel traveled to Marah and Elim; received instructions to keep the Sabbath and were given food from heaven that would faithfully feed them for forty years. At Rephidim Israel’s arch enemy, Amalek attacked them and YHVH pronounced punishment upon Amalek.

Redeemed, but…

Pharaoh approached; the Children of Israel raised their eyes and behold! - Egypt was journeying after them, and they were very frightened… (Exodus 14:10).

Israel had been redeemed by the blood of the Passover lamb, but Pharaoh had changed his mind and wanted his cheap labour force back.

We may wonder why YHVH allowed Pharaoh and his armies to go after those poor Hebrew people who had suffered so much as slaves in Egypt. No wonder they got into a panic and must have asked, “Is our redemption real or not?”

However, if YHVH had not allowed Pharaoh to pursue Israel, and if he and his troops had not drowned in the Sea of Reeds, Israel would not have been legally free, because Pharaoh owned them. Only after the Israelites stood safe and well on the shore on the other side and saw the bodies of the drowned Egyptians, could they know that they no longer had to anxiously look over their shoulders to see if their former slave masters were coming after them.

Again we see the value of studying Torah, year after year, because this Parasha shows what many new believers experience. When they first repent of their sin and believe that Yeshua Messiah has paid the penalty for all their wrongdoings, relief and joy is experienced. However, just like a human baby’s education can only start after birth, so does the newly born-again person’s spiritual education begins from then on. Therefore our loving Father may allow some unsettling event to take place that may even cause him/her to doubt his/her salvation.

When the evil-one is robbed of another soul, he pretends to still have power over it. However, Yeshua Messiah promised us that He will never leave nor forsake us. At times of doubt we need to state our position in the LORD by quoting; “Therefore, if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

When Israel left Egypt they were redeemed, but certainly not ready to conquer the Land of Promise, set up a government with all its implications, and run a Godly society. Yes, they were free, but still had a slave mentality that was hard to shake. It took a forty-year desert camping trip and many tests for them to get to know YHVH and trust in His faithful goodness.

Likewise, when we experienced salvation by the blood of the Lamb of God, we did not immediately arrive at perfection. Actually, our education just began at that point. As we follow the Israelites through the desert where they were tested and educated, we will recognize the areas in our lives that will come under the scrutiny of our loving heavenly Father. Sha’ul, the apostle taught us to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), meaning that we have to practice the redemption we have received in Yeshua Messiah. As children of the King of kings, we need to live as such, leaving behind ungodly habits and life-style. This can only be done in obedience to His commandments.

The purpose of tests is that we should learn from them. It is altogether possible to go through 12 years of schooling, repeating grade one twelve times, which is not the same as passing each year and graduating with a diploma. We therefore need to ask our loving Father what we need to learn when a test is presented to us, so that we will grow in our relationship with our Master Yeshua Messiah.

Songs of Praise

Then Moshe and the Children of Israel chose to sing this song to YHVH (Exodus 15:1).

When Moshe and the people observed the great miracle by which YHVH had rescued them with a final blow to Pharaoh and Egypt, they spontaneously sang a song of gratitude and praise for God’s greatness. The enemy had planned to take fearful revenge on the Hebrews, but Almighty God always has the last word.

This song seemed to burst forth as a relief valve after the fear and seemingly hopelessness of the situation was turned around by the mighty hand of YHVH. Now they believed, and that made them sing. Part of the song says, “Who is like You among the heavenly powers, YHVH! Who is like You, mighty in holiness, too awesome for praise? Doer of wonders!” (15:11).

This is much like the song the apostle Yochanan described as being sung in heaven by those who have overcome the beast. They play harps and sing, “…the song of Moshe, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: ‘Great and marvellous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested’” (Rev. 15:3-4).

David sang of YHVH’s mercy and justice and we are told to, “Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing” (Psalm 100:1-2).

Singing reverently to YHVH from a loving, devoted heart is like sending a holy kiss toward His throne. It is worship!

Not only YHVH’s people sing. In one of the most tender verses in Scripture (Zephaniah 3: 17) where the prophet speaks concerning the Messianic era, we read, “The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you in His love, He rejoice over you with singing”.

Even in our days believers have given testimony of how, during a time of sickness when they did not have the strength to sing, they heard beautiful Sacred music, even though they were all alone in a hospital bed and no music was around. How can we ever fathom our Father’s loving kindness? Indeed, “God is love” (1 John 4:8).

Moving On

Moshe led Israel onward from the Sea of Suf. They went out into the Shur Desert; but after traveling three days in the desert, they had found no water. They arrived at Marah but couldn’t drink the water there, because it was bitter (15:22-23).

When the people tasted the bitter water, their complaint was also bitter. Only three days after the momentous miracle at the splitting of the Sea of Suf and their worship of YHVH that followed, they already doubted YHVH’s readiness and willingness to give them the necessities of life. They had observed YHVH’s great miracles, but they may have been uncertain that He would care about their daily need for food and water.

It was not wrong to ask for water, because it is a necessity, but to complain the way they did was. Here, the people failed their first test.

Does YHVH care about our need for daily necessities? Yes He does. We see Yeshua using only 5 loaves and two fish to feed over five thousand people. They had been following Him, bringing their sick and suffering loved-ones, and Yeshua had healed them. Evening was coming and the disciples wanted to send them away, but Yeshua had compassion on those people. He loved them and fed them.

YHVH heard Israel’s complaints and told Moshe to put a tree in the water to make the bitter water sweet. Here their good and gracious God performed another miracle for His people.

Leaving Marah, Israel traveled about ten miles south to Elim, where they found twelve springs of water and seventy date-palms. This was the first oasis in their wilderness experience. It was like a sweet present from YHVH, a place where they could rest and refresh.

Food from Heaven

They journeyed from Elim, and the entire assembly of the Children of Israel arrived at the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai (Exodus 16:1).

It was now exactly one month after leaving Egypt and as they entered the Wilderness, the people realized that there was no hope of finding any food in that barren place. Hunger can drive people to behave in ways they never did before. They must have forgotten that YHVH had been faithful in providing for them. Therefore they complained bitterly against Moshe and Aharon, even accusing them of taking them into this Wilderness to kill the entire congregation.

This situation was also part of Israel’s training, for YHVH was going to give the manna, heavenly food. He would prove that even a frightening desert cannot limit God’s infinite capacity to provide for His children.

Difficult circumstances can cause stress and anxiety. When that happens complaining is the natural response, but not the reaction built on faith. It is so human to be overwhelmed by fear, rather than reminding ourselves that earth has no sorrow that YHVH cannot heal. There is not a need that is greater than our God. Rather than complaining, the best way to deal with our desert experiences is to go and be alone with the LORD. Tell Him all your sorrows and pain, your frustrations and your needs. Take time to be quiet before Him and let Him speak to your spirit. Just trust in Him, because He loves you.

The LORD heard Israel’s cries satisfied their need for food. In the evening quail landed in the camp and the next and every morning, except on Shabbat, the people would find the manna, graciously served on a bed of dew. By providing a double portion on Fridays, YHVH showed that observing His Shabbat would never be a hindrance to their livelihood.

All through their desert experience Israel found YHVH to be a faithful provider. He had indeed carried them on eagles’ wings and brought them to Himself . If they would keep YHVH’s covenant, then they would be a special treasure to Him above all people (Exodus 19:4, 5).

Amalek’s Attack

Amalek came and battled Israel in Rephidim. Moshe said to Joshua, “Choose people for us and go do battle with Amalek; tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand” (Exodus 17: 8-9).

Who was this Amalek and why would he attack the harmless Israeli people? Those people were a fierce nomadic nation who lived in the desert region of the Dead Sea. They killed for pleasure and when they spotted Israel coming, they saw their opportunity for both pleasure and profit. Did they perhaps know of the treasures the Hebrews were carrying from Egypt?

The Sages teach that Amalek’s hostility stems not only from the fact that he was Esau’s grandson and therefore hated Jacob’s descendants with a passion, but also because Amalek is the leading force of evil. Therefore, the struggle between Israel and Amalek is the eternal struggle between good versus evil. It is still played out on the political world stage today. Amalek’s descendants (the surrounding nations) are still intent on destroying the Jewish people and robbing them of their God-given Land, the Holy Land.

Those Amalekites had no reason to attack the vulnerable Hebrew people who would not be after Esau’s domain, but were on their way only to the Land promised by YHVH to the Patriarchs. There could be only one reason for the attack and that was to show a brazen denial of YHVH’s choosing of Jacob over Esau.

Moshe told Joshua to form a force to fight the enemy because he was going to be interceding for God’s people on top of a hill, overlooking the battle. His arms would get tired, holding up the staff as he prayed, but Aharon and Hur supported his arms, since the battle went well for Israel as long as Moshe’s hands were held up in prayer.

When we, as believers, go through tests and experience attacks from the evil-one, may we learn from this lesson that being tested is an opportunity to seek Father’s purpose in every situation. Like Moshe, may we stay close to our LORD in trusting faithfulness to Him; in prayer and obedience to His instructions for living.


Shabbat Shalom!

Ann

Sources: ArtScroll Chumash, Jeff Feinberg’s “Walk Exodus”, and the Life Application Bible.

Ann Stephens, Torah Teacher.