Does God Have a Hand in History?

B'shalach


Exodus 13:17-17:16


Précis: And when Pharaoh “had let them go” (b’shalach), the story of the Exodus from Egypt is concluded - almost. Carrying with them the bones of Joseph and the "spoils of Egypt," Moses leads the Israelites by way of the Red Sea. They cross the Sea ahead of Pharaoh’s pursuing army, in which they subsequently drown. Moses sings his triumphant Song of the Sea, and Miriam’s song of joy follows. The Israelites begin to murmur against Moses and Aaron because of a lack of food and water. God provides heavenly “manna” to eat and instructs Moses to strike a rock to obtain water. The Shabbat is introduced as a day of rest, even before it appears in the 10 Commandments. In their first battle, with Amalek, the Israelites are successful as long as Moses’ hands remain in the air, and with the help of Aaron and Joshua (who support Moses’ arms), the Israelites succeed.


Exodus 15:1-19 “Then sang Moses and the Children of Israel this song....”


This week we observe "Shabbat Shirah - the Sabbath of Song," when we read of the miraculous intervention by God, saving the Israelites from the pursuing Egyptians. The Shabbat gets its name, of course, from the reading this week of the Song sung by Moses in celebration of the survival of the Israelites, and of the destruction of the Egyptians.

Before proceeding, it’s appropriate to mention the untimely death this past week of Debbie Friedman, z’l. The wonderful singer, songwriter and teacher touched millions with her melodious kavanah, and her death just prior to Shabbat Shirah is ironic and in some way appropriate, although much, much too soon. May her memory always be for a blessing.

The Exodus story could have ended earlier, but instead we have a final “change of heart” by Pharaoh, who pursues the Israelites to the edge of the Sea, only to see his army destroyed. As JTS Chancellor Ismar Schorsch observed, this brings the Exodus story full circle: from the river where Moses was saved to the Sea where the Jewish People are saved. Just as Pharaoh tried to eliminate the Jews by drowning the male children, now his own army is drowned.

In addition to the niceties of literary bookends, the text is an important reminder of the ancient belief that God intervenes in human history. The rabbis inserted this text into the daily liturgy as a reminder of God’s compassion and importance in our daily lives. To many modern Jews, the idea of God’s intervention in the world or in personal events is problematic, because it raises the corollary question of why God (apparently) fails to act at times of great horror and loss.

Whether or not we believe in God’s intervention in the day to day events of our lives, I do believe that something beyond ourselves accounts for the survival of the Jewish People through millennia of persecution. It’s more than “good luck” or “coincidence.” At the core of this week’s reading is a belief in salvation through Divine influence, based on the concept of a covenant relationship. It is a theme worth considerable and serious thought.