An abiding astonishment

 B’shalach

Ex. 13:17-17:16

 

Précis: And when Pharaoh “had let them go” (b’shalach), the story of the Exodus from Egypt is almost concluded. Carrying with them the bones of Joseph and the “spoils of Egypt,” Moses leads the Israelites by way of the Red (or Reed) Sea. They cross the sea ahead of Pharaoh’s pursuing army, which subsequently drowns in the returning waters. 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 provides water as well. The Shabbat is introduced as a day of rest, even before it appears in the Ten Commandments. In their first battle led by Joshua, against Amalek, the Israelites are successful as long as Moses’ hands remain in the air, and with the help of Aaron and Hur (who support Moses’ arms), they prevail.

 

Ex. 14:5-30 “…Pharaoh and his court had a change of heart about the people and said, ‘What is this we have done, releasing Israel from their service?’ He ordered his chariot and took his men with him…The Egyptians gave chase...and overtook them encamped by the Sea…The Israelites…said to Moses, ‘Why did you take us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?’...But Moses said to the people, ‘Have no fear…and witness the deliverance from Adonai…’ And Adonai drove back the sea with a strong east wind…and the Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and their left… and the waters turned back and covered the chariots and horsemen: Pharaoh’s entire army …”

The imagery most of us have of the miraculous parting of the Sea probably comes from Cecil B. DeMille’s epic, “The Ten Commandments.” In reality, the scene was created by reversing footage of two waves of water crashing together in a tank. Does that make the scene more (or less) “miraculous?"

            The question of the existence of miracles has been debated by sages and scholars since the stories themselves were created. Some suggest that the story is based on natural explanations (a strong wind, a low tide, and quicksand). Others say that what is miraculous is that the event took place at a necessary time. I prefer Martin Buber’s explanation: the “reality” is unimportant, but the idea that God intervened in history is “an abiding astonishment.”

            The Torah is not a history book, but it is a book of moral teaching. This story, to me, remains in Buber’s words “an abiding astonishment” because it is an example of how a story written perhaps 3,000 or more years ago has remained with us to this day. We and our ancestors have observed the mitzvah of telling the story of our freedom each Passover, and hopefully this is a mitzvah which will continue to be fulfilled.