In this week’s reading, from Parashat Beshalach (Shemot / Exodus 13:17-17:16), Pharaoh let the people go and the Torah describes that the Lord God did not lead the people by the way of the Philistines saying that the people might change their minds and return to Mitzrayim (Egypt) (פֶּן-יִנָּחֵם הָעָם בִּרְאֹתָם מִלְחָמָה וְשָׁבוּ מִצְרָיְמָה). The Scripture mentions that Moshe carried the bones of Yoseph back to the Promised Land (13:19). The Scriptures describe that God led the people by a pillar of cloud during the day and pillar of fire by night. The Lord hardens Pharaoh’s heart once more (14:4-9) and follows Yisrael with his army catching up with them by the Red Sea. The people see the army of Mitzrayim, become frightened and cry out to the Moshe (14:10-14). Moshe assures the people that the Lord will save them and they will never see the Egyptians again. At this point in the narrative God commands Moshe to instruct the people to move forward, the Lord sends a strong east wind and divides the sea so the people could cross on dry land (14:15-22). The Egyptian army pursued Yisrael into the Sea and the Lord caused the Sea to return to its normal state killing the entire army saving Yisrael (14:23-31). As a result of the victory, the people sung a song exalting the Name of the Lord (15:1-22). After the victory, the people come to a place they name Marah meaning bitter for the water was bitter and the Lord tested the people there (15:23-26). Then the people travel to Elim where there were twelve springs and seventy date palms and encamped (15:27). They then traveled to the wilderness of Sin and the people grumbled against Moshe and Aharon because there was no food (16:1-3). The Lord then says that he shall rain bread from heaven to provide food for them to eat (16:4). The Lord then gives the people bread in the morning and meat in the evening to eat (16:5-16). The command to rest on the Shabbat (Sabbath) is given with the instructions on how to gather the Manna during the end of the week (16:17-30). One Omer of the Manna was taken and placed before the Lord as a reminder how God provides for His people (16:31-34). The Scriptures say that the people ate Manna for 40 years until they entered into the Promised Land (16:35, וּבְנֵי יִשְֹרָאֵל אָכְלוּ אֶת-הַמָּן אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה עַד-בֹּאָם אֶל-אֶרֶץ נוֹשָׁבֶת אֶת-הַמָּן אָכְלוּ עַד-בֹּאָם אֶל-קְצֵה אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן). The people journeyed slowly to the mountain of Sinai, arriving at Rephidim next where there was no water to drink (17:1-3). The people again complained about leaving Mitzrayim (Egypt) (17:4), the Lord commands Moshe to strike the rock to make water for the people (17:5-7). Then Amalek came to fight against Yisrael at Rephidim (17:8) and Moshe tells Yehoshua (Joshua) to choose men and go and fight Amalek. Moshe stood at a high place and held up his hands and holding his hands up Yisrael prevailed against Amalek and the Lord declares that He will blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven (כִּי-מָחֹה אֶמְחֶה אֶת-זֵכֶר עֲמָלֵק מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמָיִם). This week’s Parashat is especially interesting detailing some important biblical principles, God’s final deliverance from Mitzrayim, and His provision of bread from heaven in the morning, meat in the evening, all of these things in the midst of the complaining peoples.  Read More here.
