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The shortest route for the
children of Israel to the Promised Land, would have been
straight across the land of the Philistines. However,
G-d wanted to give the newly-born Jewish nation the
opportunity to throw off the remnants of Egyptian
influence, and to educate them in the new ways of a holy
life, through the Divine Torah which was to be given to
them on Mount Sinai. Furthermore, the shortest way to
the Holy Land would have involved the people in a war
with the Philistines, and it was doubtful whether the
children of Israel, who had just left centuries of
continuous slavery behind, would be strong enough to
fight like free men; they might decide to return to
Egypt rather than face a bloody war. Therefore, G-d led
the Jewish people in a round-about way. Instead of
following the coast of the Mediterranean Sea all the way
to the Promised Land, they were led southwards through
the desert.
After three days, Pharaoh received word of the progress
of the children of Israel. The unexpected direction of
their march made him think that they had gotten lost in
the desert. Pharaoh now regretted that he had permitted
them to leave. He immediately mobilized his army and
personally took the lead of his choicest cavalry and
war-chariots in hot pursuit of his former slaves. He
reached them near the banks of the Red Sea, and pressed
them close to the water, in an effort to cut off their
escape.
Fear gripped the children of Israel as they saw the
pursuing hosts of their enslavers. Some groups among
them were ready to fight the Egyptians; others preferred
to drown in the floods of the sea than risk defeat and
return to slavery. A third group of frightened and
feeble people began to complain against Moses, fearing
that he had lured them out of the safety of Egypt to die
in the desert. "Is it because there are no graves in
Egypt that you have taken us to die in the desert?,"
they exclaimed (Exodus 14:11), "Is it not this the thing
[about] which we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, Leave us
alone, and we will serve the Egyptians, because we would
rather serve the Egyptians than die in the desert." But
Moses, calm and firm in one of the most trying moments
of his life, said: "Don't be afraid! Stand firm and see
the L-rd's salvation that He will wreak for you today,
for the way you have seen the Egyptians is [only] today,
[but] you shall no longer continue to see them for
eternity."
Then Moses led the Israelites
onwards until they came to the very borders of the Red
Sea. The pillar of cloud now changed its position; for,
retreating from the front to the rear of the Hebrew
hosts, it floated between the two armies; over the
Israelies it shed a brilliant light, while it spread a
veil of darkness over the Egyptians. But the Israelites
seemed now helplessly hemmed in by overwhelming dangers:
the Egyptians were close behind them, and the waves of
the Red Sea were breaking at their feet.
The Miracle of the Red Sea
Then G-d spoke to Moses: "raise your staff and stretch
out your hand over the sea and split it, and the
children of Israel shall come in the midst of the sea on
dry land." Moses did as G-d ordered him. He raised his
staff, and stretched his hand over the sea; a strong
east wind rose and blew the whole night. The waters of
the Red Sea were immediately divided and gathered into a
wall on either side, leaving a dry passage in the midst.
The Israelites marched at once along that dry path which
extended from shore to shore, and gained the opposite
side in safety.
The End of the Egyptian Army
The Egyptians continued their pursuit, without
hesitation, in the same track. But the wheels of their
carriages became clogged in the bed of the sea, and
slipped off. They were unable to proceed; and they felt
that they were once more vainly struggling against the
L-rd. They turned to flee, but it was too late; for at
the command of G-d, Moses stretched forth his staff, and
the waters resumed their usual course, closing over the
chariots and horses and warriors, over the whole force
of Pharaoh (Exodus 14:28). "Not even one of them
survived."
Thus G-d saved the children of Israel from the Egyptians
on that day. Israel saw His great power; they recognized
G-d and believed in Him and in His servant Moses.
by Rabbi Jacob Isaacs |
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