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Torah Insights for the Younger Tzadikim
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Beshalach 5761
Feb 04-10, 2001 - by Reb Yosef

A Miracle for All TImes

In this Parashah, we have the miracle of the Sea of Reeds when Klal Yisrael (the Nation of Israel) was saved from the army of Paro (Pharaoh). 

The Torah says (Perek Yud-Daled - Chapter 14): 

15. Hashem said to Moshe, "Why do you cry out to Me? Speak to B'nei Yisrael (the Children of Israel) and let them journey forth:

16. And you -- lift up your staff and stretch out your arm over the sea and split it; and B'nei Yisrael shall come into the midst of the sea on dry land:

17. And I -- behold! -- I shall strengthen the heart of Mitzrayim (Egypt) and they will come after them; and I will be glorified through Paro (Pharaoh) and through his entire army, through his chariots and through his horse men:

18. Mitzrayim will know that I am Hashem, when I am glorified through Paro, his chariots, and his horsemen.":

19. The angel of God who had been going in front of B'nei Yisrael moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and went behind them:

20. It came between the camp of Mitzrayim and the camp of Israel and there were cloud and darkness -- while it illuminated the night -- and one did not draw near the other all the night:

21. Moshe stretched out his hand over the sea, and Hashem moved the sea with a strong east wind all the night, and He turned the sea to damp land and the water split:

22. B'nei Yisrael came within the sea on dry land; and the water was a wall for them, on their right and on their left:

23. Mitzrayim pursued and came after them -- every horse of Paro, his chariots, and his horsemen -- into the midst of the sea:

24. It happened at the morning watch that Hashem looked down at the camp of Mitzrayim with a pillar of fire and cloud, and He confounded the camp of Mitzrayim:

25. He removed the wheels of their chariots and caused them to drive with difficulty. Mitzrayim said, "I shall flee before Israel, for Hashem is waging war for them against Mitzrayim.":

26. Hashem said to Moshe, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, and the water will go back upon Mitzrayim, upon its chariots and upon its horsemen.":

27. Moshe stretched out his hand over the sea, and toward morning the water went back to its power as the Egyptians were fleeing toward it; and Hashem churned Mitzrayim in the midst of the sea: 

There might be those who would ask, "Why did God need to work such a miracle?"  For two reasons, and this shows that Hashem tends to think in terms of long plans.  First, this stopped the Egyptians from pursuing B'nei Yisrael in this instance.  Our sages tell us that the reason God eliminated Paro's army completely was because He knew that if He didn't, Paro would continue to pursue B'nei Yisrael.  As we can see, God works many wonders in the Parashah and tells us about Shabbat.