Beshalach: After He Let Them Go
This Torah portion provides a lot to talk about. Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt. G-d’s cloud by day and fire by night gives direction to Moses’ leadership. Pharaoh has a change of heart and pursues the nation to the Red Sea. G-d splits the Sea so His people can escape the pursuing Egyptians, and He (HaShem) entraps their pursuers as the waters return. The people cross the Sea on dry ground. We witness G-d’s provision when He turns bitter water sweet, drops manna from heaven and quail from the air, gives the holy Shabbat at Massah, and instructs Moses to strike the rock to produce water. Lastly, Aharon and Hur prop up the hands of Moses, giving Israel victory over Amalek.
The Thread This Week: Fear
In the Torah, the Haftarah, and the Gospel readings, one theme ties everything together: fear.
Two kinds of fear:
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Pachad — dread, distress, dismay about imagined worst-case outcomes. It disturbs our peace, clouds judgment, and distracts us from obedience, leaving us vulnerable to the adversary.
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Yirah — awe before the Holy One; reverence, respect, worship. It’s what we sense when we are part of something vastly bigger—standing on holy ground, beholding power and beauty, or being used as an instrument of HaShem’s will.
A Roundabout Route: HaShem’s Mercy in the Detour
Exodus 13:17–18 (CJB)
“After Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not guide them to the highway that goes through the land of the P’lishtim, because it was close by—God thought that the people, upon seeing war, might change their minds and return to Egypt. Rather, God led the people by a roundabout route, through the desert by the Sea of Suf.”
G-d knew Israel wasn’t ready for a direct entry into the Land. A straight path (about eleven days) meant fortified Egyptian outposts and warlike Philistines. Their grumbling showed how thin their courage was. HaShem’s detour was discipleship: time to learn His precepts so pachad wouldn’t break their faith.
At the Sea: From Panic to Promise
Exodus 14:10–12 (CJB)
“In great fear the people of Isra’el cried out to Adonai and said to Moshe, ‘Was it because there weren’t enough graves in Egypt that you brought us out to die in the desert? … It would be better for us to be the Egyptians’ slaves than to die in the desert!’”
Exodus 14:13–14 (CJB)
“Moshe answered the people, ‘Stop being so fearful! Remain steady, and you will see how Adonai is going to save you… Adonai will do battle for you. Just calm yourselves down!’”
Exodus 14:21–22 (CJB)
“Moshe reached his hand out over the sea, and Adonai caused the sea to go back before a strong east wind all night… the people of Isra’el went into the sea on the dry ground, with the water walled up for them on their right and on their left.”
Midrash: Nachshon ben Amminadab.
Jewish tradition tells that Nachshon entered the waters before they split. Only when the sea rose “up to his nostrils” did it part. Courage (emunah in action) becomes the pathway from pachad to yirah.
Provision Tests: Water, Manna, Quail, and the Rock
Israel’s cycle is familiar: need → grumble → miracle → relief → new need. Pachad reappears at each shortage; HaShem remains faithful. He sweetens Marah, rains bread, sends quail, and brings water from the rock—training His people to trust His Presence more than their projections.
Amalek and the Arithmetic of Doubt
Exodus 17:8 (CJB)
“Then ‘Amalek came and fought with Isra’el at Refidim.”
Sages note the sequence: after grumbling, Amalek attacks. In gematria, Amalek and safek (“doubt”) each equal 240—a hint that doubt invites assault. When Moses’ hands are raised, Israel prevails; when they drop, morale falters. Aharon and Hur steady his arms: community helps faith outlast fear.
Why the Push Out of Egypt?
Many midrashim suggest HaShem arranged events so Pharaoh would drive Israel out because fear and assimilation had glued many to Egypt. Some traditions say as many as four-fifths never left. Mercy sometimes looks like urgency.
Haftarah Beshalach: Deborah and Barak
Deborah summons Barak to battle Sisera (Judges 4–5). Barak hesitates—pachad—and insists Deborah go with him. She agrees, but declares the honor will go to a woman (Yael). Too bad for Barak; fear forfeits fullness.
Gospel Echo: Kefa on the Water
Matthew 14:28–30 (TLV)
“‘Lord, if it is really You, tell me to come to You on the water.’ … Kefa got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Yeshua. But when he saw the wind, he became afraid, and as he began to sink he cried out, ‘Lord! Save me!’”
Peter steps in yirah, sinks in pachad. Yeshua teaches that faith, even mustard-seed small, moves mountains (Matthew 17:20–21). Courage is obedience that keeps walking when the wind rises.
Living in Yirah
Rabbi Alan Lew described yirah as the shock of inhabiting “a larger space” than we’re used to—surging energy, holy nearness. Moses glimpsed HaShem’s glory:
Exodus 33:19–23
“I will cause all My goodness to pass before you… you cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live… I will cover you with My hand… then you will see My back.”
Job learned the same awe when HaShem questioned him from the whirlwind:
Job 38:1–4; 40:4–5
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?” … “Behold, I am insignificant… I have spoken once… I will add nothing more.”
The Fear of the Lord: A Fountain of Life
Proverbs 9:10 — “The fear of Adonai is the beginning of wisdom.”
Proverbs 2:5 — “Then you will understand the fear of Adonai and find the knowledge of God.”
Proverbs 14:27 — “The fear of Adonai is a fountain of life.”
2 Chronicles 19:7 — “Now let the fear of Adonai be upon you…”
Isaiah makes the Messianic connection explicit:
Isaiah 11:1–3
“The Spirit of wisdom… knowledge and the fear of Adonai… and He will delight in the fear of Adonai.”
Unger summarizes yirah well: it dreads G-d’s displeasure, desires His favor, reveres His holiness, submits cheerfully to His will, is grateful for His benefits, sincerely worships Him, and conscientiously obeys His commandments.
Call to Courage
Do we fear G-d, or do we fear man? Culture presses hard. Yirah heals; pachad drains. Put your hope in Adonai:
Psalm 27:14
“Put your hope in Adonai; be strong, and let your heart take courage! Yes, put your hope in Adonai!”
To be in G-d’s presence—and used directly by Him—is holy addiction. May we all hunger for yirah. And if its fullness waits for the World to Come, we still walk now in faith, courage, and obedience.
BaShem HaMashiach, Ormein.
