Parasha Thoughts
By Rabbi Avraham Moeinzadeh
The Ten Makot in Egypt were definitely great proof for the existence of Hashem and his control over every part of nature. In each Makah, another principle of Emunah was revealed to Klal Yisrael. Finally, by Keriat Yam Suf, they all came to a realization that nothing can be an obstacle to Hashem’s will. The clarity of the image of Hashem that Benei Yisrael achieved by Keriat Yam Suf was greater than the clarity of the greatest prophets.
Rabbi Gifter Z”L asks several questions regarding the Emunah of Klal Israel at Keriat Yam Suf. The Torah doesn’t tell us about the faith of Benei Yisrael by any of the Makot, nor by the splitting of the sea. Only after the sea goes back to its original state does the Torah tell us that Benei Yisrael developed faith in Hashem and in Moshe Rabeinu. Why is this so?
The second question is the following: In previous miracles, we do not see Moshe doing a physical action to undo a miracle. However, In order to bring the Yam Suf to its natural state, he was required to stretch his arm over the sea. Why was it necessary for Moshe to perform this action?
Using the second question, Rabbi Gifter answers his first one. Until Keriat Yam Suf, Benei Yisrael had experienced that Hashem can interfere with nature, and that He has full power over it. However, the belief that nature itself is a miracle; that was still lacking in them.
At the end of Keriat Yam Suf, they experienced that nature is not any less of a miracle than the splitting of the sea. Even the simplest rule of nature such as gravity, requires an active commandment from Hashem. This is the ultimate lesson of Emunah that made Benei Yisrael into true believers in Hashem!
Shabbat Shalom!