“And Yahweh said to Moses, Why do you cry to me? Speak to the children of Israel, and they will go” (14, verse 15)
The Holy Light of Life raises several powerful questions:
1. Why is it written “What will you shout?” to me” – and it is clear that they will shout to Hashem, especially in times of need. Who else can you shout to?
2. In the rest of the text it seems that his prayer was accepted, which was said “Raise your staff”, then what is the need for the words “Why will you shout at me”?
3. God tells Moses to tell the people to travel:
– How will they travel, with the mountains of Egypt behind them and the sea in front of them?
– And if the intention is to tell them to travel after the sea splits in two – Moses should have been told first to “raise your staff” in order to split the sea, and only then “speak to the Israelites”.
The Holy Light of Life brings a wonderful explanation that settles all the difficulties:
According to the Sages, it was found that the measure of judgment was stretched upon the people of Israel, and it is known that the measure of mercy can be aroused when a person engages in good deeds in this world, and vice versa – if the person engages in bad deeds, the measure of mercy diminishes.
“And behold, on the side that God Most High saw that Israel had meted out the measure of judgment on them, and they are true that God desires Israel’s justice, but there is no power in mercy next to their deeds as mentioned, which is why he said to Moses a victorious answer, “Why will you shout at me?!” Meaning, because there is no It is up to me, although I desire a miracle, because they are not worthy, the measure of judgment prevents, and there is no power in mercy against the measure of judgment that is prevented.”
This is why God tells Moses to “speak to the children of Israel” – talk to them, tell them that there is important advice to be saved from the difficult situation they are in – and that is to increase the side of kindness and mercy.
The Most High asks that the people of Israel be strengthened in faith with all their hearts, and travel to the Red Sea even before it splits in two, and by the strength of the strengthening of the degree of confidence in this difficult reality, with the understanding that the Most High will perform a miracle for them even when they still do not see the salvation – the measure of mercy will increase in their favor.
The Almighty wanted to do good to his sons, but he saw that the measure of judgment was exasperating them and on the other hand, the measure of mercy was not strong enough to influence their actions at this stage – therefore he said to Moses “Why do you shout at me”.
“And you lifted up your staff, interpretation, through the good deed the miracle was done for them and the sea parted, because great is the confidence and faith that will lead them to the good.”
Indeed, we see this in Nachshon ben Aminadav. Although the sea had not yet split in two, he resolutely jumped into the sea when the water reached his throat, fully confident that a miracle would happen.
“And in this the scriptures will be settled on truth. And it seems to me to say that God has written to tell them the reason for the strengthening of the judgment against them on the side that they underestimated the faith in their hearts, and said ‘It is not good for us to serve Egypt’ – this is what God commanded to do against this iniquity, the justification of the faith in all force. In this too, they hinted at the opinion of the surrounding the re-strengthening of the law.”
