Parashat Beshalach: Moving From Peril To Praise

This Week's Reading

Torah: Exodus 13:17-17:16

Haftarah: Judges 4:4-5:31

Brit Chadashah: Revelation 15:1-4

Ever heard the phrase, “G-d will not give you more than you can handle”? Yeah, I am not a fan of it either. Mainly because it is often not true, and it is unbiblical. If we can handle everything sent our way, there would no longer be a need for faith. This week’s Torah portion is a great example that G-d is more than willing to bring us into a position that we cannot handle on our own. Imagine you are in the shoes of the ancient Israelites: Pharaoh miraculously agreed to release you from slavery. You were able to gather some wealth and weapons on your way out and you are on your way to freedom. Then comes the thing that was more than you can handle: You come to the Red Sea, cannot swim, you have livestock that cannot cross, maybe some kids that are too young to cross or some elderly who are too weak to cross. Ok, not the end of the world right? Then you notice behind you that the entire army of Egypt, and Pharaoh himself, is making their way towards you to bring you back to slavery:

Exodus 14:10-14:

“When Pharaoh drew near, Bnei-Yisrael lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them! So they were terrified, and Bnei-Yisrael cried out to Ad-nai. They said to Moses, ‘Have you taken us away to die in the wilderness because there were no graves in Egypt? Why have you dealt this way with us, to bring us out of Egypt? Did we not say to you in Egypt, “Let us alone, so that we may serve the Egyptians?” It was better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!’ But Moses said to the people, ‘Don’t be afraid! Stand still, and see the salvation of Ad-nai, which He will perform for you today. You have seen the Egyptians today, but you will never see them again, ever! Ad-nai will fight for you, while you hold your peace.’”

You begin to question everything. You are stuck in a predicament that you have no control over. This is something that is beyond your capability of handling. Exactly where G-d wanted you! True strength comes from faith in Him to save; not because we deserve it, but because it glorifies His name to create that testimony. We have all been there in our lives–job loss, serious health concerns, relationship breakdowns–and feeling that G-d has led us into a situation that we cannot handle. Questioning why He would ever lead us to this point. But that is the point. It is to humble us by stripping away the illusion of self-sufficiency that we tend to live by, and remind us that our strength comes from full reliance on Him. Here is an important thing to remember though: G-d does not lead us to our destruction; He leads us to a place where we must confront our limitations and turn to Him.

Moses–acting as the mouthpiece of G-d–responds with some of the most wise words that we all need to remind ourselves of: “"Don't be afraid! Stand still... Ad-nai will fight for you, while you hold your peace." This is not G-d calling us to inaction, quite the opposite. He is calling us to make a conscious choice to stand firm amid the growing storm. When we are overwhelmed, our flesh reacts either by lashing out or by running away. The Israelites could not run away so they chose to lash out. How many times have we done that when we are overwhelmed with a situation out of our control? I certainly have. Moses, however, urged the Israelites to silence themselves so that they can witness the salvation of our G-d. Then we witness the sea splitting, everyone makes it across safely, the Egyptians are drowned in the closing walls of water, and what do the Israelites do? They break out in song:

Exodus 15:1-21:

“Then Moses and Bnei-Yisrael sang this song to Ad-nai: I will sing to Ad-nai, for He is highly exalted! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea. Ad-nai is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. This is my G-d, and I will glorify Him, my father’s G-d, and I will exalt Him. Ad-nai is a warrior—Ad-nai is His Name! Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has hurled into the sea, and his chosen captains have sunk into the Sea of Reeds. The depths cover them. They sank to the depths like a stone. Your right hand, Ad-nai, is glorious in power. Your right hand, Ad-nai, dashes the enemy to pieces. In the greatness of Your excellency You overthrow those who resist You. You send forth Your wrath— it consumes them as stubble. With the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up. The floods stood upright as a heap. The deeps became firm ground in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoils. My lust shall gorge on them! I will draw my sword— my hand will destroy them.’

You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. Who is like You, Ad-nai, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, awesome in praises, doing wonders? You stretched out Your right hand, the earth swallowed them. You in Your lovingkindness led the people You have redeemed. You guided them in Your strength to Your holy habitation. When the peoples hear, they will tremble—anguish will seize the inhabitants of Philistia. Then the chiefs of Edom are terrified. Trembling grips Moab’s mighty men. All of Canaan’s inhabitants will melt away. Terror and dread will fall on them. By the greatness of Your arm they become still as a stone, till Your people cross over, Adonai, till the people whom You purchased cross over.

You bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, the place, Ad-nai, that You have made for Yourself to dwell in— the Sanctuary, Ad-nai, which Your hands have prepared. Ad-nai will reign forever and ever! Pharaoh's horses with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, but Ad-nai brought the waters of the sea back over them. Yet Bnei-Yisrael walked in the midst of the sea on dry ground. Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing, as Miriam sang to them: Sing to Ad-nai, for He is highly exalted! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!”

The same people–who just a moment ago were lashing out at G-d–have now broken out in song and praising Him for doing such a mighty act. Cue the famous phrase from Yeshua, “Oh you of little faith.” The song is a triumphant song of redemption and praise. Ultimately, this account teaches us that humility, in the face of a crisis, leads to joyful praise. Now, if you thought that the story ends there then you are wrong. This song–often called the Song of Moses–reappears in a future redemption story that echoes Exodus imagery:

Revelation 15:1-4:

“Then I saw another great and wonderful sign in heaven: seven angels who have seven plagues—the last ones, for with them G-d’s wrath is finished. And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had overcome the beast and his image and the number of his name standing by the sea of glass, holding the harps of G-d. And they are singing the song of Moses the servant of G-d and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and wonderful are Your deeds, Ad-nai Elohei-Tzva’ot! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations! Who shall not fear and glorify Your name, O L-rd? For You alone are Holy. All the nations shall come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed!’”

The scene at the Red Sea repeats itself in the ultimately victory over evil. Just as G-d struck down Egypt with plagues, those same plagues are coming back according to Revelation. Just as G-d was triumphant over Egypt, so too He will be triumphant when the day of evil comes. Just as G-d redeemed Israel with His mighty hand, so too we will witness His mighty hand once again. Lastly, just as Moses told Israel to be still, stand firm and know that He is L-rd, we too are told in Ephesians 6 to stand firm with the armor of G-d when the day of evil comes. G-d is in the ministry of turning our trials into testimonies. The Song of Moses is a song for us today. It is a song that we need to sing over the battles we are facing right now. Yeshua has already won the battle over death. There is nothing left to fear. He already won on our behalf!

A Mussar Exercise: Cultivating Hakarat Hatov Through Praise

To apply the lessons taught in this parasha, try this 6-day mussar practice focused on Hakarat HaTov (recognizing the good). It mirrors the parsha's shift from fear to song of praise by training us to spot and verbalize gratitude (His presence) in daily life.

• Daily Reflection (5-10 minutes): Before bedtime, jot down one challenging moment (your "bitter water") and how it revealed hidden good or resolved miraculously.

• Verbal Praise Practice: Craft a short "personal shira"—a 1-2 sentence praise—thanking G-d for that gift. Bonus if you use poetic language, like "You turned my chaos into calm, as the sea parted before me." Speak it aloud! Make your own song for Him!

• Reflection: On Shabbat, review your journal entries and share one with someone, turning private thanks into shared joy.

• Tracking: Note in a journal how this shifts your perspective from complaint to celebration.

This exercise fosters humility by highlighting blessings beyond our control, echoing the Israelites' journey from peril to praise.