10 February, 2001
17 Shevat, 5761
The Divine Purpose Reaffirmed
Focus Passage: Exodus 14:1-4
Not only had Israel first been led away from the coastal highway (the way of . . . the Philistines" in 13:17); they were next told to "turn back" from the natural caravan route into the Sinai Peninsula. G-d was apparently planning to lead them along a less used path to Sinai. The geographical references would have been meaningful to the people of Israel, but they are generally lost to us. We do not know which sea was intended. Pi-ha-hi'roth is a typical Egyptian name referring to a place of meadows, obviously a grassy region, presumably somewhere near Goshen. Migdal, means watchtower and probably refereed to some border fortress. Several terms with such names are known. Ba'al-zephon means "Baal of the north," obviously a reference to a town dedicated to the Cananite god Baal.
The reason for this change in direction was given as an enticement to Pharaoh. Their apparent wandering as they went forth would have made the king of Egypt believe that they were lost ("entangled") in the wilderness. This apparent helplessness and hopelessness of Israel would serve to make G-d;s final victory even more magnificent.
Obviously, Pharaoh's scouts were keeping up with Israel's progress. the report of their wanderings must have been relayed to him regularly. No king could afford to have large groups of people wandering around in or near his land without his being constantly aware of it. The temptation brought by Israel's nearness and helplessness and the squeezing pressure from G-d were going to be too much for Pharaoh. Pharaoh was going to pursue them in order to bring them back. He had never learned that his real adversary was G-d, not Israel. Israel only seemed weak, -G-d was with them.
The purpose of the whole affair was that G-d should be glorified by G-d's mighty act and that, once and for all, Israel should experience the sovereign power of G-d. Every act in this divine drama had been for the purpose of serving as a witness to G-d. The end result intended was that everyone involved should experience G-d. Revealing the nature of G-d was the ultimate purpose. Men were to learn who G-d was by what G-d did. Very soon, G-d would want to know how men and women would respond in deed to G-d's Torah - G-d still does.
Shalom U'Vracha,
Thomas, Greta, and Talie
