B’Shalach (When He Let Go) Ex 13:17–17:16; Judges 4:4–5:31; Matt 5; Rev 19:1-20;6.
“Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, (B’Shalach) that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, ‘Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.’” (Ex. 13:17)
This opening verse of the Torah portion speaks volumes regarding God’s fatherly concern for the Israelites and how His ways are often not our ways! No doubt we, like the Israelites, prefer shortcuts rather than circuitous routes to reach our destinations in life but God who sees the beginning from the end has an overview that we are not privy to.
The Israelites started really well, filled with wonder and delight at the incredible way in which after 400 years of slavery, God came through for them. They celebrated as never before following the parting of the Red Sea, the greatest miracle that the Israelites ever experienced. Yet, after only a three days in the wilderness following the parting of the Red Sea, things suddenly changed.
Whenever we experience oppression and adversity, how well prepared do we cope? Do we focus upon the promises of God or capitulate to the fears and enslavement of the past? After three days in the desert the Israelites could find no water and when they finally arrived at a place called Mara where there was an oasis, they could not drink the water because it was bitter! Moses interceded and God provided for them, turning the bitter waters into sweet. It was here that the Lord made laws and rules of life for them with conditional promises: “If you will listen intently to the voice of Adonai your God, do what he considers right, pay attention to his mitzvoth and observe his laws, I will not afflict you with any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians because I am Adonai your healer.” (15:26)
Only a very short time afterwards – the Bible specifies – “On the 15th day of the 2nd moth after leaving the land of Egypt, there in the desert the whole community of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron.” (16: 1)
“If only we had died by the hand of Adonai in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat, when we ate bread until we were full. But you have brought us into the wilderness, to kill this entire congregation with hunger.”
First they were thirsting and now they were hungry! Man can live 40 days without food, 3 days without water, 5 minutes without air to breathe, but only a moment without God. Instead of listening intently to the voice of God who promises to supply all our needs in every situation in His perfect timing, they listened to their carnal nature and fantasied about Egypt where in their imaginations slavery was better than freedom. How did God respond? Here as an indulgent father their accountability level was still low, and so He sent them manna, which in Psalm 78 is described as “Angels Food.” And He also supplied them with quails. In Psalm 106 we read these sad words: “How quickly they forgot His works, and would not wait for His counsel! 14 In the wilderness they craved ravenously, in the desert they tested God. 15 So He gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease among them.”
It is this that I would like to focus upon today in our Torah portion that I believe bears much relevance for these times in which we live. Are we seeking for God’s best with all our hearts on our terms or His? The Psalmist makes his position very clear: “As a deer longs for running streams so longs my soul for you O God,! My soul thirsts for God , for the living God…” (Psalm 42:1-2)
What we must understand is that in the Kingdom of Heaven nothing that God of significance in our lives will go uncontested because the enemy seeks to steal and destroy everything that He has redeemed.
Many of us have faced crises in recent days and may well still be in the midst of them but the true measure of a person is revealed in God’s purifying fire which is when all of our good theology is put to the test.
In this parasha, God’s manifest presence dwelt in the Israelites midst almost as soon as they left Egypt to remind them who was in control and to teach them that sometimes the facts that are presented to us are not the same as the reality. In the opening section of the parasha, the Israelites saw Pharaoh and the whole of his army encamp around them; the facts looked bleak and they understandably panicked – just like we often do! But, then we read:
“The Angel of God Who went before the host of Israel moved and went before them: and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. It was a cloud and darkness to the Egyptians, but it gave light by night to the Israelites; and the one host did not come near the other all night.” (Ex.14: 19-20)
As God prepared to make a way for the Israelites across the Red Sea, He enveloped the Egyptians in a tangible darkness, that was so impenetrable it could be felt, to the point that nobody could even move. The Jewish sages teach that those who were siting when it fell could not arise from their place, and he that stood could not sit down. However, the Egyptians could see that the Israelites were surrounded by a bright light, and were enjoying a banquet where they stood. God’s, protection surrounded the Israelites and permitted no harm to befall them.
The light which God provided to the Israelites, appeared as darkness to the Egyptians. It was impossible for the Egyptians to access it because they had chosen darkness: evil over good.
The pillar of God’s Shekinah glory, His very manifest presence was so close to the Egyptians, but the tragedy was that they failed to recognise it. Had they done so, history would have told a different story.
And so, it may appear strange to us that so shortly after God had delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians, they would complain about their predicament where they found themselves facing the Egyptian army in one direction and their backs to the Red Sea in the other. It was a hopeless situation with no way out except for the promises of God which were forgotten against the backdrop of their circumstances. Everyone agreed that it would have been better to serve the Egyptians because now they faced certain death in the desert (Ex 14:11-12) but in terms of what action to take they were divided. Some of the Israelites despaired of life and sought death by drowning, Moses responded by telling them, “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.”
To others who wanted to return to Egypt as slaves, Moses said, “The Egyptians who you have seen today you shall see them again no more forever.”
Still others wanted to fight the Egyptian army in their own strength rather than at God’s command. Moses said, “The Lord shall fight for you.” It was a lesson which they were reminded of many times repeatedly throughout history.
So, the Israelites asked Moses, ’What then shall we do?’ The Jewish sages tell us that Moses replied, “You shall bless, praise, extol, adore and glorify Him that is the Lord of war!” (Psalm 34: I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth….”) Praise and worship is the antidote for a complaining spirit! (“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty unto God….”)
It’s an easy thing to thank God after the event, as the Israelites did following their deliverance from the Egyptians through the Red Sea; (“I will sing unto the Lord for He has triumphed gloriously..”). But how many people do so before the event? This was the problem that has dogged Israel throughout their history and maybe it is also true for us? They were happy to proclaim God’s love and faithfulness when things were going well but their praise and worship of God was conditional depending on their circumstances.
As for Moses, whenever the people complained, he responded by strongly interceding for them rather than defend his own actions. However, when they were trapped at the Red Sea God also rebuked Moses for doing the right thing at the wrong time. At that moment, it was time for action not words. “The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.” (Ex14:15)
God commanded Moses to stretch out his rod over the sea, an action that appeared as futile as it was ridiculous! But, because of his act of obedience, history was made!
God calls us to stretch out our ‘rod’ of His authority against any obstacle we may be facing that blocks our path forward in His Kingdom. He promises us safe passage but we must make the choice to take the first step rather than remain stuck in one place. Whatever crossroads we may be facing, the choices we make will determine the course of our destinies.
All of God’s pathways are illuminated by His presence (Ps. 119:105: Lamp to feet and light to path) In this sense, God gave the Israelites His Shekinah Glory (manifest presence) throughout their time until their entrance into the Promised Land of Canaan: “The Eternal went on ahead to guide them during the day in a cloud shaped like a pillar; at night He appeared to them in a fire shaped like a pillar to light their way. So they were able to travel by day and by night. 22 The Eternal did not remove the cloud pillar or the fire pillar; by day and by night it continued to go ahead of the people.” (Ex. 13: 21-22)
Despite the Israelites constant unfaithfulness throughout their time in the wilderness, God never abandoned them but remained true to His covenant promises even though they were disciplined, sometimes severely, when they turned their backs on Him. But, it is easy to forget that there were also things we can commend them for.
Perhaps most significant was this: Whenever His manifest presence moved, they would follow because even if they only ever understood one thing of importance which was non-negotiable it was to know that without Him, they had less than nothing. Even though they constantly complained and threatened to return to Egypt, at the end of the day, no-one ever actually did so. As someone once said: “For the Jew, it is possible to argue against God, even to disobey Him, but not to live without him.”
God sought to teach the Israelites to place their trust in Him at all times and in every circumstance. We are urged in the Book of Hebrews, “…not to throw away our confidence which has a great reward. For we have need of endurance, so that when we have done the will of God, we may receive what was promised.” (10:35-36).
All of us yearn to receive the fullness of what God has promised all those who love and follow Him. This has been true throughout the Ages, but it is conditional to patiently enduring and occupying our time refusing to be discouraged whatever obstacles block our way.
Many believers face enormous challenges in these current times, but without maintaining a true perspective on things we will fall short of our objectives. Here is an extract of a dear missionary friend of ours in Thailand who wrote to us:
“I have been to the south of Thailand and ministered to the Thai christians there. They have lost everything for the 3rd time in 5 years. They were so crushed. I brought them out from the power and hold of the enemy. One little boy about 3 yrs old came up to me while I was praying and placed his head on my leg as if to say thank you. It was the first time I had 100% of the church come forward to receive Jesus: 3 persons for the 1st time and the rest re-established their covenant with God through Jesus. Jesus’ presence was so heavy touching and healing them. Jesus is healing me from their grief I wrongly have been carrying.
I leave Friday for Pattaya to minister to a pastor who’s grandchildren were kidnapped. The children were found but had been brutally killed. She is so very broken over it. Only God knows how to fix our messed up lives.”
God constantly demonstrated the need to the Israelites for them to trust in Him alone for all their needs and in all of this, timing was an important element. It is such an easy thing to become discouraged when God does not do things in our timing as opposed to His perfect timing. (“ In quietness and confidence lays our strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)
The word for quietness in Hebrew is a harsh word, ’shakat’ (שָׁקַט) meaning, to be calm, relaxed, free from all anxiety; to be still, to lie down with support underneath. t is used as a rebuke to someone who crosses their boundaries. ‘Sheket’ meaning literally, ‘Be quiet!’ But behind the harshness of the rebuke, one is actually blessing a person by speaking peace and rest upon their lives in place of turmoil.
One of the best biblical examples of ‘sheket’ can be found in the Book of Genesis (B’resheet’) in connection with Shabbat. The Shabbat was designed by God to provide us with quietness and rest amid all the turmoil and busyness of life the other six days of the week. This is why in the Book of Hebrews, we are urged to “…strive to enter our Sabbath rest.” in other words to earnestly seek to be always abiding in His shalom.
It is here, in this Torah portion, in Exodus 16, where an entire chapter focuses upon Shabbat to the Israelites. God reintroduced Shabbat to them as something they had not observed for the 400 years for they were slaves in Egypt. It was presented as something distinctive and permanent setting the Jewish people apart from all other nations. For Moses, it represented freedom from slavery and was among the first commands the Israelites received on leaving Egypt.
God introduced the Sabbath as a rehearsal for what life will be like when Yeshua returns and ushers in the Millennium period. It will be a time of active rest where we can relax in the knowledge that He has wrested all authority from Satan. No longer will there be any need to fight against evil because“…he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces…” (Rev. 2:27)
Observing Shabbat was something the Greek mind-set could not fathom or understand. That God made the universe in six days, made more sense than He did so in seven. For them, the seventh day, was just an empty vacuum which held no meaning. Because of this, the Greeks considered the Jews to be lazy, even though they spent the whole day actively worshipping God and celebrating His love! I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EACH ONE OF US TO LIVE OUR LIVES AS A PERMANENT EXPRESSION OF WORSHIP TO THE KING OF KINGS.
Should we as believers then observe the Sabbath? Yes and no. God has provided it for us to celebrate as a Moed (appointed time) alongside all the other moedim specified in Lev. 23. In this sense it is something very important for every believer to observe. But, we must also understand that God desires for us to celebrate His Shabbat in a spirit of freedom not as a legalistic obligation. And it is again in this sense, I believe, better not to observe it at all than be caught in a spider’s web of legalism and tyranny.
God’s desire for us to experience the reality and fullness of His peace and rest which is highlighted by Shabbat but also something we can experience 7-days a week rather than just one. This is the meaning of the writer of Hebrews who urges us in chapter 4 to, “Strive to enter into your Shabbat rest.”
Every heart longs for divine rest. It is like a deep and exquisite slumber for which there is no comparison. All of us may have experienced insomnia whereby we are kept awake by the troubles we may be faced with.
Spiritual insomnia holds serious consequences, but the good news is that God’s spiritual rest is available for everyone, through Messiah Jesus who paid the price for our sins and invites all those who are spiritually hungry and thirsty to come to Him: “Come unto me all those who are burdened and weary and I will give you rest..”
In the Psalms we read that ‘He gives his beloved rest’ (Ps. 127:2)
“So there remains a [full and complete] Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has once entered His rest has also rested from [the weariness and pain of] his [human] labours, just as God rested from [those labours uniquely] His own. 11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience [as those who died in the wilderness].” (Heb. 4:9-11)
