Beshalach ( to send away)
Ex. 13:17 - 17:16

What an exciting Torah portion we have this week! The children of Israel flee from Egypt following the tenth plague - death of the firstborn in Egypt . They cross the Red Sea while the army of Egypt is drowned in the water. With such victory and excitement one would think that the people would trust God for all of their needs. After all, He just saved them out of the land of Egypt . Surprisingly, (or not so surprisingly knowing human nature), they complained and complained. When they saw the armies of Pharaoh chasing after them, they complained to Moses because they were sure that they were about to die, ( 14:10 -11). In chapter 15 we read that the people grumbled because they were afraid that they would have no water. In chapter 16 the people grumbled because they were afraid that they would starve. In chapter 17 we read that they quarreled with Moses over water. It seems that they were having a hard time trusting the Lord for their needs. Does it sound familiar? Who could blame them?

Our portion this week depicts the human condition. We do not know what tomorrow will bring. You may be being chased by the "Egyptian army" or perhaps you are standing at the bank of the " Red Sea ". Sometimes, even though we are believers in Yeshua, we are frustrated by the uncertainties of life. No one but God knows what will happen tomorrow or the next day. Yeshua said, do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.(matt. 6:34 ). Does this mean that we should simply live for today and not even plan for tomorrow? Certainly not! It means that we should have the faith to believe that God will provide for our needs and that all of the wealth that we earn really is a provision from Him. If we live this way, we will be free from the enslavement of wealth. We will give freely to others. We will plan for the future but not worry, knowing that God will indeed provide. We live in days of economic uncertainty and as believers in the Word of God we need to learn from this week’s Torah portion that the God who redeemed us yesterday will not abandon us today. In closing allow me to quote two great Sages of Judaism.

Eliezer HaModai said, "One who cannot have faith that what has come to me today will also come to me tomorrow, he does not have faith in God at all".

Yeshua HaMashiach said, "Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you."

Shabbat Shalom!