Parashat Beshalach (When He Sent)
Shemot (Exodus) 13:17–17:16
Haftarah: Judges 4:4-5:31

I always marvel at how relevant God’s Word is today. There are three things in this week’s Parashah that specifically relate to Israel’s current situation, which I would like to highlight from a personal point of view.

The first one relates to the significance of Joseph’s bones being taken out of Egypt when Pharaoh finally released the children of Israel:

Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”Therefore God led the people around by way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in battle formation from the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will certainly take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.”
Exodus 13:17-19

The act of taking Joseph’s bones to be buried in the Land of Promise is prophetic. It is rooted in recognition of the physical fulfillment of God’s promises regarding the Land of Israel, as well as a spiritual restoration prophesied in Ezekiel 37:1-6:

The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. He had me pass among them all around, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and behold, they were very dry. Then He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “Lord GOD, You Yourself know.” Again He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘You dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.’ This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: ‘Behold, I am going to make breath enter you so that you may come to life. And I will attach tendons to you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin, and put breath in you so that you may come to life; and you will know that I am the LORD.’”

Many today may wonder why it is so important for Israelis to insist on bringing back our people from Gaza to have a proper burial in Israel. While Jewish religious law mandates a proper burial,  I personally believe that the significance is rooted in Joseph’s ancient request to be buried in the Land. I also believe that Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones is another reason as we hold to the belief that God will one day resurrect our dry bones.

The second thing I would like to point out is Israel’s reality with Hamas and the growing threat from enemies that surround us. Indications show that a war with Hezbollah – which is very likely – would potentially mean 3000 rockets per day will be shot at Israel, with some areas in northern Israel without electricity for a week. And this does not even consider Iran and the other enemy states getting involved. So where do I find my hope, you may ask?

In Exodus 14, we read of God’s final act of wonder over Pharaoh and his army at the Red Sea (Yam Suf or “End Sea”):

Then the Egyptians chased after them with all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon. As Pharaoh approached, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were coming after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD. Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!” But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will perform for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again, ever. The LORD will fight for you, while you keep silent.”
Exodus 14:9-14

I truly believe that, just as it was thousands of years ago, so it will be for the Jewish people today. While Israel sees the armies gathering to annihilate us, the entire world will see Israel’s  redemption as He will supernaturally fight our battle.

The third and final parallel I see today has to do with my brothers and sisters who claim to be followers of the one and only true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the One who was, is, and will always be. Moses needed Aaron and Hur to uphold his arms in battle against the Amalekites:

Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”Joshua did just as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. So it came about, when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed; but when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. And Moses’ hands were heavy. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. So his hands were steady until the sun set. And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly wipe out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and named it The LORD is My Banner; and he said, “Because the LORD has sworn, the LORD will have war against Amalek from generation to generation.
Exodus 17:8-16

Israel is in a battle for our very survival; we need you to gather alongside us and hold us up during this battle, just like Aaron and Hur did with Moses. It is time for us to come together and show our faith through practical actions. I would like to thank each of you who have already come alongside us and are helping to uphold us during this long and tiring battle. I implore you to encourage those who are still asleep to wake up and join us in fighting this fight.

Shabbat Shalom,
Moran