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Daily manna from the Torah by Dr Ketriel Blad

BeShalach 16-2

When (he) sent

Exodus 14:9-14

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD.

Ex. 14:10 NIV

How do you cry out to the Eternal?

The people of Israel were filled with terror when they saw the Egyptian army coming after them. In their fear they cried out to the Eternal. But their cry wasn't one out of faith, because they later turned against Moshe and reproached him for having taken them out of Egypt to die in the desert. Their cry to the Eternal didn't have any positive effect on them. It was a hopeless cry out of anguish and bitterness. This kind of clamour doesn't help the one who is crying out. Even though they received help in that moment their words were eventually fulfilled and then they later died in the desert for not having trusted the Eternal

There is another kind of clamour, the clamour full of faith, like the one our father Yaakov pronounced in a similar moment (see manna 8-1). It is good to cry out to the Eternal and expose all our fears and anguish, but at the same time it is important to believe that the Eternal is good and that He wants to help those who draw close to Him, as it is written in Hebrews 11:6: "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (ESV)

When you find yourself with your back against the wall, cry out to the Eternal knowing that He is good and that He wants, not to hurt you, but to help you. In this way, you'll receive timely help from Him.

May his strong hand always guide you,

Ketriel

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