S.A.L.T. - Motzaei Shabbat

On the seventh day of Pesach, we read the Torah's account in Parashat Beshalach of the splitting of the sea. This miracle became necessary as a result of Pharaoh's sudden change of heart that prompted him to chase the recently freed slaves. This decision itself evolved - at least in part - from the divinely ordained "about-face" in Benei Yisrael's travel. God ordered the nation to trap themselves in between the sea and the desert so as to lure Pharaoh after them in an attempt to bring them back into servitude.

What specific role did this tactic play?  Why did God select this modus operandi to eliminate the Egyptians?

The Or Ha-chayim explains this strategy as benefiting Benei Yisrael. God anticipated the people's fear and panic upon seeing the approaching horsemen; He foresaw the nation's response of dread to the sight of their former taskmasters on their heels. He therefore sought to inform them from the very outset that this is all a trick. Benei Yisrael would hopefully realize that their charade alone brought the Egyptians to their doorstep; they thus have nothing to fear. As we know, of course, Benei Yisrael nevertheless panicked and even spoke inappropriately to Moshe. However, writes the Or Ha-chayim, imagine how they would have reacted if they had not known in advance that this was all but a ploy!!

It would seem that this plan serves as a powerful, eternal lesson, ever so relevant to the current day and age. God's maneuvering as He led our forefathers from Egypt may, according to the Or Ha-chayim's approach, have meant to establish the proper perspective on all national crises. Namely, God Himself orchestrates events. If a nation or group of nations pursues Benei Yisrael in an effort to destroy them, it does so only because the Almighty personally brought them there. Even if we place ourselves in a situation that allows our enemies to wage war against us, that situation itself will, ultimately, grant us victory. In the end, as history has proven so often, Am Yisrael prevails while its foes survive in textbooks alone.

"For in every generation they rise against us to destroy us, but the Almighty saves us from their hands."

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