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B’shalach

After he had let go
“Complaining Slaves”

Exodus 13:17-17:16
Judges 4:4-5:31 (A); 5:1-31 (S)

excerpted from TorahScope, Volume I

The previous three Torah readings of Exodus: Shemot, V’eira, and Bo, all detail some of the most important and memorable events in the Holy Scriptures—getting Bible readers to learn about how God miraculously involved Himself in delivering His people. Yet as important as the Exodus from Egypt was, why do we see God’s chosen complaining, immediately after they are released? In B’shalach this week, we see the Ancient Israelites complaining right after they had been delivered through the Red Sea, and had seen the Egyptian army defeated:

“The whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness…‘In the morning, you shall see the LORD’s glory; because he hears your murmurings against the LORD. Who are we, that you murmur against us?’” (Exodus 16:2, 7, WMB).

In B’shalach, the people of Israel were finally allowed to leave Egypt and depart for their long awaited journey to the Promised Land. At last, after the ten plagues had devastated Egypt, Pharaoh succumbed to Moses’ pleas and “lets the people go” to the wilderness to worship the Lord. The first few months of the trek. from the bondage of slavery to freedom. are recorded with some of the most memorable events in the history of Israel.

The great miracles of deliverance and provision are described in great detail. Pillars of clouds and pillars of fire lead the people from place to place.[1] The incredible parting of the Red Sea and the subsequent destruction of Pharaoh’s army are highlighted, and then punctuated with a memorial song and celebration.[2] Of course, in any desert trek, water and food provisions are critical, and readers are told about sticks of wood which made bitter water sweet.[3] At another juncture, Moses obeyed the instructions of the Lord and struck a rock with his staff, and the water flowed.[4] The introduction of manna to Israel’s daily diet is described in great detail.[5] Finally, quail was included for the sustenance of the people.[6]

In many respects, when one remembers the events in this Torah portion, the primary thoughts are of deliverance and provision. In these Scriptures, there are many visible and tangible testimonies of God’s unconditional love for Israel. On the other hand, there is another theme which cannot be overlooked. When you consider some of these events, it is easy to detect how the chosen people have one very consistent negative tendency. Even in this period of incredible signs and wonders—no matter what miracle or sign had just taken place—the people of Moses’ generation would consistently whine and complain about their circumstances. This propensity was very bothersome. After all, when you consider the future of this generation, you are reminded how only two of the adults (Joshua and Caleb) actually made it into the Promised Land.

What was the problem with these people? Did they lack faith? How could people who were firsthand witnesses to these incredible miracles have been such complainers? What was it about this group of Ancient Israelites which generated such negative tendencies?

As I thought through these questions, I kept going back to the different instances recorded in this reading to see if there was some discernable, common thread, which could explain this penchant for complaining. Four times, references comparing life back in Egypt seemed to surface. I asked myself if it were possible that the Israelites had developed a slave mentality. Right from the opening lines of our parashah, an indication of their problem is mentioned:

“When Pharaoh had let the people go, God didn’t lead them by the 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 they return to Egypt’” (Exodus 13:17, WMB).

From the very beginning of Israel’s transformation from bondage to liberty, the Holy One knew He was going to have to monitor His children all the way. The more direct route to Canaan would cause them to encounter the Philistines, who would aggressively resist their migration (Exodus 13:17). The Lord knew that His people did not have the stomach for war. They had just spent several centuries in Egypt, most recently as slaves, and they were not strong enough to encounter the hardship of conflict. Additionally, God had to demonstrate to the Israelites that it was He alone who could deliver them from their enemies. God wanted the Israelites to be dependent upon Him and Him alone.

Within a few days of them leaving, we see that the heart of Pharaoh changed and he ordered his chariots to turn back the Israelites. Here is how the Israelites reacted when they were confronted by a mere 600 chariots:

“When Pharaoh came near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were very afraid. The children of Israel cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, ‘Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this way, to bring us out of Egypt? Isn’t this the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, “Leave us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians”? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness’” (Exodus 14:10-12, WMB).

This is hard to imagine. At this point, the Israelites had been following a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire, but now they were encamped by the sea without any escape route. How could several hundred thousand people be frightened by a mere 600 chariots? Was it because they had a slave mentality which did not give them the confidence to stand up and defend their freedom? As you read the Ancient Israelites’ complaints to Moses, we see their sentiments of how they would much rather have been in the comfort of their former homes in Egypt. Incredibly, the Lord used this pitifully weak complaint to bring about His deliverance. He parted the Red Sea, and then let the Egyptian charioteers all drown as the water returned. The Lord instructed Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea and then watch the waters part:

“Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided” (Exodus 14:21, WMB).

Again, in a very powerful way, God demonstrated that He wanted the Israelites to depend upon Him for salvation and deliverance. The Lord did not disappoint!

About a month later, the people complained about the lack of food. Once again a reference to their former lives in Egypt was in the forefront of their minds:

“and the children of Israel said to them, ‘We wish that we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots, when we ate our fill of bread, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger’” (Exodus 16:3, WMB).

In order to handle this complaint, God brought down a regular supply of manna. To top this off, He also gave them a feast of quail. As the provision continued, the Israelites began to understand how the Lord was their provider. As the Scripture relates, this specific provision continued for forty years.

Finally, the fourth major complaint again referenced the comparison to Egypt, when the Israelites traveled to Refidim:

“Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’ Moses said to them, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?’ The people were thirsty for water there; so the people murmured against Moses, and said, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?’ Moses cried to the LORD, saying, ‘What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me’” (Exodus 17:2-4, WMB).

At this point, the Israelites were again confronted with a challenge which generated grumbling, and even quarreling. This time lack of water was the issue. The Lord instructed Moses to strike a rock with his staff, and the water would flow forth. Moses did this and the water flowed (Exodus 17:1-7). But this scene is to be remembered very soberly, as Moses named this place Massah and Meribah, to describe the contentious attitude of the Israelites:

“He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, ‘Is the LORD among us, or not?’” (Exodus 17:7, WMB; cf. Psalm 95:8; Hebrews 3:8).

Interestingly, as we arrive at the end of our parashah, it appears that the Israelites were now ready for some battling with the dreaded Amalekites.[7] Something had happened to them. Is it possible that through the various tests and trials, they had begun to trust in the Lord for His deliverance and provision? Were they able to dispense with just enough of the slave mentality, that they were beginning to take on the responsibilities of being the chosen nation of God?

In some respects, the challenges of the Ancient Israelites coming out of the slavery of Egypt, are not too different from our individual walks with the Lord. As Believers in Yeshua the Messiah, we have each had to experience the initial difficulties of coming out of the bondage of sin. As we have struggled with sin, there have doubtlessly been times when we were prone to wander. Early in our walks with the Lord, we often do not have the intestinal fortitude, or sometimes knowledge, to stomach the battles against sin which can only come with spiritual growth and experience. In a loving way, the Father has often steered us away from the temptations He knew could have caused us to return to sinful ways. He also knows how learning total dependence upon Him is crucial to handling the spiritual battles of life. At times, He will allow us to witness His deliverance from situations which might seem impossible. These victories give us greater confidence to press further into Him, for even more provision and deliverance. In time, while the spiritual battles we encounter might be more serious, the ability to overcome temptation and be victorious becomes easier!

It is important we learn from the mistakes of the Ancient Israelites in the desert (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:11, RSV). Their slave mentality gave them a propensity to complain and grumble about many of the trials and tests they faced. Even though they had eyewitness accounts of the deliverance and provision of the Lord, from their actions and statements, you can conclude that many actually preferred to have been back in Egypt.

Let us be Believers in the God of Israel who desire to be and function as free people who willfully choose to be slaves to Him, and not to our former life in sin (Romans 6:16-18). In the Lord we have not only our provision, but also our deliverance and salvation!