More Merits for the Sea and the Faith That Followed Moses

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 233:5

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

Another interpretation: "Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward." Last night you were saying, "Since I came to Pharaoh" (Exodus 5:23), and now you stand multiplying prayer? "Why do you cry out to Me? Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward" - tell them to remove the words from their heart. Last night they were saying, "Is it because there were no graves in Egypt?" (Exodus 14:11), and now you multiply prayer? The sages say: For His name's sake He acted with them, as it is said, "For My own sake, for My own sake, will I do it" (Isaiah 48:11). What does Scripture teach by "who divided the water before them"? For what reason? "To make Himself an everlasting name" (Isaiah 63:12). Rabbi Judah the Prince says: Worthy is the faith with which they believed in Me that I should split the sea for them. Rabbi Eliezer ben Azariah says: For the merit of their father Abraham I split the sea for them, as it is said, "For He remembered His holy word, and Abraham His servant" (Psalms 105:42), and it says, "And He brought forth His people with joy, His chosen with singing" (Psalms 105:43). Rabbi Eliezer ben Azariah of Kefar Beitar says: For the merit of the tribes He split the sea for them, as it is said, "You pierced with his own staves... to Him who divided the Red Sea into parts" (Habakkuk 3:14; Psalms 136:13). Shemaiah says: Worthy is the faith with which Abraham believed that I should split the sea, as it is said, "And he believed in the LORD, and He counted it to him as righteousness" (Genesis 15:6). Abtalyon says: Worthy is the faith with which they believed in Me that I should split the sea, as it is said, "And the people believed" (Exodus 4:31). Shimon of Kitron says: For the merit of Joseph's bones I split the sea, as it is said, "And he fled outside" (Genesis 39:12), and it says, "The sea saw it and fled" (Psalms 114:3). Others say: Worthy is the faith with which they believed in Me that I should split the sea, for they did not say to Moses, How shall we go out into the wilderness with no provisions for the way? Rather they believed and followed Moses. Concerning them it is stated explicitly through Jeremiah the prophet, "Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying... I remember the devotion of your youth" (Jeremiah 2:2). What reward did they receive for this? "Israel is holiness to the LORD, the first of His harvest" (Jeremiah 2:3). Rabbi Yose the Galilean says: Already Mount Moriah had been uprooted from its place, with the altar of Isaac built upon it and the wood arranged upon it, and Isaac as though bound and laid upon the altar, and Abraham as though stretching out his hand and taking the knife to slaughter his son. The Omnipresent said to Moses: Moses, My children are placed in distress, the sea closes them in and the enemy pursues, and you stand lengthening your prayer? Moses said before Him, What am I to do? He said, "And you, lift up your rod" - you exalt and glorify and praise and give song to the One to whom kingship belongs.

Themes

FaithPatriarchsPrayer

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