The ancient rabbis certainly understood that feeling. They saw it mirrored in the story of the Exodus, in the dramatic moment when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and the pursuing Egyptian army was swallowed whole. But they also saw something more: a God who reaches down, even from the heavens, to pull us back from the brink.
Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, offers a fascinating glimpse into how the rabbis grappled with this pivotal moment in Jewish history. Psalm 18:17 reads, "He will send from heaven and save me." It's a powerful image of divine intervention. And the rabbis, in their wisdom, weren't content to just let it sit there. They wanted to understand the how of it all.
Rabbi Yudan paints a vivid picture. He suggests that the last Israelite had barely stepped onto dry land when the last of the Egyptians emerged from the sea. Can you imagine that tension? That close call? It makes the victory all the more miraculous, doesn't it?
But then Rabbi Yudan asks a truly bizarre question: What about the beetles? Beetles? In the sea? Where did they go? It seems like a strange detail to focus on, but it highlights the rabbinic commitment to accounting for every single element of the story. No detail is too small for consideration. His answer is equally striking: God, in his infinite power, simply reached out and plucked them from the water. "He drew me out of many waters," the verse says, and Rabbi Yudan extends that saving grace to even the humblest of creatures.
Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish takes the image even further, offering a truly mind-bending vision. He says that the sea was turned upside down, a chaotic swirl of water and desperation. But amidst this chaos, God was present, actively shaping the events. According to Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, God held up one pillar of water for the Israelites with His right hand, allowing them to pass through safely, while simultaneously using His right hand to sink a pillar of water onto the Egyptians! As it says in Exodus 15:6, "Your right hand, O Lord, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy." It's a powerful reminder of God's strength and unwavering commitment to His people.
And even for those Egyptians who managed to reach dry land, there was no escape. Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish continues, explaining that God brought the sea crashing down upon them, trapping them, sealing their fate. "He brought the sea over them and covered them," the verse states, leaving no room for doubt about the completeness of their defeat.
This midrash isn't just a historical account. It's a reminder that even in the midst of chaos and despair, even when we feel like we're drowning, there is a power greater than ourselves that can reach down and save us. It's a message of hope, of resilience, and of the unwavering presence of the divine, even in the most turbulent of times. And sometimes, it's a reminder to think about the beetles. What seemingly insignificant details are we overlooking in our own lives, and how might a closer look reveal a hidden layer of meaning and divine care?