Parasha: B’shalach “When he let go”
Torah: Shemot 13:17 – 17:16
The Lesson of the Manna
Led by Avinu’s pillar of cloud, the people proceeded on their journey toward Mount Sinai. On the 15th day of the second month, Israel ran out of matzot. Avinu then began to feed them with manna, a type of flaky, powdery food that descended from heaven each morning.
Avinu told Moses to tell the people . . . The people will go out and gather each day’s portion on that day. Exodus 16:4
Even if we believe that everything is in Avinu’s hand, we still tend to think that our own efforts also play a role in acquiring our physical sustenance. In contrast, manna was not acquired through human effort, and so left no room for such misconceptions. Even so, Avinu did not allow the people to collect more than one day’s worth of manna at a time, for whenever the pantry would have been full, the people would not have felt dependent upon Avinu.
On the other hand, Avinu did require the people to go out and gather the manna, rather than deliver it to their doorsteps. In this way, He teaches us a valuable lesson. In the relationship between Avinu and man, the man is required to do his share of work in the process of Divine providence.. If acquiring the manna had not required any human effort, the people would have dismissed it as an isolated miracle, irrelevant to real life. By being required to collect the manna, they learned that human effort and Avinu’s blessings work together. The manna taught us that our sustenance comes from heaven. Even when it appears to be the fruit of our own labor, it is in fact a gift from Avinu.
Divine Providence isn’t on the minds of most people mainly because Avinu’s “Hand” isn’t as obvious as it was in the provision of Mon. Nevertheless, Avinu is still our Provider. The obvious response to this provision should be recognition and thanksgiving not complaining and provoking. Here is a lesson that I learned a couple of years ago: “I will praise the name of Avinu with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.” (Ps 69:30)
Think about the concept of “magnifying” Avinu in your life through “Thanksgiving” to Him for everything that He provides for you. Thanksgiving is a faith builder. It makes us more aware of Avinu’s involvement in our lives. The more we thank Him, the more we recognize everything that He does for us.
Avinu’s Real Provision
Why must we have jobs? Why can’t our bread fall from heaven?
4 Then Avinu said to Moshe, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” 6 So Moshe and Aharon said to all the people of Israel, “At evening you shall know that it was Avinu who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of Avinu, because he has heard your grumbling against Avinu. For what are we, that you grumble against us?” 8 And Moshe said, “When Avinu gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because Avinu has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him — what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against Avinu.” 9 Then Moshe said to Aharon, “Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, ‘Come near before Avinu, for he has heard your grumbling.’” 10 And as soon as Aharon spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of Avinu appeared in the cloud. 11 And Avinu said to Moshe, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am Avinu Elohekem.’””
“13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. 14 And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moshe said to them, “It is the bread that Avinu has given you to eat. 16 This is what Avinu has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’” 17 And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. 18 But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. 19 And Moshe said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” 20 But they did not listen to Moshe. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moshe was angry with them. 21 Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.”
“22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moshe, 23 he said to them, “This is what Avinu has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to Avinu; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’” 24 So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moshe commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. 25 Moshe said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to Avinu; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.” 27 On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. 28 And Avinu said to Moshe, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? 29 See! Avinu has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day. 31 Now the house of Israel called its name manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.” (Ex 16:2-31 )
Shabbat Mystery
The manna did not descend on the Sabbath. Instead, a double portion descended on Friday. This was the only exception to Avinu’s directive not to save manna from one day for the next.
On Friday, Moshe told the people, “Tomorrow will be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath unto Avinu.” Exodus 16:23
This is the first explicit mention in the Torah of the obligation to observe the Sabbath. It is appropriate that the Sabbath is introduced in connection with the manna, for the Sabbath and the manna share a common purpose – to underscore our complete dependency upon Avinu as the true source of all sustenance. Belief that human effort is the sole determining factor for success makes it hard to justify giving up a full day’s income. Not working on the Sabbath is a clear affirmation of our faith that sustenance lies in Avinu’s hands and that our work is no more than a vessel through which Avinu’s blessings can flow.
Here is what Shaul teaches us about Shabbat.
“1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And Avinu rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” 6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of Avinu. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as Avinu did from His. 11 ¶ Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of Avinu is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Heb 4:1-13)
** Shabbat and the Manna are both examples of Divine Providence. The Manna stopped several thousand years ago when Israel entered their new home but Shabbat is still with us as a beacon in a dark world, reminding us of His Divine Providence.
“13 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am Avinu who sanctifies you. 14 ‘You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. 15 ‘Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to Avinu. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 ‘Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 ‘It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days Avinu made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’ ”” (Ex 31:13-17)
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