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By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum
וייראו העם את ה’ (פרק יד פסוק לא)
The Medrash says that only by קריעת ים סוף did בני ישראל truly fear Hashem, in Egypt they had not attained that level. The Beis Halevi asks what was special about קריעת ים סוף, didn’t the Jews witness countless miracles by the plagues in Egypt? Why specifically by the miracle of splitting the sea did they fear Hashem? He explains that at the time of the plagues, the Jews weren’t truly deserving of salvation as they hadn’t yet performed any מצוות. Therefore, any miracles performed in Egypt had to be directed towards punishing the Egyptians, as they were already deserving of punishment. This that the Jews benefitted from the miracles was a side effect, but the miracles weren’t performed for that purpose. This was an expression of Hashem’s מדת הדין- His exacting judgement of the evil that the Egyptians had perpetrated. This view of Hashem would naturally inspire fear in all who witness it, but that is not yet true fear of Heaven. By קריעת ים סוף, however, the Jews had already done some מצוות and therefore deserved the miracle of the sea splitting as a salvation for them. This primarily showed Hashem’s מדת הרחמים- His mercy in saving His nation who are loyal to Him. After seeing this, the Jews had witnessed two separate aspects of Hashem. Then, the sea came crashing down to punish the Egyptians. This was an incredible revelation that at the time of intense mercy, Hashem still displayed judgement in punishing the Egyptians. When the Jews realized the Oneness and perfection of Hashem, how He could express His mercy and judgement in the same miracle, then they truly feared Him. Only then were they truly in awe of Hashem and His exactness in dealing with His creations.
ויולך ה’ את הים ברוח קדים (פרק יד פסוק כא)
Moshe raises his hand over the ים סוף and Hashem sends a powerful eastern wind throughout the night to split the sea. The Ramban explains that the reason for this wind is to provide the Egyptians with a logical explanation in the splitting of the sea. This way they would persist in pursuing the Jews, ignoring the potential repercussions of running into the sea. Had they recognized that it was a miracle from Hashem, they certainly wouldn’t have placed themselves in such a vulnerable situation through which Hashem could easily punish them. Even though the sea split into many parts and this could not have happened naturally, their strong desire to harm the Jews overtook them and blinded them to this “mere detail” of the miracle. We see how a person’s selfish desires and urges can blind him to even the most obvious of Hashem’s messages to him.
