Man's sustenance is as difficult to obtain as the splitting of the Red Sea

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon explains here that even though it is difficult for God to see the wicked and the sinners, still He feeds and sustains everyone according to the supernal Chesed that is drawn and flows over all the inhabitants of the world. With it He feeds and sustains all the righteous, and the pious, and the wicked, and all the people of the world, and all the beasts and animals of the field, and the birds of the heavens - from the horns of the buffalo to the eggs of lice. So why, we are asked, was this as difficult for God as the splitting of the Red Sea, which should have been easy for Him? Rabbi Shimon explains that when the children of Yisrael called for God to part the sea, the minister of Egypt spoke and reminded Him of the sins committed by them, and that He should judge them accordingly and let them drown. Yet, we are told, God split the sea for them because of the righteousness of Abraham, who rose up early in the morning to fulfill His commandments.

Relevance

Here we learn again that God shines His Light on the just and the unjust, that the rains fall on the righteous and the wicked, that sustenance is given to everyone. In this way, each of us is enabled to play out our destiny, to exercise free will, to move toward or away from God in the space He has made for us. And, we learn, He will always show mercy, even when we have sinned.

On a deeper level, Kabbalah informs us that Moses and the children of Israel split the Red Sea by virtue of their own transformations of character. As the Red Sea stood before them, and the Egyptian army raced towards them from behind, doubt and uncertainty gripped the Israelites. Nevertheless, using the power of the 72 Names of God to transcend their own fears and uncertainties, the Israelites walked into the sea until the waters filled their nostrils. This immense display of trust was a miracle of human nature. In turn, their behavioral actions ignited a miracle of Mother Nature: the seas parted as the waters rose to the heavens.

Though we all sin, we utilize this passage and the righteousness of Abraham to accomplish our own miracles of nature - to forever change our ways and correct all the sins of our past. This miraculous occurrence causes miracles of nature. And there is no greater miracle than the world's liberation from the clutches of the angel Satan (metaphorically represented as Yisrael fleeing the Egyptians through the parted Red Sea).

Granted, this is a feat as difficult as parting an ocean, but the strength, power, and Light of Abraham are here, with the 72 Names, to support us, so it is a fait accompli the moment our eyes and hearts embrace these ancient verses.

Food Judges Red Sea Righteous Sin Wicked Wickedness

811. One EXPLANATION is that all the actions of the Holy One, blessed be He, are according to Justice and Truth, and the entire world is supported on Justice and Truth. Every day and all the time, He judges the righteous, the wicked and all the inhabitants of the world with Justice, as it is written, "For Hashem is righteous, He loves righteousness" (Tehilim 11:7). When He judges the people and sees how many are wicked and how many are sinners before Him, it is difficult for Him to give them food constantly, because He has to feed the wicked and those that sin.

811. חַד בְּגִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כָּל עוֹבָדוֹי בְּדִינָא וּקְשׁוֹט, וְעַל דִּינָא וּקְשׁוֹט אִתְקָיָּים עַל עָלְמָא. וּבְכָל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא וּבְכָל זִמְנָא וְזִמְנָא, דָּן כָּל עָלְמָא בְּדִינָא לְצַּדִיקֵי וְלִרְשִׁיעֵי וּלְכָל בְּנֵי עָלְמָא, כד"א כִּי צַדִּיק יְיָ' צְדָקוֹת אָהֵב. וְכַד אִיהוּ דָּן בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, וְחָמֵי בְּנֵי נָשָׁא כַּמָה חַיָּיבִין, וְכַמָּה חֲטָאִין קָמֵיהּ, כְּדֵין קְשֵׁה בְּעֵינוֹי לְמֵיהַב לוֹן מְזוֹנָא בְּכָל זִמְנָא, בְּגִין דְּאִית לֵיהּ לְמֵיזָן חַיָּיבַיָּא, וּלְאִינּוּן דְּחֲטָאן.

Animals Beasts Birds Flow Heavens Red Sea Righteous Wicked Wickedness

812. Yet He deals with them mercifully, and feeds and sustains them according to the supernal Chesed that is drawn and flows over all the inhabitants of the world. With it, He feeds and sustains all the righteous and pious and the wicked and all the people of the world and all the beasts and animals of the field and the birds of the heavens, from the horns of the buffalo to the eggs of lice. There is nothing left in the world that is not fed, but He sustains everything, even though it is difficult for Him due to the actions of the people of the world, as is the splitting of the Red Sea.

812. וְאִיהוּ עָבֵיד עִמְּהוֹן לְגוֹ מִשּׁוּרַת הַדִּין, וְזָן וּמְפַרְנֵס לוֹן כְּפוּם חֶסֶד עִלָּאָה, דְּאִתְמְשָׁךְ וְאִתְנְגִיד עַל כָּל בְּנֵי עָלְמָא, וּבֵהּ אִיהוּ זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס לְכֹלָּא, לְצַּדִיקֵי וּלְחַסִידֵּי וְלִרְשִׁיעֵי, וּלְכָל אִינּוּן בְּנֵי עָלְמָא, וּלְכָל חֵיוָן וּבְעִירֵי חַקְלָא, וְעוֹפֵי שְׁמַיָא, מִקַּרְנֵי רְאֵמִים עַד בֵּיצֵי כְּלָמֵי, וְלָא אִשְׁתְּאַר בְּעָלְמָא, דְּאִיהוּ לָא זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס לְכֹלָּא, אַף עַל גַּב דִּקְשֵׁה קַמֵּיהּ, לְפוּם עוֹבָדִין דִּבְנֵי עָלְמָא, כִּקְרִיעַת יַם סוּף.

Earth Face Red Sea Seas Waters

813. וְכִי קְרִיעַת יַם סוּף קְשֵׁה קַמֵּיהּ, וְהָכְתִיב גּוֹעֵר בַּיָּם וַיַבְּשֵׁהוּ, הַקּוֹרֵא לְמֵי הַיָּם וַיִשְׁפְּכֵם עַל פְּנֵי הָאָרֶץ, וְהָא כֵּיוָן דְּסָלִיק רְעוּתָא קַמֵּיהּ, כֹּלָּא קָמֵיהּ כְּאַיִן הוּא חָשִׁיב, וְאַת אַמָרְתְּ דִּקְרִיעַת יַם סוּף קְשֵׁה קַמֵּיהּ.

Blood Egypt Idolatry Incest Judgment Rahav Red Sea Seas Sin Universe Wicked Wickedness

814. HE ANSWERS, When the children of Yisrael approached the sea and the Holy One, blessed be He, wanted to split the Red Sea for them, Rahav, the minister of Egypt, came and requested Justice from the Holy One, blessed be He. Rahav said before Him, Master of the Universe, Why do You want to punish Egypt and split the sea for Yisrael? Are they not all wicked before You? Your ways are with Justice and Truth, but these worship idols and these worship idols, and these sin with incest and these sin with incest. These spill blood and these spill blood.

814. אֶלָּא בְּזִמְנָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל אַעְבָּרוּ לְגַבֵּי יַמָּא, וּבָעָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְמִקְרַע לוֹן יַמָּא דְּסוּף, אָתָא רַהַב הַהוּא מְמָנָא דְּעַל מִצְרַיִם, וּבָעָא דִּינָא מִקָּמֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. אָמַר קַמֵּיהּ, מָארֵיהּ דְּעָלְמָא, אֲמַאי אַתּ בָּעֵי לְמֶעְבַּד דִּינָא עַל מִצְרַיִם, וּלְמִקְרַע יַמָּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הָא כֻּלְּהוּ חַיָּיבִין קַמָּךְ, וְכָל אָרְחָךְ בְּדִינָא וּקְשׁוֹט. אִלֵּין פַּלְחֵי כו"ם וְאִלֵּין פַּלְחֵי כו"ם. אִלֵּין בְּגִלוּי עֲרָיוֹת, וְאִלֵּין בְּגִלוּי עֲרָיוֹת. אִלֵּין אוֹשְׁדֵי דָּמִין, וְאִלֵּין אוֹשְׁדֵי דָּמִין.

Abraham Judgment Merit Morning Moses Red Sea Seas

815. At that moment, it was difficult for Him to disregard Justice. Here the children of Yisrael were driving toward the sea, as it is written, "And Hashem said to Moses, 'Why do you cry to me? Speak to the children of Yisrael, that they go forward'" (Shemot 14:15). But it was difficult for Him disregard Judgment and split the Red Sea for them. Had not the Holy One, blessed be He, looked to the Merit of Abraham, who preceded in the early morning to fulfill the commandment of his Master and His desire, as it is written, "And Abraham rose up early in the morning" (Beresheet 22:3), they would all have been lost in the sea, because the Holy One, blessed be He, was judging Yisrael all that night.

815. בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא הֲוָה קְשֵׁה קַמֵּיהּ, לְמֶעְבַּר עַל אֹרַח דִּינָא. וְהָא יִשְׂרָאֵל הֲווֹ נַטְלֵי עַל יַמָּא, דִּכְתִּיב וַיֹּאמֶר יְיָ' אֶל מֹשֶׁה מַה תִּצְעַק אֵלָי דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִּסָעוּ, וַהֲוָה קְשֵׁה קַמֵּיהּ לְמֶעְבַּר עַל דִּינָא, וּלְמִקְרַע לוֹן יַמָּא דְּסוּף, וְאִלְמָלֵא דְּאַשְׁגַּח קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בִּזְכוּת אַבְרָהָם, דְּאַקְדִים בְּצַפְרָא לְמֶעְבַּד פִּקּוּדָא דְּמָארֵיהּ, וּרְעוּתָא דִּילֵיהּ, כְּדִכְתִיב וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר, כֻּלְּהוּ אִתְאֲבִידוּ בְּיַמָּא, בְּגִין דִּבְכָל הַהוּא לֵילְיָא, בְּדִינָא הֲוָה קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָלַיְיהוּ דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.

Abraham Angels Hands Merit Morning Praise Seas Water Zeh (This, Masc.)

816. We have learned that it is written, "... So that one came not near the other all the night" (Shemot 14:20), which teaches that the Archangels came to praise before the Holy One, blessed be He, that night. He said to them, 'The works of my hands are drowning in the sea and you sing praises before Me?' Immediately, "one came not near the other all the night" BECAUSE "ONE TO ANOTHER" IS SAID ABOUT THE ANGELS WHO PRAISE THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, AS IT IS WRITTEN, "AND ONE CRIED TO ANOTHER, AND SAID, 'HOLY... '" It is written, "And it was come to pass, that in the morning watch" (Shemot 14:24), the Holy One, blessed be He, observed the merit of Abraham, who rose up early in the morning to do the will of his Master, as it written, "And Abraham rose up early in the morning." Then the sea turned back and the water fled from before the children of Yisrael.

816. דְּתָנֵינָן, מַאי דִּכְתִּיב וְלָא קְרָב זֶה אֶל זֶה כָּל הַלַּיְלָה. מְלַמֵּד דְּאָתוּ מַלְאֲכֵי עִלָּאֵי לְשַׁבְּחָא בְּהַהוּא לֵילְיָא קָמֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, אָמַר לוֹן, וְכִי עוֹבָדֵי יְדַי טַבְעִין בְּיַמָּא, וְאָתוּן מְשַׁבְּחָן קָמָאי, מִיַּד וְלָא קְרָב זֶה אֶל זֶה כָּל הַלַּיְלָה. מַה כְּתִיב, וַיְהִי בְּאַשְׁמֹרֶת הַבֹּקֶר, אַשְׁגַּח קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בִּזְכוּתָא דְּאַבְרָהָם, דְּאַקְדִּים בְּצַפְרָא לְמֶעְבַּד רְעוּתֵיהּ דְּמָארֵיהּ, כְּדִכְתִיב וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר. כְּדֵין אַהְדָּר יַמָּא, וְעָרְקוּ מַיִין קַמָּיְיהוּ דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.

Abraham Creation Hebrew Letters Morning Seas Strength Torah

817. It is also written, "And the sea returned to its strength (Heb. leeitano) when the morning appeared" (Ibid. 27). We learned that "leeitano" MEANS litnao (Eng. 'to its conditioning'), to that condition that the Holy One, blessed be He, made with it when He created the world. FOR HE HAD MADE A CONDITION THAT IT SHOULD SPLIT FOR YISRAEL, BECAUSE EITANO (ENG. 'ITS STRENGTH') IS SPELLED WITH THE SAME LETTERS AS TNAI (ENG. 'CONDITION'). BUT WE SHOULD ADD that it is written here, 'leeitano,' while there it is written, "Maskil of Eitan the Ezrachite" (Tehilim 89:1), WHO IS ABRAHAM. HERE ALSO EITANO ALLUDES TO ABRAHAM. THEREFORE, THE TORAH SAYS, "when the morning appeared." At that same time, Abraham got up early in the morning to do the will of his Master, then the sea was split. Therefore, the splitting of the sea was difficult for Him.

817. דִּכְתִּיב וַיָּשָׁב הַיָּם לִפְנוֹת בֹּקֶר לְאֵיתָנוֹ, וְתָנֵינָן, לְאֵיתָנוֹ: לִתְנָאוֹ. לְהַהוּא תְּנַאי דְּהִתְנָה עִמֵּיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כַּד בָּרָא עָלְמָא, לְאֵיתָנוֹ, כְּתִיב הָכָא לְאֵיתָנוֹ, וּכְתִיב הָתָם מַשְׂכִּיל לְאֵיתָן הָאֶזְרָחִי, וְעַל דָּא לִפְנוֹת בֹּקֶר, בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא דְּאַקְדִּים אַבְרָהָם לְמֶעְבַּד רְעוּתָא דְּמָארֵיהּ, כְּדֵין אִתְקְרַע יַמָּא, וְע"ד קְשֵׁה הֲוָה קַמֵּיהּ קְרִיעַת יַם סוּף.