As the Jewish people ate the Korban Pesach (the Paschal Sacrifice) before leaving Egypt they were commanded to eat it with, “your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand” (12:11). Why did they have to be dressed and ready to go when they didn’t leave until the next afternoon? The commentary of Seforno explains that this was a demonstration of their absolute confidence in Hashem that He would redeem them. They were still prisoners sitting within the walls of the jail yet they were ready to leave.

It seems that even after all the miracles they experienced, it was still a challenge for the Jewish people to really accept that they would be freed. Perhaps Pharaoh would harden his heart again and not allow them to leave. Therefore there was room to demonstrate that they truly believed in Hashem’s salvation. Why did they need to demonstrate this? Perhaps because the strength of their emunah (faith) to be redeemed was the final merit needed for geulah (redemption) to take place.

A woman came crying to Rabbi Dovid Yitzchok Isaac Rabinovich, who was known as the Skolya Rebbe, that her seven year old daughter, her only child, was deathly ill in the hospital with a rare disease. The doctors had given up hope. She pleaded with the Rebbe to promise her that her daughter would recover. The Rebbe was taken aback and gently told her that he can’t make such a promise. Healing is in the hands of Hashem. She responded that she knows that healing is in the hands of Hashem. But Hashem listens to the words of the righteous and if the Rebbe promises Hashem will surely listen! The Rebbe thought for a moment and promised her that he would recite Tehilim (Psalms) for her daughter. The woman was satisfied and as soon as she left the Rebbe took his Tehilim in hand and prayed for the little girl.

The doctors told the mother that her daughter would die that night between 2 am and 4 am. At 2 am a group of doctors gathered around the little girl’s bed to observe what happens when someone passes from this rare disease. By 4 am the girl remained unconscious but alive. The doctors went back to the mother and told her that their predictions could be off but that the little girl would pass soon.

By 7 am the girl opened her eyes. A few days later she was discharged from the hospital. She grew up to marry and raised a family.

When the Skolye Rebbe would emotionally recount this story in his later years he would say that it had nothing to do with him. It was the pure faith of the mother that, despite the doctors’ predictions, believed with such certainty that her daughter could recover if that was Hashem’s will.

The greatest merit to receive Hashem’s salvation is to truly believe in it. In this week’s parsha we read:

וַיֹּאמֶר ד’ אֶל־מֹשֶׁה מַה־תִּצְעַק אֵלָי דַּבֵּר אֶל־בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִסָּעוּ׃

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward [into the sea]. (14:13)

The obvious question is what’s wrong if Moshe cries out to Hashem? Based on the above we can suggest that Hashem was telling Moshe that now is not the time for prayer. It’s the time for the Jewish people to enter the water and demonstrate their faith in Hashem’s salvation. That is how they will be saved.

Every day we pray for Hashem’s salvation. Whether it be on the grandest scale as in the coming of Moshiach or on a very personal level,we beseech Him for deliverance from our troubles. Either may seem to be a very, very tall order for the kind of world we live in or the situation we may find ourselves in. But if we believe – if we truly believe- that Hashem can deliver and is ready to deliver, we will see our prayers answered and see the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days!

Shabbat Shalom!
Yitzchak