When He Let Go

Torah Portion Exodus 13:17-17:16

Pharoah let the people go. Pharoah, the god of egypt, had suffered enough and in his grief agreed to let the Hebrews leave the land. All Egypt, who did not accept the word of the Lord and do what was required involving the blood of the lamb; suffered the loss of their first born and thus great calamity had struck and incredible mourning and wailing had overcome the land. Pharoah, let them go.

God did not let them go in the way that was easiest through the city, into the land of the Philistines but instead into the wilderness so that He might protect them from the wrath of the people as they passed. God let them go the safe way out so that he might preserve His people for their intended purpose. It was not time to go to war, instead He was to let them go free, to learn to worship Him.

All of Israel let go of their ties and their binds to Egypt and even took Joseph’s bones with them. Joseph was let go, to go home, to Canaan, just as he had made his people swear would happen.

The Hebrews set their Succoth in the wilderness and the first “Tabernacles” is recorded in this story. The people to this day remember that God let them go and thus, Israel still builds temporary homes, which they decorate to commemorate this very moment when the Hebrews were let go from Egyptian servitude!

The Lord let the god of Egypt go to his watery grave with all of his strength. The same Lord let Israel, laden with riches, and slowed by children and animals, without much power; pass through the chaos waters, freely. To dry land.

This freedom setting God who destroys His enemies let a song go from the lips of His servant Moses on the other side of the water. A song whose words proved prophetic. Moses let his heart go in praise to the God who appeared in fire and in a cloud leading His people to their new and yet old life.

The people were let go from Egypt. They went into the desert where there was little water and little food. They were to let go of life accept that God opened the rocks to bring water and caused “what is it” to form on the ground every morning which gave sustenance. He let the birds go, to become meat, for His people. The people were not given freedom, to accept death, but were let go to miraculous life.

God taught the people to rest of the sixth day and let them go and rest in their tents. He also let the people go to war and overcome yet another enemy. Amalek, attempted to overcome the people and destroy them. As long as Moses praised the God of his fathers, Israel would prevail and thus they did.

The Lord let the people go, weak and abused under the god of Pharoah, to become a strong and mighty nation under the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; their fathers!