Parshat B'Shlach - True Faith, True Prayer

Exodus 14:10 is a puzzling verse: "Pharaoh approached; the Children of Israel raises their eyes and behold!-Egypt was journeying after them, and they were very frightened; the Children of Israel cried out to Hashem". How can we understand the reaction of the Children of Israel in this verse. On the one hand, if after all their experiences of G-d's mighty hand in Egypt, they were not convinced that G-d was committed to taking them away from Egypt, why would crying out to G-d now help. On the other hand, if they were convinced, if they did believe in G-d's strength and commitment why cry out at all. It's clear that the Jews who came out of Egypt did believe in G-d and were willing to stake their lives on it.  For instance, in performing the first paschal offering in Egypt, they were risking their lives, by taking the lamb which was Egypt's "deity" (Exodus 8:22) and sacrificing it to G-d.

Rashi explains the difficulty in this verse. In crying out, explains Rashi, the Children of Israel "seized upon the occupation of their fathers." Meaning that it was the daily occupation of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to cry out to G-d. The holy of forefathers of the Jewish people would not just cry out to G-d in their time of need but rather on a daily basis as is alluded to in Genesis 19:27, Genesis 24:63, and Genesis 28:11.  So the Jewish people's crying out was not expressing a lack of faith. Rather the opposite, any person of faith when faced with a difficulty in their lives cries out to G-d even though they believe G-d will save them without crying out. Just like we need to share our troubles with the people around us, so we also need to share them with our Father in Heaven. 

And this is the meaning of praying and learning as an occupation. When one goes to work, it is not because there is anything particularly important happening at the office on that day.  It is simply part of staying connected to the source of one's mainstay. So also our connection to G-d is nurtured by daily prayer and learning, regardless of whether we have a special reason to do so or we are merely "clocking in" to seize onto the occupation of our fathers.

(Ideas are from the Talks of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Vol. 11)