A Life Lesson from the Parsha
Shortly after Bnei Yisroel encamped by the Yam Suf, they saw the Egyptian army approaching behind them. Bnei Yisroel could not flee by running forward, since the sea was in front of them. Midrash tells us that they also could not flee to the sides, because there were dangerous animals to the right and to the left of them. At that moment, HaShem said to Bnei Yisroel: הַרְ אִיתִי אֶת מַרְ אַיִךְ הַשְמִיעִיתִי אֶת קוֹאֵךְ כִי קוֹלֵךְ עָרֵב וּמַרְ אֵיךְ תָּאיֶה - ...Show me your countenance, let me hear your voice, because your voice is pleasant and your countenance is beautiful. [Shir HaShirim 2:14]. Rashi on this verse explains that HaShem was saying the following to Bnei Yisroel, הראיתי את מראיך את ושריר פתאתך למי את פונה בעת צרה? - Show me your “countenance”, your proper action: To whom do you turn at the time of trouble? And Bnei Yisroel then offered a “pleasant voice” to Hashem, as the verse (Shemos 14:10) says “And Bnei Yisroel cried out to Hashem.” That’s why the verse above from Shir HaShirim says: “your voice is pleasant”.
So next time you’re stuck, say to yourself, “This is a blessing! HaKadosh Boruch Hu put me in this situation because He wants to bring out my “pleasant voice”, my sincere tefilla.
