For a praise about Hashem saving us, Az Yashir has a lot in it that isn’t about us. Over and over this song recounts the terror Hashem devolved upon the nations of the world, and how he foiled their plans for supremacy over us and the world around them.
It must be there is more to this.
On one hand, we have the idea that the Jews are Hashem’s chosen people, charged with a spiritual mission in the world. On the other hand, we have the understanding that, ‘hakol b’shvil Yisrael,’ everything in the Universe is created to help the Jewish People fulfill this holy mission.
What Az Yashir does is highlight the fact that non-Jews who think they are the stars of the show, rather than supporting cast, are mistaken, and Hashem will not allow it.
This is not to say that they are not important or crucial to the world’s existence, but that the despots of the world overestimate their intended roles in G-d’s plan. We each have a part to play, but if we try to usurp the roles of others, Hashem has to replace the actors.
This is the reiterated message of Hashem’s omniscience and complete understanding of the world He created. When people try to overstep, Hashem will put them in their place.
On April 15, 1912, the RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic. Supposed to be “unsinkable,” there weren’t enough life boats and over 1500 people died in the frigid waters. A man who heard the news of the tragedy prayed to G-d, asking how He could let such a thing happen.
“Al-mighty G-d,” the man prayed. “You are all-powerful. You control the sea and the dry land, the heavens and the earth. Why did you let this tragedy occur? How is it that you did not stop the Titanic from sinking, and allowed all those people to perish?”
“Are you kidding?!” G-d replied. “Do you have any idea what I had to do to get all those people on one boat?!”
