The Shabbos of Parshas B’Shalach is known as Shabbos Shira, the Sabbath of Song. It refers to the song of praise we sang at the Yam Suf, known as Az Yashir, which we say every day. The Haftorah read is the song of Devorah, sung upon the victory of Israel over Sisera, who fell at the hand of a woman.
Shira is praise given to Hashem, especially at a time of deliverance. In the first case, at Yam Suf, we did nothing. In the second, Barak and his armies fought the battle. However, the result is the same, that we recognize Hashem’s mastery and know that the victories are His alone.
There is one more reference on Shabbos Shira, and that is to birds who “sing.” There is a custom to leave food out on Friday afternoon to be eaten by the birds as a thank you. When Moshe told the Jews the Mon would not fall on Shabbos, some people went out at night and put some of their Mon on the ground, so they could collect it in the morning to show that Moshe was wrong. However, birds came and ate the food, foiling their plan.
This, too, brings home the message that regardless of Man’s efforts, it is Hashem who makes the results occur. They put out the Mon but Hashem made sure their efforts had no effect.
Thought of the week:
Don’t tell G-d how big your problems are. Tell your problems how big G-d is.
