ישראל בני אל דבר אלי תצעק מה משה אל ‘ה ויאמר” (טו יד) “ויסעו
The Sfas Emes explained: When a Yid reaches the realization that he has no way to be saved from his troubles, and he pins his hopes entirely on his Creator – that is when he sees salvation. That is what happened when Am Yisrael stood at the shores of Yam Suf, with Pharaoh’s army behind them, the sea ahead of them, and nowhere to flee. Because they saw that there was no way out, they turned completely to Hashem, and immediately, the sea split for them.
This is what Hashem said to Moshe: “Mah – titz’ak Eilai” – have Am Yisrael reached a state that they are confident in nothing but the yeshuah of Hashem that they are turning “Eilai” and shouting “mah” - what will we do now? Their salvation has already arrived! And therefore: “Daber el Bnei Yisrael veyisu.”
Vaya’an Yosef [Rav Y. Mandelkorn] p. 111
The Ruzhiner Rebbe was quoted as saying that Dovid Hamelech alludes to this concept in sefer Tehillim, with the words (12:2-3): “Ad anah Hashem tishkacheini netzach ad anah tastir es Panecha mimeni” – “ad anah ashis eitzos benafshi.” As long as a person still has all kinds of ideas and seeks a natural way to extricate himself from his troubles, HaKadosh Baruch Hu hides His Face from him and does not extract him from his troubles. But when the person sees that only Hashem has the yeshuah, then the hastaras Panim ceases and he is spared.
Yismach Yisrael Parashas Vayigash
