In the beginning of Parshat Bo, Hashem gives Moshe a command, ‘בא אל פרעה’, which means ‘come to Pharaoh’.
Hashem was actually instructing Moshe to go to Pharaoh. So why did he say ‘בא’?
You will notice that the whole Parsha is named after this term.
The Kotzker Rebbe gives a beautiful explanation. He says that Hashem could sense that Moshe was feeling alone.
After all, he was going to confront Pharaoh, King of Egypt, in his palace.
He had the entire Egyptian nation pitted against him and he also knew that his own people weren’t passionately in support of him.
Hashem wanted Moshe to know that Hashem was with him.
At the burning bush Moshe asked Hashem, ‘מי אנכי כי אלך אל פרעה’ – ‘who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?’
And Hashem’s answer was ‘כי־אהיה עמך’ – ‘I will be with you’.
Indeed, the Mekhilta, the Midrash, tells us that at the time when Moshe was speaking to Pharaoh, he felt the voice of Hashem coming out of his mouth.
Such was the palpable presence of the Almighty with Moshe at that time.
And that’s why Hashem said to Moshe, ‘בא אל פרעה’, come Moshe, come be with Me, when the two of us will stand before Pharaoh.
In Tehillim 23 we declare ‘לא אירא רע כי אתה עמדי’, ‘we will not fear any evil because Hashem, You are with us in times of trouble’.
Indeed, when the Jewish people has a sense that we are alone in this world, Hashem reassures us and He says no, I am with you.
Sometimes Hashem walks alongside us, sometimes He carries us in His arms.
But He is with us in the midst of deep challenges.
And that is exactly the situation right now, at a time when we are filled with anxiety and worry for the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
We know that Hashem is with us and He will always be.
Let us pray with all our hearts, for the great miracle we have witnessed - the release and safe return of the living hostages. With hearts full of thanks, we acknowledge His endless kindness and mercy, and we pray that those who have returned home find healing, strength, and peace after all they have endured.
We also continue to pray for the release of the one remaining hostage body and Divine Protection over our courageous IDF soldiers, police officers, medical teams, firefighters, ZAKA members, security forces, and every individual who stands in defense of our people - in Israel and throughout the world.
May all who are in need, be blessed with healing, yeshuot, shidduchim, children, and parnassah tova, and may we be blessed to have just continuous joy and to only go from one simcha through to the next, the most awesome, gorgeous, beautiful, peaceful, happy, healthy, amazing, relaxed, spiritual, and sweet Shabbat.
