Beshalach: Pharaoh’s Deadly Regression

The splitting of the sea is symbolic of any final release from exile. Be it on a large global scale or the tiniest issue one deals with in their life, when the enemy is drowned and the problem is washed away, the release of that claw is the greatest relief one can ever hope for. So let’s understand the extent of the grip and, on the flip side, the unchained freedom.

Rabbi Elazar HaKappar in the Mishnah, Avot 4:21, quotes, “Jealousy, lust, and honor extract the person from the world.” This quote is a famous one, but it lacks the proper thought behind it. What Rabbi Elazar states is that these three aren’t divorced from each other and simply individual vices that have this effect. What he teaches us is that it is a progression of growth, or better, a regression into withering.

Children have the tendency toward jealousy. They see their friends show up with fancy shiny shoes, a cool backpack or gadget, hear of their new devices, and so on, and their want for this thing rises to the top of their priorities and doesn’t allow them to rest until they receive it or until something else, prettier and shinier, comes along. Sadly, this is still commonly found in many adults who live their entire lives chasing after fads and styles, losing their minds trying to keep up with the Joneses.

But this is small potatoes as we approach the next step: lust. When one is unsatisfied with their lot and has an uncontrollable urge for their jealous needs to be fulfilled, their thirst for pleasure drives them to do the craziest and sometimes the sickest things just to quiet it down. We know that lust only “helps” temporarily, but for the one who lives in the constant tumult of jealousy, their eyes see only their wish, and their desire blocks out everything that impedes its attainability.

The seduction of lust whispers to that one to go and get what isn’t theirs without ever telling them about the consequences that come afterward. They become disillusioned in the shimmer and gloss of materializing their inner desires and run to it like a drunk to their bottle. The drive within doesn’t let them sleep, and they pleasure themselves all along the way until they can finally touch what they so intensely visualized.

But there is more. When one chases after something so much and wants it so badly that their life depends on it, they do everything in their abilities to be worthy of that prize. They manifest it through their intellect, emotions, and motions. For example, if one desires wholeheartedly to be a millionaire, they won’t simply be jealous like a child and steal like a thief; they will walk the walk of a millionaire, dress like them, talk like them, and even demand respect like them. They will do what they can to get what they want and still tell themselves that they got there faithfully and properly.

It is the curse of honor that is the final road on the quest for their itching jealousy, and it is the same lustful drive that fuels their go. All three lead to the same old cliff we were warned about by Rabbi Elazar, the one that ultimately drives them out of the world. It is imperative that we uproot jealousy from our children, because one who has jealousy will be tangled in lust, and when both falter, they’ll be despised in their faux honor.

On the good side, we find people who are happy with their cup of water and slice of bread being sufficient to satiate all their needs and desires. They do not want what others have and have the capability to tell themselves, “I have enough.” What life has allotted to them is more than what they may need, and they don’t envy others for the beauty and glamour they possess. The car they drive, the house they live in, the package they carry, and “all that is to their friend” remains “to their friend.”

Needless to say, such individuals only lust for truly faithful things. Their behavior reflects only what fills their desires, and their vision is focused on what is real. A family man only wishes for his household to prosper and would trade anything of his own to be able to accommodate and provide happiness to those he is responsible for. The drive such a person has is not out of jealousy or flashy lights; rather, it is born from the innate and soulful desire for life itself.

Everything they strive for is in order to be of service to God and their God-given purpose. Their days are filled with moments that seek everlasting peace, the creation of memories, and the cementing of an eternal legacy. True and unbridled honor arises to those who seek it unintentionally, as the Gemara in Eruvin 13b states, “One who searches for greatness, greatness will run from him, and the one who runs from greatness, greatness will search for him.”

This phenomenon is the shackle, chain, and ball by which us humans are ruled. We can either drown with them or use their inertia to have them lift us higher. Will the ball be our anchor or will it be our flotation device? It is upon every self-respecting person to be mindful as to where these traits are being directed. Are they living like Pharaoh, or is every second of life a gift?

Speaking of Pharaoh, the Torah (Exodus 14:4) uses the word “Ve’ikavda B’Pharaoh” “and I will be honored by Pharaoh and his forces.” Rashi notes that when true evil is faced with punishment, Hashem’s name is honored. Pharaoh’s entire story is the regression of these three traits, as we see in Exodus 1:9 when he said, “Behold, the nation of the Sons of Israel is more and stronger than us.” This is jealousy at its core. He may have coated it with excuses that he was afraid the Sons of Israel would join forces with external enemies, but his nation’s lack of fruitfulness sparked that inner flame.

His undying desire to vanquish our light grew, and he looked for ways to make himself feel better along the way, even though he was still far from actualizing his desire. We weren’t going anywhere, and our numbers kept multiplying, and still he lusted like a dog in the heat to eradicate our spirit. He then fell prey to the final and deadly trap: honor. He said (Exodus 5:2), “Who is Hashem that I should listen to His voice…?” the perfect trifecta for the perfect ending.

Exodus 14:7-8: “He took six hundred exceptional riders, and all the chariots of Egypt with Shalishim-heroes upon them all. And Hashem strengthened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the Sons of Israel…” The word “Shalishim” is derived from the word “Shalosh”; they were heroes in the eyes of a man who exemplified the misuse of these three traits, as we see him chasing his honor with his last breath.

“…and the Sons of Israel left with a heightened strength and a raised head!” For them, every moment was a memory, every second was a gift. Freedom from this monster was what they had been longing for their entire lives, and now they were finally shown the honor they unintentionally worked for. The “Clouds of Honor” surrounded and protected them from evil, guiding them toward a path through the deepest of seas. Nothing could hold them down as their hard work and toil paid off.

This is a lesson that holds true throughout all generations and every situation. Are you pulling yourself down and sinking your army with you, or are you lifting everyone up and remaining afloat by its result? Splitting the sea is the metaphor for marriage as seen in Sotah 2a, and so it is with every relationship and thing we are involved in throughout our lives. As we keep our eye on the purpose of our being instead of foolishly chasing what isn’t meant for us, we merit to have the sea split before us. Are we the thinkers or the sinkers?

Shabbat Shalom

David Lemmer

LemmerHypnotherapy.com