Protest Song

Isn’t it wonderful to be able to pray and praise with song? As we know that is not always the case. In fact in this week’s portion of Beshalach, Shabbat Shira, the timeless tense reality brings many forms of prayer, sometimes even in dispute with each other as to whether there is rhyme or reason for them to even occur. Alongside the lyrical romance of Az Yashir—“Then they sang,” the song of Moses and the people, echoed by Miriam and her circle of singers, there are moments that the cries of the people appear to insinuate; “How can I sing the Lord’s song…”? Their fear and frustration surpassed any prospects for joy. 

The children of Israel behold a site that they believed was behind them but not in the immediate sense. The Egyptians were giving chase, 14:10;

…וַיִּֽירְאוּ֙ מְאֹ֔ד וַיִּצְעֲק֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־יְהֹוָֽה׃ …

…Terrified, the Israelites cried out to GOD.

On this Rashi expounds that they followed the examples of their forefathers, who had always turned to God in times of trouble. Rashi reminds us of the three iconic occasions that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob prayed. Fascinatingly in a manner that also parallels these episodes, there is no script as to what their prayer actually was. The next two verses bring their bitterness and complaints directed at Moses. “[Look] What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt…”

Ramban suggests that the disparity, between the prayer and protest, points to two different groups, one cried to G-d [for help], and another denied His prophet and did not acknowledge the deliverance done for them. 

But perhaps there is no disparity at all. Perhaps it is both. The same people, in the same moment, praying and protesting – a protest song.

Moses comforts them, patiently explaining that God will indeed deliver them from this too, they should have no fear. But then, astonishingly, Moses appears to be scolded by God,14:15;

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה מַה־תִּצְעַ֖ק אֵלָ֑י דַּבֵּ֥ר אֶל־בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְיִסָּֽעוּ׃

Then GOD said to Moses, “Why do you cry out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward.

Implying that your prayer is unnecessary, now is not the time. But more puzzling there is no indication in the text that Moses was in fact praying. This apparent silence is not so much an indication of that Moses was not praying, on the contrary, the understated is being overstated. It is inconceivable that Moses could stand apart from the entreaty and prayer of his people, he felt their aguish their pain and their fear. What true leader could not?

Not every song is sung in triumph. Some emerge from fear, anger, and uncertainty; some sound more like protest than praise. Sometimes faith does not sound like harmony. Shabbat Shira of then and this week where we “celebrate” #Bringing them all Home, reminds us that prayer is not only what we sing after salvation, but what we cry out before it arrives.