Summary
The Israelites start leaving Egypt, and then Pharaoh changes his mind. The Israelites are now trapped between the Sea of Reeds and Pharaoh’s army. G-d tells Moses to raise his staff and a wind blows all night, leaving a path open through the water. The Israelites make it through safely, but when the Egyptians chase them the water comes back and they drown. The Israelites sing a song of gratitude to G-d, and then complain because there is no food. G-d then sends down mana for them to gather a single portion every day except for a double portion on Friday to last for Shabbat. There’s no water, so G-d tells Moses to hit a rock and this brings forth water. Then Amalek attacks from the back, attacking the weak and tired who are least able to defend themselves. The Israelites finally win.
(1) Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD. They said: I will sing to the LORD, for G-d has triumphed gloriously; Horse and driver G-d has hurled into the sea.
This Shabbat is called “Shabbat Shirah”, “Shabbat of Song”, because of the Song of the Sea (and the Song of Deborah in the Haftarah). How does singing together enhance a prayer experience?
This verse, which talks about physical sustenance, contains all the letters of the Hebrew aleph-bet in it. What is the connection between how food and letters/words sustain us?
On Friday, there was a double-portion of manna provided (hence 2 challot on Shabbat), but the Israelites had to put in the work to acquire it. When in your life has G-d provided something but you had to put in your own work to acquire it?
G-d will blot out the memory of Amalek from under Heaven, yet we’re still reading about Amalek today. Explain.