Machshavot HaLev - Yeshivat Lev HaTorah

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בלה תובשחמ
people, due to the shackles of slavery, were not able to accept the message of “Ani
Hashem.”
This failure of Am Yisrael’s acknowledgement of God is also found in the Book of
Yechezkel. “And I told them … I am God. But they rebelled against me and they
did not want to listen to Me – for no one rid of himself from the detestable ways,
nor did anyone give up the fetishes of Egypt, and I resolved to pour out My anger
upon them” (20: 7-8). Hashem then continues and says, “I took them out and
brought them into the desert” (20:10).
The Midbar, which was never mentioned as part of the brit of Yetziat Mitzrayim,
becomes the new plan, “Plan B,” so that Hashem can teach the Jewish people the
message of “Ani Hashem” which they were not able to learn in Mitzrayim. The
first five events in the Midbar are all to convey the message of “Ani Hashem”:
(1) Kriyat Yam Suf – In order to break the slave mentality that prevented the
people from hearing the message of “Ani Hashem,” God needed to confront them
with a traumatic experience that would break the shackles of slavery from the
people. Kriyat Yam Suf was this event, and Moshe tells the people, “Do not fear,
stand upright, and watch God’s salvation … for the manner in which you see
Mitzrayim today – you will never see them again” (14:13).
(2) Mara – The Jews, after traveling for three days, do not have water. Moshe
screams out to Hashem and through the miracle of the tree sweetening the
water, Hashem captures the attention of the people: “Should you listen to the
voice of Hashem, your God, and do what is proper in His eyes, and listen to His
commandments … the afflictions that I placed on the Egyptians I will not put on
you, for I am God your healer” (15:26).
(3) The Man – The people complain to Moshe over the lack of bread. Hashem
uses this as a lesson in dependence on God on a daily level: “Behold I will rain
down bread for you from the heavens, and the people shall go out to gather each
day the day’s portion – in order that I may test them, to see whether or not they