Parashas Beshalach - It's not worth fighting over money matters

This weeks Dvar Torah has been sponsored for:
Refua Shelema: Daveeda Leah bat Bassie Chaiya
(If you would like to sponsor next weeks Dvar Torah, feel free to email me: SharingTorah@gmail.com)
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In Parasha Beshalach, while leaving Egypt, there was a shortcut from the Land of Philistines to Israel, but Hashem led the Jews in a round-about way. He avoided that path, because the Philistines might wage war against the Jews, leading the Jews to have second thoughts and return back to Egypt. Hashem led them by a pillar of cloud during the day, and by a pillar of fire at night in order to travel.

After Egypt was hit with ten plagues (in last week's parasha), Pharoh finally decides to let the Jews go, and worship Hashem. With every plague, Pharoh agreed to send them off, but hardened his heart before the Jews were able to escape. Three days into their journey, Pharoh and his servants had a sudden 'change of heart'. The Egyptians couldn't believe that they had freed the Jews, who have been doing continuous work for them, for free. Pharoh and his people quickly harnessed their chariots, and chased after them. Several days into traveling, the Jews saw the Egyptian army approaching from behind, with the sea in front of them, and on either sides, wild beasts. [1] They were surrounded! Immediately the Jews repented and prayed to Hashem, pleading for help. Moshe reassured them that Hashem will fight in their place, and not to worry.

[Usually when someone is in a position of high authority, he is expected to be smart and make the right decisions. What happened with Pharoh? Didn't he and his people suffer enough? When a child touches fire, and gets burned, he knows not to mess with it again.] Why did Pharoh see it proper to retrieve the Jews?

Rashi [2] gives the reason: Pharoh pursued the Jews because of the money/property the Egyptians gave them on their way out of Egypt. Pharoh wanted to get it back. Since Hashem hardened Pharoh's heart, Pharoh needed to convince the Egyptians to battle with him against the Jews. He told them, "I will not claim the stolen goods all for my self, rather I will split it equally among you all!" [3]

The first thing I asked myself was, "Wow, people fought over money back then as well?" If you think about it, a lot of fights are caused because of money. A classical case is husband and wife, fighting over money matters. Example: The husband might complain about how his wife doesn't turn off the lights after leaving a room, or a wife complains to her husband because he just came home with something he bought in a garage sale that costs five dollars. She asks, "Why did you buy this? What are we going to do with it? That's such a waste of $5.00!" Sometimes one needs to ask themselves, is it really worth arguing over five dollars? Suppose he had just spent $200, arguing isn't the answer. Spouses need to sit down and communicate together, setting limits and goals to improve their budgets. They should be fighting for each other, not against one another.

Things in my house break and spill all the time. The first thing I say to myself is, "Baruch Hashem the money wasted is going to what broke/spilled and not going to doctor bills/medication! Hashem has a list of who makes how much money per year. If Hashem wanted me to lose thirty dollars, I would rather it be over a broken bottle of wine, than me or my family getting sick, having to pay for doctor bills."

A lesson learned from this weeks Parasha: It's not worth fighting over money. We see that Pharoh's reason for pursuing the Jews was due to monetary matters, which caused his whole army to drown in the sea. He didn't even go back for that which was his. The Egyptians stole these possessions from the Jews and during the plague of Darkness the Jews retrieved that which belonged to them. Not to mention the hard labor the Jews did for the Egyptians for no wage. It was their money, their payment! Let's not be a Pharoh who makes the wrong decisions. Sometimes, things aren't worth arguing for.

I give us all a bracha, we should never get into any arguments with our neighbors, family, friends, or our spouses.

Have a wonderful Shabbos,
Nisso


[1] Shemos Rabba 21:5
[2] Rashi 14:5
[3] Mechilta