"Bigdei Kahuna" Parsha page by Rabbi Yehuda Katz

BASHALOCH

"Who is like You (Hashem) among the mighty......................................." (15:11)

In Pirchei Rabi Eliezer 43, it states the following: " Rabbi Nechunia ben Hakana says, From Pharaoh we can learn the power of repentance (Tshuva). Pharaoh rebelled against G-d exceedingly for he said in Exodus 5:2 ," Who is Hashem that I should heed Him". And with this very language of "Who" (Hebrew, "Mi"), we find that he also did repentance when he says-"Who is like You (Hashem) among the mighty".G-d , thereby, saved him among the dead Egyptians,and he lived." (Please refer to Pirchei Rabi Eliezer 43 for further details) We can , Bezrat Hashem, learn a tremendous lesson from Pharaoh concerning repentance. When Pharaoh was at the height of his Kingship, he refused to acknowledge G-d's existence. Yet, when drowning in the sea he acknowledges G-d's existence, and praises G-d with the very same word he used against G-d (WHO-Mi).This was done, however, at the lowest point in his life. Although his repentance was accepted by G-d, yet it was flawed. Why wait for the low point in our lives to repent, when we can repent at our highest point? This is where our true belief in G-d takes on meaning. It's true Hashem is gracious to all his creatures and accepts repentance at all times, yet to repent at the 'highest point in our lives" that takes strength and conviction. The attitude of "why" repent when all is well is fundamentally wrong. This is precisely why Rabbi Nechunia ben Hakana mentions the "power" of repentance, that even at a person's "lowest" point in life", it still helps and can save. It"s power is all encompassing, yet it's not necessarily the "best'"repentance possible. The lesson being is that now is the time to repent no matter what our circumstances may be, good or (CHOS VESHOLOM) bad. I would like to illustrate this concept with an original parable (MOSHAL), Bezrat Hashem as follows: There was once a traveler that embarked on a journey through the most arid desert. In preparation for his journey, he prepared more than enough water in excess of what he truly needed. In the beginning, he drank and sadly to say wasted water for he was certain his supply would last until he reached his destination. However, half way through the desert he soon discovered that he was running low of water and began to worry about his outcome. This traveler was foolish indeed. Have a good Shabbos...........................................................................................................................