Parasha Reflection – BeShalach

The angel Michael bore the cloud,
So midrash has,
And moved to the back of the crowd,
Darkening, burning the Egyptian path as the 
Chariots—the Sherman Tanks of the day—
Plunged on, between towering liquid walls.

Imagine the last guy, the Israelite who Stationed himself in the the rear Ready with whatever was at hand To defend the people, his people, who Followed the God-appointed leader Out of bondage, stumbling to new-old lands.

As he looked back, running before angel Michael, The rolling darkness and the rumbling tanks, Glancing left and right at looming water walls, Panting in fear, fearing that the oppressors Might capture him and his or that the Tumbling floods take him and his,

Finally reaching the sea’s lips, His comrades grab his hands, Pulling him out of harm’s way. He turns, watches Egyptians drown; And a moment later, the front wave cheer Reaches his ears, and yet, still Stunned, he joins the chant we recall to this day:

Who is like You, O Lord, among the mighty Who is like You - majesty in holiness; Awesome in splendor, working wonders!

The angel of God, who had been going ahead of the Israelite army, now moved and followed behind them; and the pillar of cloud shifted from in front of them and took up a place behind them, and it came between the army of the Egyptians and the army of Israel. Thus there was the cloud with the darkness, and it cast a spell upon the night, so that the one could not come near the other all through the night. Ex. 14:19-20

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 42:3 Moses spake before the Holy One, blessed be He, saying: Sovereign of all worlds ! The enemy is behind them, and the sea is in front of them, which way shall they go forward? What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He sent Michael, and he became a wall of fire between (Israel and) the Egyptians. The Egyptians desired to follow after Israel, but they are unable to come (near) because of the fire. The angels beheld the misfortune of Israel all the night, and they uttered neither praise nor sanctification to their Creator, as it is said, "And the one came not near the other all the night" (Ex. 14:20).