It is an act of obedience to HaShem as we’re instructed to do, “so that HaShem’s Torah may be in your mouth—for with a strong hand HaShem removed you from Egypt.” (Sh’mot 13:9).
In that same Parsha (B’Shalach בְּשַׁלַּח), we read of the wonderful acts of strength that HaShem had done for us, delivering us from bondage and slavery in Egypt. (From which we celebrate each year, Pesach and Chag HaMatzot.) I am reminded of the bondage that we each face in our society, our community and within ourselves. Some of these bondages are visible, while others are silent, appearing only in our minds.
The word B’Shalach (בְּשַׁלַּח) is translated as “when [he] let go” demonstrates two immutable truths. The first is, when we’re release from our own Egypt, we’re free to go wherever we choose. And the second is, after leaving our Egypt, are we clamoring to return because things get dicey. I believe that the first speaks to our physical release from bondage, while the latter speaks to our mental one.
B’nai Israel was physically released from bondage (i.e. Egypt), but throughout the story, we can see that the mental bondage wasn’t ever shaken. From this Parsha forward until the very end, we read of the constant wrestling that our ancestors faced as they struggled to survive and make it to the Promised Land.
This story so beautifully illustrates to us: freedom is a partnership we have with HaShem. On the one hand HaShem will, in compassion, set us free physically, but are we prepared to release ourselves from our own mental prison of limiting beliefs, past mistakes and comfortable shackles. Are we progressing forward to a Promised Land, flowing with milk and honey, where men and women are free with the truth of the Torah and HaShem’s guidance; or do we want to return to Egypt, a place of false promises of utopia, perfection & peace, only to reap hardships, slavery and death?