“…Hence, Unto Thee, O Lord, belongeth righteousness, but unto us confusion of face (Dan. 9:7). R. Yosé said: Was there a more shameful act than this? Israel crossed the Red Sea, and the idol Micah (had made) was carried with them… (Medrash Tanchuma Ki Sisa 14:3)

There is an English expression “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you” which I believe we all understand. The question of how far this goes can be learned from a Medrash on this week’s parsha. The Medrash Tanchuma, quoted above, says that the verse “To you Hashem belongs righteousness, to us embarrassment” refers to the fact that when klal Yisrael went through the Yam Suf, Micha actually brought an idol with him! Micha’s act scoffed Hashem and failed to give recognition to the unbelievable miracle that was happening to him. The Medrash later relates to us that when the Jews sinned by worshipping the golden calf, they brought mann as an offering to the calf. We know that mann is “bread from Heaven” – a food that does not exist in this world. How could they take the bread which Hashem provided to them and offer it instead to an idol?!

We might be able to rationalize offering the miraculous mann to an idol by stating that after some time even the supernatural can become ordinary – so perhaps they no longer considered it miraculous. The fact that Hashem continued to provide mann to everyone and did not immediately punish the people who offered the mann to the idol also strengthens this potential rationale. However, it does not explain how Micha could see the sea split and while in this state of wonderment bring an idol through it.

I heard a chilling story this week that was related by Rav Ruderman, the Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Yisrael, of that which he heard from the Chofetz Chaim. There was some kind of a disagreement in Radin and a child of one of the sides died at a very young age. The Chofetz Chaim approached the father and said to him, “Do you not understand that this is a sign from Heaven? ENOUGH!” To this the man responded, “Even if it means all my children will die, I must give up their lives for that which I know is correct.” This perverted logic is indeed mindboggling.

In our own lives there are times that we also do not recognize the Hand of G-d. Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman was once present at a Melaveh Malkah of 200 wealthy people to raise funds for charity. The philanthropists were given the opportunity to ask Rav Shteinman any questions they had. One of them asked, “We understand we have an obligation to give charity, but why do we have to deal with the constant pounding on our doors and incessant phone calls, with no respite?” To this Rav Aharon Leib answered with the following statement, “There was never such an increase in Jewish wealth in such a short period of time. It is clear to me that the reason for this increased abundance of wealth was in order to rebuild Klal Yisrael. You people here were charged with this mission. If you feel that it is too difficult, Hashem will find a replacement for each and every one of you.” There was immediately a hush in the room and no more pompous questions were asked.

I do believe that this proverbial “slap in the face” brought these wealthy people to their senses and helped them realize that their possessions and wealth were from Hashem, and not because of their own business acumen. So why does Hashem let us be deceived into thinking that we have created the wealth ourselves? The answer to this is obvious: We are being tested from Above.

A friend of mine once told me that he saw an executive director of a charity organization drive past a corner where there were people who were in need of a ride. “I don’t have time to give people rides as I have many other things to do today” said the director. My friend commented to me, “Look at the bizarreness of the situation. This director has a car because of the generosity of the organization’s donors. He takes that benefit for granted, yet he has no compassion for others.” I recall after hearing this statement, thinking to myself, “We all take advantage of the blessings that Hashem has given us. We take the strength that Hashem gives us for the purpose of learning Torah and use it for trivial pursuits. Isn’t this like feeding mann to idols of our own design?

May we all merit to internalize the message of the second half of the verse, “v’lanu boshes hapanim” – that we should feel shame as we recognize the contradictions in our actions, and therefore rectify our ways.