here goes…
D’Var Torah – Parshas Bamidbar – 5764
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman
The Children of Israel, led courageously by Moshe Rabeinu (Moses), traveled through the wilderness for 40 years with the help of Hashem (G-d). Many of us have heard this story hundreds of times, since we were children; but it is AWESOME, almost overwhelming when you think about it in detail:
Moshe and the people were in the desert, but what was he going to do with them?
They had to be fed, and feeding 2 or 3 million people requires a lot of food.
According to the Quartermaster General in the Army, it is reported that Moshe would have to have had 1500 tons of food each day. Do you know that to bring that much food each day, two freight trains, each at least amile long, would be required!
That is why Hashem provided them with Manna each day!
Besides you must remember, they were out in the desert, so they would have to have firewood to use in cooking the food. This would take 4000 tons of wood and a few more freight trains, each a mile long, just for one day.
The manna came fully cooked.
And just think, they were forty years in transit.
And Oh yes! They would have to have water. If they only had enough to drink and wash a few dishes, it would take 11,000,000 gallons each day and a freight train with tank cars, 1800 miles long, just to bring water!
Hashem provided water from the rocks!
And then another thing!
They had to get across the Red Sea in one night. Now, if they went on a narrow path, double file, the line would be 800 miles long and would require 35 days and nights to get through. So there had to be a space in the RedSea, 3 miles wide so that they could walk 5000 abreast to get over in one night.
Yet Hashem made the ground hard and smooth for them. Who else but Hashem could build a road so fast?
But then, there is another problem……………each time they camped at the end of the day, a campground two-thirds the size of the state of Rhode Island was required, or a total of 750 square miles long…….. think of it!
This much space for just for nightly camping. And they didn’t even have cell phones to stay in contact with each other to coordinate their actions and movements.
Do you think Moshe figured all this out before he left Egypt? I think not! Moshe believed in Hashem. Hashem took care of these things for him. Do you think Hashem has any problem taking care of all your needs? When the road you’re traveling on seems difficult at best, just remember; Hashem has an amazing track record of helping and providing for us. Hashem did it before, He can do it again no matter how bleak or helpless your situation seems.