Faith in Moshe Tested

בפסוק וידבר ה' א"מ דבר אבנ"י וישובו כו'.

“In the verse: ‘And the Lord spoke… Speak to the Children of Israel, and let them return…’”

The Sefat Emet opens by raising the question of why God commanded Moses to tell the people to turn back.

ויש לדקדק כי ע"פ הענן היו הולכים ולמה הוצרך לצוות למרע"ה.

“One must examine: since they were traveling according to the cloud, why was it necessary to command Moses?”

The people normally followed the pillar of cloud, so the need for a verbal command appears puzzling.

אל מקום שהענן ילך ילכו בנ"י.

“Wherever the cloud went, the Children of Israel would go.”

This reiterates the standard pattern of their travels, strengthening the question.

אבל נראה כי הש"י רצה שיאמינו בנ"י למרע"ה לחזור לאחוריהם.

“But it seems that the Holy One wished that the Children of Israel believe in Moses to turn back.”

God wanted the people to follow Moses’ directive even when it contradicted expectations.

ולא הראה להם ע"י הענן.

“And He did not show it to them through the cloud.”

The cloud did not signal this reversal; it came only through Moses’ word.

רק האמינו למרע"ה כמ"ש רש"י להגיד שבחן.

“Rather, they believed Moses, as Rashi says, to declare their praise.”

Their willingness to follow Moses without a sign demonstrated their spiritual merit.

ולכן הרהרו אח"כ אותן שאמרו המבלי א"ק כו'.

“Therefore those who later said, ‘Was it for lack of graves…,’ began to doubt.”

Some retroactively questioned Moses’ decision, assuming it came from his own mind.

שסברו שמרע"ה אמר כן מדעתו.

“For they thought that Moses had spoken from his own mind.”

Their error lay in imagining Moses acted independently rather than by divine command.

אעפ"כ הואיל והאמינו מתחילתו בכל לב.

“Nevertheless, since at first they believed with full heart…”

Their initial sincere faith carried spiritual weight despite their later doubts.

לכן זכו אח"כ לישועה וחזרו והאמינו במשה ג"כ.

“Therefore they merited salvation afterward, and they again believed in Moses as well.”

Their early trust enabled them to experience redemption and renew their faith in Moses.

Summary: God withheld the cloud’s guidance so Israel would follow Moses directly, revealing their trust. Though some later doubted, their initial wholehearted faith led them to merit salvation and to reaffirm their belief in Moses.