Divine Mercy and Justice

וירא ישראל כו' מצרים מת כו'.

“And Israel saw … Egypt dead …”

The Sefat Emet begins by noting Israel’s viewing of the Egyptians’ downfall at the Sea.

דאיתא בלוט אל תבט אחריך שאינך כדאי לראות במפלתם ואתה ניצול.

It is taught regarding Lot: “Do not look behind you, for you are not worthy to witness their destruction while you yourself are being saved.”

This comparison highlights that one who is rescued may not always be permitted to see the punishment of the wicked.

וכאן בקי"ס דאיתא שהיו נתונים בדין אם להנצל כו'.

But here, at the splitting of the Sea, it is taught that Israel themselves were under judgment as to whether they deserved to be saved.

Despite their being judged, their situation differs from Lot’s case.

אעפ"כ כתיב וירא כו' מצרים מת.

Nevertheless, it is written: “And they saw … Egypt dead.”

Israel was permitted to see the downfall of the Egyptians, unlike Lot.

והענין כי בוודאי לא הי' ספק חלילה על בנ"י ליאבד עם מצרים.

The matter is that there was certainly no actual doubt, Heaven forbid, that Israel would perish with Egypt.

Though they were judged, their destruction was never truly in question.

אך נודע כי אין קיום לשום בריה בלי חסד עליון משמים

But it is known that no creature can endure without supernal heavenly kindness.

All existence depends on divine graciousness.

ובנ"י נמסרו אז בדין שרצה השי"ת לזכות אותם עפ"י דין ממש בלי הצטרכות החסד

And Israel was then placed under judgment, for the Holy One desired to grant them merit through strict justice itself, without relying on kindness.

God wished their salvation to be earned through justice alone.

והרי זכו בדין ושוב חזרו למקומם להתנהג עמהם בחסדו.

And they indeed merited through judgment, and afterward they returned to their usual state, in which God treats them with His kindness.

Once they passed the test of strict justice, divine compassion resumed its normal role.

כי באמת גם זה מדת הדין הוא להתנהג עם בנ"י בחסד.

For in truth, even this is an aspect of judgment: that God treats Israel with kindness.

Kindness itself becomes the rightful measure due to them.

כמאמר עם חסיד תתחסד

As the verse states: “With the pious, You act with kindness.”

Those who live with devotion receive divine compassion as a matter of justice.

ומ"י שעושה לפנים משורת הדין שורת הדין להתנהג גם עמו לפנים משורת הדין.

And one who acts beyond the letter of the law—justice itself requires that God act beyond the letter of the law with him.

Their generous deeds generate reciprocal divine generosity.

רק לפי שעה היו נתונים בדין ממש.

It was only for that moment that they were placed under strict judgment.

This temporary state explains why they could still witness Egypt’s fall.

Summary: Although Israel was momentarily judged strictly at the Sea, their salvation was never in doubt. God wished their merit to emerge from justice itself, after which He returned to His customary kindness—kindness that, for Israel, becomes a rightful expression of divine justice.