Growth of True Faith
Emunah · Spiritual Levels · Redemption · Song of the Sea
עוד במד' ויאמינו בדבריו ישירו כו'.
Further in the Midrash: “They believed in His words; then they sang…”
The Sefat Emet begins by noting the Midrash’s linkage between belief and song.
אעפ"י דכ' ויאמן חזרו ולא האמינו כו'.
Even though it is written that after “they believed,” they later returned and did not believe.
This raises a difficulty: how could their faith decline after such miracles?
וצריך ביאור היתכן שאחר יצ"מ נפלו בנ"י בחסרון אמונה יותר מה שהאמינו במצרים.
It requires explanation: is it possible that after the Exodus the Israelites fell to a lower level of faith than they had in Egypt?
The Sefat Emet asks how their faith could weaken after redemption.
ויתכן לפרש כי ענין האמונה אין לה שיעור.
It may be explained that faith has no fixed measure.
Faith is not static; it expands as a person grows.
ויש אמונה גדולה ביותר.
There exists an exceedingly great level of faith.
Some levels of faith are vastly higher than others.
והכל כפי מדריגות האנשים.
And everything follows the spiritual level of the people.
The degree of faith corresponds to one's inner refinement.
ולכן אחר הגאולה שנעשו בנ"י מוכנים להיות עבדי ה' לא הי' נק' אמונה ראשונה בכלל אמונה עד אחר זה שבאו לכלל אמונה שלימה שנאמר בה ויאמינו בה' ואז ישירו תהלתו.
Therefore, after the redemption, when Israel became prepared to be servants of God, their earlier belief was no longer considered true faith—until they reached complete faith, of which it is said, “And they believed in the Lord; then they sang His praise.”
Only after the Exodus did they reach a faith worthy of the name, which enabled them to sing.
וכמ"ש ע"ז מראש אמנה.
As it is written about this: “From the beginning of faith.”
This phrase hints to a lofty, foundational level of faith.
שהוא אמונה גבוה מאד.
This refers to a very exalted faith.
Their faith after the sea was of a completely higher order.
כי בוודאי מי שאין בו דעת ומאמין מחסרון ידיעה הוא ג"כ אמונה.
For certainly, one who lacks understanding and believes due to lack of knowledge also has a form of faith.
Simple belief without comprehension is still considered faith.
אבל העיקר כשזוכין לקצת השגה ולבטל עצמו והחכמה שבו להאמין בה' אחד הוא האמונה החביבה.
But the essence is when one merits a bit of comprehension, and nullifies himself and his wisdom in order to believe in the One God—this is the beloved faith.
The highest faith comes when understanding is used to surrender ego before God.
שע"ז אמרו אדם ובהמה תושיע ה' שערומין כאדם ומשימין עצמן כבהמה.
About this they said: “Man and beast You save, O Lord”—those who are clever like a person yet make themselves like a beast.
The ideal is balancing awareness with humble simplicity.
ולכן ויושע ה' ביום ההוא.
Therefore, “The Lord saved them on that day.”
The salvation corresponded to this perfected faith.
ויאמינו בה' הוא דבר גדול מאוד שהאמינו על כל המציאות כמו שיהי' מבורר לעתיד ה' אחד.
“And they believed in the Lord” means something very great: they believed concerning all of existence, as it will be clarified in the future when “the Lord will be One.”
Their faith embraced the ultimate unity that will one day be revealed.
ולכן כיון שהאמינו כך.
Therefore, since they believed in this way…
Their elevated faith opened new spiritual vistas.
הראה להם הקב"ה באמת כל מה שיהי' עד סוף התיקון.
God showed them in truth everything that will occur until the final rectification.
The Song at the Sea contained prophetic insight into all future redemption.
ולכן יש בשירה זו מעין כל הדורות כידוע.
Therefore, this song contains within it an aspect of all generations, as is known.
The Song encompasses all future spiritual eras.
וכמו שגלות מצרים הי' כולל כל הגליות.
Just as the Egyptian exile included all future exiles…
The first exile served as a template for all others.
וכן הגאולה וכן השירה כוללים כל הגאולות ושירות עד תחה"מ.
So too the redemption and the song include all future redemptions and songs until the resurrection of the dead.
The Sea Song is a microcosm of all redemption and praise yet to come.
Summary: The Sefat Emet teaches that faith is measured by spiritual maturity. After the Exodus, Israel reached a level of faith so elevated that earlier belief was no longer considered true faith. This complete faith enabled prophetic vision, embedding all future redemptions within the Song at the Sea.