beshalach בשלח

My Musing
The Uncle Moishy song declared Hashem to be "everywhere, up down, and all around. Here there everywhere that is where He can be found"
The midrash begins with the inquiry, if God is everywhere, then how could he be in one spot at any time?
Then the midrash continues along one of its traditional messages of encouraging the Jews to remain with the religion because in spite of the persecution felt by the Jews, they remain especially beloved by God.

מדרש תנחומא (ורשא) פרשת בשלח סימן ה
(שמות יג:כא) "וַידֹוָד הֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם יוֹמָם בְּעַמּוּד עָנָן לַנְחֹתָם הַדֶּרֶךְ וְלַיְלָה בְּעַמּוּד אֵשׁ לְהָאִיר לָהֶם לָלֶכֶת יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה"

"And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; that they might go by day and by night"

והלא כבר נאמר (ירמיהו כג:כד) "אִם יִסָּתֵר אִישׁ בַּמִּסְתָּרִים וַאֲנִי לֹא אֶרְאֶנּוּ נְאֻם יְדֹוָד הֲלוֹא אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ אֲנִי מָלֵא נְאֻם יְדֹוָד"
ואומר (ישעיהו ו:ג) "וְקָרָא זֶה אֶל זֶה וְאָמַר קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ יְדֹוָד צְבָאוֹת מְלֹא כָל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדוֹ"
ומה תלמוד לומר "וַידֹוָד הֹלֵךְ"?

And does it not already say "Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD" and it says, "And one called unto another, and said: Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory." And what is meant by "And the LORD went"

להודיע חבת ישראל לפני האומות כדי שינהגו בהם כבוד. ולא דיין שאין נוהגין בהן כבוד אלא ממיתין אותן מיתות חמורות. לענין כן מהו אומר (יואל ד:ב) "וְקִבַּצְתִּי אֶת כָּל הַגּוֹיִם וְהוֹרַדְתִּים אֶל עֵמֶק יְהוֹשָׁפָט וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּי עִמָּם שָׁם עַל עַמִּי וְנַחֲלָתִי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר פִּזְּרוּ בַגּוֹיִם וְאֶת אַרְצִי חִלֵּקוּ"
על עבודה זרה, וגילוי עריות, ושפיכות דמים, לא נאמר, אלא "עַל עַמִּי וְנַחֲלָתִי יִשְׂרָאֵל".

To make known the love of Israel that is before the nations of the world so they will be treated with respect. And that is not enough, such that they do not treat them with respect, rather, they subject them to torturous deaths. To that effect what is said, "I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and divided My land" On account of strange worship, forbidden relationships, and spilling blood (murder) it does not say, rather on " for My people and for My heritage Israel,"

ואומר (יואל ד:יט) "מִצְרַיִם לִשְׁמָמָה תִהְיֶה וֶאֱדוֹם לְמִדְבַּר שְׁמָמָה תִּהְיֶה מֵחֲמַס בְּנֵי יְהוּדָה אֲשֶׁר שָׁפְכוּ דָם נָקִיא בְּאַרְצָם"
באותה שעה(יואל ד:כ) "וִיהוּדָה לְעוֹלָם תֵּשֵׁב וִירוּשָׁלִַם לְדוֹר וָדוֹר" (יואל ד:כא) "וְנִקֵּיתִי דָּמָם לֹא נִקֵּיתִי וַידֹוָד שֹׁכֵן בְּצִיּוֹן"

And it says, "Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land."
At that very moment " But Judah shall be inhabited for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation." And " And I will hold as innocent their blood that I have not held as innocent; and the LORD dwelleth in Zion."