Daily Zohar # 4777 – Beshalach – Do not fear!

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Hebrew translation:

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Zohar Beshalach
Continued from previous DZ
#193
Another explanation of “וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַיָּד הַגְּדוֹלָה… וַיִּירְאוּ הָעָם אֶת ה’” “And Israel saw the great hand… and the people feared Hashem” (Exodus 14:31): This verse appears disconnected—its beginning does not seem related to its end. It first states, “And Israel saw the great hand,” and then follows with, “And the people feared Hashem.” Does the first statement imply that only after seeing the great hand did they come to fear Hashem? Were they not already in awe of Him?
Rabbi Yehuda explained: The elder who descended with his children into exile—meaning Jacob—bore the burden of the exile upon himself and led his children into it. He truly saw all these acts of vengeance and the mighty wonders that Hashem performed against Egypt. This is the meaning of “וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל” (“And Israel saw”)—this refers literally to Jacob (Yisrael), who beheld the redemption that Hashem brought upon his descendants.
Notes:
The Zohar teaches us that redemption is a process that transcends generations. The suffering that Jacob bore when he led his family into exile was not just his personal experience—it was a burden for all generations of Israel. When the redemption came, it was his vision fulfilled, as if he were witnessing it himself (“And Israel saw”).
This teaches us a powerful lesson: No suffering is forgotten in Hashem’s divine plan. Just as Jacob’s hardships in exile were accounted for in the final redemption, so too does Hashem remember the suffering of every Jew throughout history. The ultimate redemption is not just for those who will witness it—it is the realization of all previous generations’ hopes, struggles, and prayers.
Thus, when we endure difficulties in exile, we should remember that we are part of a greater story, one that began with our forefathers and will culminate in the final redemption. Every hardship has its purpose, and every exile has its redemption.
#194
Rabbi Yehuda said: The Holy One, Blessed be He, elevated that elder—Jacob—and said to him: “Rise and see your children coming out from among a mighty nation. Rise and see the mighty deeds I have performed for your children in Egypt.”
#195
Rabbi Yissa said: When Israel journeyed to descend into the exile of Egypt, great fear and dread fell upon him (Jacob). The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to Jacob: “Why are you afraid? Do not fear to go down to Egypt.” The fact that it says, “Do not fear,” implies that, indeed, he was afraid.
Notes:
Jacob’s fear mirrors our own fears in times of crisis—the fear of uncertainty, suffering, and spiritual decline. Hashem’s reassurance, “Do not fear to go down to Egypt,” teaches us that even in the darkest of exiles, Hashem is still with us. This is a message of faith—no descent is ever without purpose, and redemption is always planned in advance. This also reminds us that fear is natural, but trust in Hashem is greater than fear. When Hashem tells Jacob, “Do not fear,” He tells every Jew throughout history, “Even in exile, I am with you. Do not despair, for redemption is already in motion.”
Genesis 46:4
וְאָנֹכִי אֵרֵד עִמְּךָ מִצְרַיְמָה וְאָנֹכִי אַעַלְךָ גַּם עָלֹה
“I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will surely bring you up again.”

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