Thinking Torah Blog

In this week’s Torah portion, Beshalach, we encounter the miracle everyone knows: the splitting of the sea. Fresh from their liberation, the Israelites are heading toward the Promised Land when God takes them on a route that requires crossing a sea. Pharaoh changes his mind about letting the Israelites go and pursues them all the way to the shore. Then, in a spectacular moment, the sea parts, the Israelites cross on dry ground, and the water returns to swallow Pharaoh and his army.

There are many midrashim on this dramatic event, and one of my favorites comes from Midrash Rabbah. It focuses on Exodus 14:22, where the text oddly states, “and the Israelites went into the sea on dry ground.” The Midrash asks: “If in the midst of the sea, why on dry ground? If on dry ground, why in the midst of the sea? Rather, from here you learn that the sea was not split for them until they entered up to their noses, and then it became dry land for them.”

I find it so meaningful that our tradition shows us we have a role to play in our own miracles. Even with the crashing waves ahead, the Israelites didn’t stand around waiting; they charged forward until they were nearly submerged. Sometimes, we, too, can’t wait for God or anyone else. We must step in—up to our necks or even our noses—before the path clears. When life feels overwhelming or a task seems impossible, this Midrash reminds us to move forward anyway. Take the step forward.