In Exodus 14:15, the children of Israel are on the banks of the Yam Suf ("sea of reeds") as the chariots of Egypt approach. God then tells Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward."
In a sermon at Church of the Messiah on May 8, 2021, Kyle Kettering observed that God's question seems unusual. Isn't God the one to whom we are supposed to cry out? He related some rabbinic haggadic traditions that address this point. One explanation, given in Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael, says that Moses was praying a long prayer at this juncture, and God was saying that this was a time for a short prayer, not a long one.
Another explanation is given in Mekhilta de Simon b. Yohai. In this version, God says that he has already heard the cries of the people (Exod 14:10), so that Moses need not say anything further.
At any rate, it was time for the children of Israel to step out on faith. Jewish tradition says that Nahshon, a leader of the tribe of Judah (Num 1:7), brother-in-law of Aaron (Exo 6:23), and ancestor of Jesus (Matt 1:4), was the first to take a step into the Yam Suf. One story (Numbers Rabbah 13.4) says that Nahshon walked into the water and just continued walking until the water went above his nose. Then the waters parted.
In this story Nahshon exhibits trusting obedience as he keeps walking while not knowing what will happen. Kyle reminded us of the description of faith in Hebrews 11:1 ("the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen").
Kyle also identified a New Testament parallel to Exodus 14:15 in Luke 9:13. Jesus's disciples, who had been enabled to do great works (Luke 9:1-6), suggested to Jesus that the crowd following him be sent to nearby towns to get food and lodging (v 12). Jesus replied, "You give them something to eat." It was another time to move ahead into the unknown in faith.
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