"And the Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left." (Exodus 14:20)
This week's Torah portion has the parting of the sea after the Israelites left Egypt.
I know how it was done.
Okay. I am lying.
I really don't know how it was done.
But honestly, the veracity of that event should neither require scientific evidence nor a leap of faith. The miracle of the parting of the sea is not so much an historic event but became for the people of Israel the paradigm for all that G-d would do for them, now and forever. That Story became the symbolic moment of G-d's power over the universe. It reminds the believer that G-d interacts in this world and that miracles happen.
So let me amend my earlier statement.
I think I know how miracles begin.
Human intervention first.
I say that for the rabbis see the words "the Israelites went into the sea" as a statement that the waters were not parted when they entered, at least not right away. Rabbinical tradition teaches that it first took one Israelite who decided to plunge into the water before the sea fully split; that unnamed person inspired others to follow. When G-d saw that act of faith, the waters parted.
Imagine. A person bold enough to lunge into the water. Uncertain of what would happen. Putting faith in G-d. Hoping for a miracle.
They went "into the sea". The ground dried with their act and the waters then formed a wall on their right and on their left.
Lesson: Miracles sometimes require strength of conviction and a willingness to act.
The audacity of faith. The feeling we can change the world.
Or to quote Rabbi David Wolpe, "seas part when we have mission and motion."
If we want G-d to be a positive part of our lives, if we truly believe in miracles, sometimes we have to take that first step ourselves.
Even at the risk of getting wet.
