Nachshon’s Leap of Faith: When Belief Goes Beyond Reason

God commands Moshe, “Speak to the Children of Israel and let them journey forward.” But for the Children of Israel, fulfilling God’s command is far from simple. They recognize the trap they are in: the sea before them, the Egyptians behind them, and the threatening, frightening wilderness on either side. In their eyes, the chances of escaping this terrible danger seem nonexistent. They who until now believed in God, witnessed signs and wonders, struggle to withstand this decisive test of faith.

Moshe’s Calm in the Face of Uncertainty

Moshe, by contrast, does not appear worried. He has heard God’s promise that they will be saved and that the Egyptians will be defeated, to the point that “they will know that I am the Lord.” How this will happen, however, God did not reveal to him.

The compassionate leader calms the people. “Do not fear,” he tells them, instilling faith and trust in God. “Stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord that He will perform for you today… The Lord will fight for you, and you shall remain silent.”

The dark night is filled with fierce winds. The waves of the sea rise to heights of more than eighty feet, and the Children of Israel tremble in terror. Despite having been promised by God that they would cross the sea, they do not dare place their feet into the cold, raging waters. This already contradicts their rational thinking. This is a level of faith far beyond what they feel capable of.

Nachshon Ben Aminadav Steps Forward

Suddenly, amid the chaos, a determined man pushes his way through the crowd. His name is Nachshon ben Aminadav.

He leaves cold logic behind on the shore, and armed only with faith, he gathers his courage and jumps straight into the turbulent waters, struggling forward against the powerful current.

The water rises to his neck, and nothing happens. It seems the sea has no intention of calming its fury. On the contrary, it rages even more violently. The people shake their heads at the unfortunate man who is moments away from becoming prey to the crashing waves. But Nachshon persists, pressing deeper into the sea.

Faith at the Edge of No Return

The waves assault him from every direction, threatening to swallow him. With his last breaths, he cries out the verses from Psalm 69: “Save me, O God, for the waters have reached my soul. I have sunk into a deep mire, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me…”

And then the unexpected miracle occurs. Only when Nachshon reaches the point of no return, when there is no way back and no possibility of rescue, the sea suddenly splits. He feels firm, dry ground beneath his feet. Miraculously, God drives a strong east wind that divides the Sea of Reeds, leaving a dry passage for the Children of Israel, who walk safely “on dry land within the sea,” while “the waters were a wall for them on their right and on their left.”

There, in the depths, Nachshon’s test of faith takes place, a test that ultimately saves the entire nation of Israel.

The Central Test of Jewish Life

The central point of trial in the life of every Jew is the test of faith, a challenge faced day by day, hour by hour. A person may study ethics, observe mitzvot, and strengthen themselves through prayer, but when is their true intention tested? At the moment of truth.

If, even in a time of crisis, a person manages to withstand the test, their faith has proven itself genuine. But if they fail to endure their trials, their faith is revealed to be mere words, spoken outwardly but lacking depth.

Faith Must Be Lived, Not Just Spoken

In matters of faith, theory is not enough. Faith must prove itself in moments of trial. This is similar to someone who excels in driving lessons but does not receive a license until they demonstrate their ability in an actual driving test, successfully maneuvering between cars on the road.

It is easy to declare, “I believe.” After all, we are believers, the children of believers. But the difference lies in the level of belief, in how deeply we believe. It is easy to believe in what we see with our own eyes. But belief beyond logic, which is where the true test of faith lies, is difficult.

It is easy for a person to consider themselves a great believer when everything is going well and nothing is lacking. But when a crisis arrives, when it is time to put faith into practice, doubts and second thoughts quickly arise.

Faith Versus Trust

A person may repeat words of faith, lecture about faith, and educate others toward faith. Yet they must work hard to actualize faith, to act practically with trust in God, without endless questions and analyses. True greatness is to continue believing and trusting even in situations that are not understood, even when circumstances are difficult.

Some think that faith means “trust,” similar to the trust one places in other people, and therefore mistakenly believe that faith can exist only up to a certain limit. In truth, however, there is a great distance between faith and trust.

For example, people deposit money in a bank and trust it. Do they truly believe in the bank? Not completely. There is always a lingering fear that the money could be lost if the bank collapses, especially if a large sum is involved. This is not faith, but a practical trust that usually the money will be safe.

Faith in the Creator, by contrast, means absolute reliance. There is no such thing as partial faith, one half, one third, or one quarter. Faith in God is total.