Spring brings with it not only flowers, sunshine and warmer weather but two important religious holidays: Easter and Passover. While Passover commemorates the Israelites freedom from slavery in Egypt, Easter commemorates Jesus' resurrection and ascension. These seem like positive holidays, but the climax of the Biblical stories are preceded by some fairly heavy topics that include such dark topics as betrayal, crucifixion, slavery and plagues.

Embedded within the tale of Jesus' life and death and the tale of the Israelite's fight for freedom and escape from the Egyptians at the shore of the Red Sea lies the common theme of faith and courage. I think this is most clearly seen by looking first at the account of the parting of the Red Sea. For just as Jesus lost faith in the Garden of Gethsemane and briefly on the cross, the Israelites lost faith as they stood on the shore of that huge body of water and watched the Egyptian's approach. In both cases, however, faith in God coupled with courage to move forward with inspired action brought forth the miracles we now celebrate each spring during Easter and Passover.

The Old Testament, or Five Books of Moses, says Moses parted the sea with his staff, but the midrash, or a story that fills in a gap in story, says that the sea didn't actually part until a man named Nachshon actually walked into the water. So, Moses raised his staff, but the sea did not part. The Israelites stood on the shore of the Red Sea with the Egyptian army approaching and no where to go but into the sea. Afraid, they began to cry out to God, and in their lack of faith, they cry out to Moses. Moses, however, simply tells them to have both courage and faith.

And what does God say? Of all things, God says, "Why are you crying to me? Tell the Children of Israel to travel." In other words, while Moses reminds them to of the importance of both faith in God and courage, God says, "Stop looking to me for the answers. Get moving! Take action!" That's an odd response to the Chosen People's pleas for help, especially when they appear stuck between a huge sea and an army.

Nachshon, however, understood God's response. He possessed both faith and courage. He trusted that if he took action that God would provided the needed miracle. He heard the words, "Let them travel." He also knew that God's response - "Why are you crying to me?" - didn't mean, "Figure it out yourself." It meant, "You have the answer. You know what to do. You have the tools." Nachshon knew what those tools were - the power of his thoughts and his vision. If he believed those waters would part, if he could see that miracle happening and feel it happening - and if he truly had faith that the waters would part- they would, indeed, part.

Remember, God also told Moses to raise his staff and stretch out his hand over the sea, and the sea would split, but the midrash says that the sea did not part initially. (Maybe Moses lacked faith at that moment...) It actually didn't split until Nachshon walked right into that ocean up to his ankles, up to his knees, up to his waist, up to his shoulders, up to his chin, up to his nose. And just when he thought he would drown, low and behold, the waters parted. And then all the Children of Israel were able to travel to safety. This one act ensured their liberation.

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