There are moments in life that we all face, when we stand at the crossroads, and each path seems no less frightening or full of dread than the other. This is where our ancestors stand in this week’s Torah portion, Parashat B’shalach, as they face the sea before them with the Egyptian army pursuing them from behind. 

Although the pages of the Torah speak of Moses and Miriam’s leadership of faith and song, our ancient sages read the signs embedded in Torah and found yet another hero, one who led the way into the watery path of change and freedom. 

According to rabbinic literary midrash, Nachshon ben Aminadav was the first to venture into the Sea of Reeds, and it was only after he went in that the waters split and the Israelites were able to walk through the sea on dry land. 

Stories of Nachshon appear in the context of the dedication of the tabernacle recounted in the Book of Numbers. Nachshon is the chieftain of the tribe of Yehuda, and he is the first of the chieftains to bring his tribe’s offering during the dedication. The rabbis passed on this story as they pondered this special honor:

“When it was time for the tabernacle to be dedicated, in the moment of celebration, Moses confessed to the princes of all the tribes that he did not know who should bring the first offering. The chieftains all looked at Nachshon, and said, ‘This man has sanctified the name of the Holy One at the Sea of Reeds. He is worthy to bring the Shechinah, the Presence of God. Let Nachshon go first.’”(Bamidbar Rabbah 12:21). 

There are different stories told about Nachshon’s bold leadership at the crossing of the sea. The accounts all agree that Nachshon was the first in the water but they differ as to why and how he got there. 

In a midrash on the Book of Psalms, Nachshon and his tribe of Yehuda were so driven to be the first ones into the water that they pelted stones at the members of the other tribes so they could be first. (Midrash Tehillim 114:19). This is a competitive, ego-driven move, and there were certainly rabbis who appreciated the positive aspects of these passionate and competitive impulses, seeing them as effective in propelling us forward to where we need to be. 

The Mekhilta de Rabbi Yishmael tells a different story. It describes a scene of great terror and chaos. Each tribe stood and shouted, “I will NOT enter the sea first!” Suddenly, Nachshon ben Aminadav leaped up and fell into the sea. And in his panic, he began quoting psalms: “Save me, O God; for the waters are come even to my neck (69:2-3). … Let not the water overwhelm me, let not the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me” (Psalm 69:16)  

Only when Nachshon is in the waters and nearly drowning does God tell Moses to stop his praying and raise his staff to part the waters (Beshallach 5). Here, Nachshon is the accidental leader. He fell in, but he rises to the occasion. 

Is Nachshon a faithful and trusting trailblazer? An arrogant trailblazer, full of bravado and the desire for fame? Or is he an accidental trailblazer?  In any event, he led the way and cleared the path for the Israelites. And he discovered that the risk he took proved how essential he was to carrying out the Divine plan.

I wonder whether the different versions allow us to imagine ourselves as Nachshon standing at the shore, looking behind and seeing Pharaoh’s army and horses, and looking ahead toward the vast and unknown sea. We imagine ourselves in the moment between past and future, and in one urgent moment, deciding whether to act on faith and head into the waters, or to remain on the shore, gripped by fear.       

Taken together, these stories tell of an outcome that was not predetermined by personality. The rabbis tell the story because they find it remarkable that Nachshon went first, into the dangerous waters. Their stories tell of a time – like our own, perhaps – where one might enter the waters of change with faith and courage but one might also do so with trepidation and even unwillingly. One might wait for others to take the lead, dive in rashly or with great terror. And one might surprise oneself and others by jumping in while others are still standing by. 

The rabbis point to leadership that does not always come from expected places, but anyone might jump in or fall into leadership. And if we do enter the waves with faith and courage, we too may discover that we are held and lifted up onto dry ground.