When G‑d Says “Go”: Stepping Ahead in Times of Uncertainty

Everyone of us knows what it feels like to stand at the edge of something overwhelming. Maybe it’s a health diagnosis that rocks our world, a job loss that leaves us scrambling, or a family conflict that seems impossible to untangle. Sometimes, it’s more subtle: the quiet ache of loneliness, or the stress that builds up when the demands of work and home threaten to pull us apart. We all have those moments when the way forward seems blocked, and the usual answers just don’t seem to work.

In those times, we react in all kinds of ways. Some of us freeze up, feeling helpless and wanting to give up. Others dig in and fight, determined to push through by sheer force of will. Some turn inward, praying for a sign or a rescue. And others, if we’re honest, feel the urge to run for the exits—anything to escape the discomfort or fear.

We see these instincts play out everywhere: in boardrooms when companies face a crisis, in classrooms when students feel lost, in marriages stretched thin by years of stress or misunderstanding. They show up in the way we respond to injustice or tragedy in the news, or in the private moments when no one else is watching. We all have a favorite “default” response, and sometimes it helps—at least for a while. But often, none of these familiar moves feels satisfying. We’re still stuck, still waiting for the waters to part.

Here’s the question for people of faith: What do we do when there’s no clear path through? When every option feels wrong, or dangerous, or just plain impossible? Can faith help us move, not just survive, in those moments?

It’s here that I find myself turning to a very old story from my own tradition. In the book of Exodus, there’s a scene that, for me, captures the heart of this dilemma. The Israelites have finally fled slavery in Egypt, only to find themselves trapped: the sea in front of them, an army behind. According to Jewish teaching, the people split into four groups. One wants to give up and go back. Another wants to fight. A third falls to its knees in prayer, and a fourth is ready to leap into the sea in despair.

At this moment, Moses—who’s got his own fears, by the way—tells them something radical: “Move forward.” Not “fight harder,” not “pray harder,” not “run away.” Just... take the next step.

But moving forward into a body of water isn’t exactly logical. Yet, Jewish tradition tells us about a man named Nachshon, who doesn’t wait for the sea to split or for everyone else to agree. He simply starts walking. First an ankle, then a knee, then up to his waist and chest—the water keeps rising. Only when he’s almost completely submerged does the sea finally part.

For me, this story isn’t just about ancient miracles or the drama of a people on the run. It’s about the quiet courage it takes to keep moving when you can’t see the outcome. Nachshon’s step wasn’t reckless; it was an act of deep trust—not in a guaranteed result, but in the rightness of moving forward when conscience and calling demand it.

That lesson feels especially urgent in our world today. Whether we’re facing public crises—divisions in our communities, challenges in our workplaces, or the loneliness that so many feel—or wrestling with private heartbreak, the temptation is always to retreat into old patterns. We can pray for rescue, and sometimes that’s exactly what we need. We can fight, and sometimes that’s necessary too. But real faith, the kind that shapes us and those around us, is often about taking the next uncertain step. Even when the waters haven’t parted yet.

The Jewish sages remind us, “The sea didn’t split until Nachshon was nearly submerged.” That feels about right. The breakthroughs—the moments when we find new strength, or reconciliation, or hope—often come not when we’re certain, but when we’re nearly out of options and still refuse to quit.

So, here’s the invitation, for all of us: The next time you find yourself staring at your own “Red Sea”—whether it’s a broken relationship, a stalled dream, or a problem bigger than you can fix—ask yourself, “What’s the next faithful step forward?” Don’t wait for the perfect plan or the guarantee of success. Sometimes, the miracle comes only after we’ve waded in as far as we can go.

We may come from different traditions, but we share the belief that G-d honors courage, persistence, and trust. This week, if you face your own ‘Red Sea,’ ask yourself: what’s the next faithful step forward? May we find strength in each other’s stories, and may we keep moving forward, together.

Yonatan Hambourger is a rabbi and writer dedicated to serving spiritual seekers of all backgrounds on behalf of Chabad of Rural Georgia. You can contact him at y@tasteoftorah.org.