Why split it with an Eastern wind?

The Ramban explains that HASHEM split the sea with an eastern wind “so that it would appear as if the wind split the sea into partitions.”

The Shvatim sinned

This Rashi seems to be difficult to understand. The Avodah of the Kohain Gadol is vital and highly sensitive; the world’s very existence depends upon it. As a result, there are many items that are avoided in the Avodah so as not to bring up even the faintest memories of sin. While there is no question that the Shvatim were men of extraordinary greatness, that greatness was also tainted with their sin of selling their brother. They had a rationale for what they did, but they  still plotted and carried out an attempt to kill Yosef, one of the greatest Tzadikim in the history of mankind. Doesn’t that sin permanently affect who they were? Shouldn’t that be reason enough not to mention their names in such a critical situation?

How could the Mitzrim possibly believe the wind split the sea?

This concept is very difficult to understand. How could the Mitzrim possibly think that it was the wind that split the sea? In fact the Ramban himself says, “even though the wind doesn’t split the sea into partitions.”

Understanding free will

The answer to this question seems to be predicated upon understanding the concept of free will. Free will doesn’t mean a theoretical ability to do good or bad - rather a practical ability - where either side is possible.

 

As an illustration: Do I have free will to put my hand in a fire? In theory I do. I could do it. But I never would. It is damaging to me, and so while in theory I have free will to do it, on a practical level I don’t.

Creating man

Chazal tell us that HASHEM created man to give him the opportunity to shape himself into what he would be for eternity. That molding of the person is accomplished by choosing that which is good and proper and avoiding that which is wrong and evil. By making these choices, man is given the ability to form himself.

 

To give man an even playing field, HASHEM put the Sechel -that pure, brilliant part of me - and inserted it into a body filled with drives, passions, and hungers, and He integrated the two. Now I don’t want only what is good and proper and noble. I also desire things; I hunger for many things. So my choice of doing only that which is good is now not so simple.

 

However, if HASHEM created man only out of these two parts, the Sechel and the guf[MH1] , the purpose of creation would never have been met. The wisdom of man is so great that it would be almost impossible for him to sin. Since every sin damages me and every mitzvah makes me into a bigger, better person, my natural intelligence wouldn’t allow me to sin, no matter how tempted I might be. I would clearly recognize it as damaging to me. Much like putting my hand into a fire, in theory I would have free will to do it, but on a practical level, I wouldn’t.

Imagination – its role and function

Therefore, HASHEM added one more component to the human: imagination, the creative ability to form a mental picture and sense it so vividly, so graphically that it is as if it is real. Ask anyone who has ever cried over a novel whether imagination isn’t a powerful force.

 

Now armed with imagination, man can create fanciful worlds at his will, and actually believe them. If man wishes to turn to evil, he can create rationales to make these ways sound noble and proper- at least enough to fool himself. If he wishes he can do what is right, or if he wishes, he can turn to wickedness, and even his brilliant intellect won’t prevent him - because he is now capable of creating entire philosophies that explain how the behavior he desires is righteous, correct and appropriate. Now man has free will. 

People believe what they want to believe

The reality is that people don’t believe that which is factual, proven and true - they believe what they want to believe. And while there are countless examples of this, one of the greatest manifestations is the Mitzrim following the Jews into the Yam.

 

Despite living through the Makkos, despite seeing the Yam split into sections, they didn’t believe it was a miracle. They attributed it to the wind because that is what they wanted to believe.

 

Understanding this can help us relate to the real challenge of belief - honesty. There are many reasons why a person won’t want to accept what his mind tells him is true. He has to be able to put away all other issues and focus on this one question: what do I think is the truth? Forget the consequences. Forget my agenda. Is there a Creator of this world? Logic will bring them to see the hand of God. However, if he isn’t honest, then nothing in the world will convince him, not the greatest miracles, not even the splitting of the Yam Suf itself.

For more on this topic please listen to Shmuz #18 People Believe what they want to believe