In the story of Kriyat Yam Suf, it says twice in two different Psukim: Am Yisrael came within the sea on the dry land, and the water was a wall for them on the right and on the left. There are two differences between these two verses that can teach us significant lessons.
The first difference is that the word חומה (the wall) is written without the vav in the second Pasuk. This spells out the Hebrew word “חמה” which means anger. The Midrash learns from this missing vav that there was a heavenly prosecution against Am Yisrael to not save them from the sea because both Am Yisrael and the Egyptians were idol worshippers, and there is no difference between them. If the Egyptians die, also the Jews should die. This is why the Pasuk is missing a vav, to teach us that there was anger.
But if this is the case, why didn’t this prosecution start earlier in Egypt with the ten plagues? The same claim can be made then. Meshech Chochma answers that in Egypt, the Jews were in unity, and this unity protected them from Heaven comparing them to the Egyptians. But, when they were standing in front of the sea, and they were not sure what to do, so Am Yisrael divided into four groups of different ideas on what to do. This is just like in the times of King Achav when the land was overwhelmingly filled with idols. They would win in all of their wars because they were in unity.
The second difference between those two Psukim is that the first Pasuk says that Am Yisrael came within the sea on dry land, but the second Pasuk says that Am Yisrael went on the dry land in the midst of the sea. The Vilna Gaon learns from this difference that there were two groups of people. One group sincerely believed in HaShem, and was willing to go into the sea, even if the water was still turbulent. The second group waited for it to turn dry, and then went in. The second Pasuk refers to these people who waited until the ground was dry.
From here we learn that sometimes in life we should not make to many calculations when it comes to Emunah, and trust in Hashem. Just as He saved us in Kriyat Yam Suf, He will help you when you trust in him.
Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Tal