One of the most difficult moments in history, when Klal Yisrael was literally on the brink and close to being annihilated, was just prior to krias Yam Suf. They had finally left Mitzrayim and were about to escape for good when suddenly a massive army of Mitzrim began chasing them. Fleeing was not an option; in front of them was the stormy ocean, and to the sides were wild animals. What was the solution? Only to turn to Hashem in tefilah.
Moshe Rabbenu, our greatest leader, cried out to Hashem - seemingly the appropriate response in times of tzarah. However, Hashem replied, “lamah titzak eilai - why are you crying out to me?” Only when Nachshon jumped into the raging sea did the miracle of Krias Yam Suf occur.
Why did Hashem not deem this to be a moment of tefilah?
We learn from this an extremely important yesod. When a person is lacking something or is in a time of tzarah, he certainly turns to Hashem in tefilah. However, as long as there still is something else to rely upon and somewhere else to turn, however bleak the chances may be, his emunah and tefilah is not 100% directed towards Hashem. It therefore is not the ultimate tefilah. However, when all other options are nixed and nothing else can help at all, a person truly feels - 100% - that ein od milvado and his tefilah is exceptionally powerful and effective.
Klal Yisrael were surrounded on all sides. They had the Mitzrim behind them, the sea in front of them, and dangerous animals on either side. However, they still had one small, bleak option: they could head into the sea. Hashem therefore said to Moshe, “al tizak eilai” - “Do not cry out to me. Klal Yisrael are in tremendous tzarah. Words are not enough. You must jump in the sea. You must be in a situation in which higiu mayim ad nafesh, the water reaches your nostrils, and then, from that point of great desperation, with nothing else in the world to rely upon, turn to Me in tefilah.”
