Israel Journeyed Into the Wilderness on Faith Alone

Rabbi Eleazar of Modiim says: They journeyed at the command of the Gevurah (the Almighty), for so we find in another place, in two or three places, "At the command of the LORD they journeyed," and so forth (Numbers 9:18). And here too, even though it is written, "And Moses had Israel journey" (Exodus 15:22), they journeyed at the command of the Gevurah. And what, then, is the meaning of "And Moses had Israel journey"? At the time he told them that they should journey, they did not say to him, "To where are we journeying? Into the wilderness? Perhaps there is nothing in it." Rather, they arose and journeyed for themselves, on the basis of faith. Jeremiah said, "Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: Thus says the LORD: I remember in your favor the devotion of your youth, and so forth, your following Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown" (Jeremiah 2:2).