“The children of Israel came into the midst of the sea upon dry ground; and the waters were a wall for them to their right, and to their left” (Exodus 14:22). “The children of Israel came into the midst of the sea upon dry ground” – if in the midst of the sea, why on dry ground? If on dry ground, why in the midst of the sea? Rather, from here you learn that the sea was not split for them until they entered up to their noses, and then it became dry land for them.
Rabbi Nehorai expounded: An Israelite woman would pass through the sea, with her son crying in her hand, and she would extend her hand and take an apple or a pomegranate from the sea and give it to him, as it is stated: “He led them through the depths, as through the wilderness” (Psalms 106:9); just as in the wilderness they lacked nothing, so too in the depths they lacked nothing. That is what Moses said: “These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing” (Deuteronomy 2:7).
Nothing was lacking; all they had to do was mention something and it would be created before them. Rabbi Shimon says: Even speech was unnecessary, but rather anyone who thought something in his heart, it would be prepared, as it is stated: “They tried God in their hearts, asking food for their craving” (Psalms 78:18). Alternatively, “You have lacked nothing,” – that no thing [davar] was lacking in the world. But what was lacking? Repentance, as it is stated: “Take words [davar] with you and return to the Lord” (Hosea 14:3).