Panic sets in. What do you do? This is the situation the Israelites found themselves in, fleeing slavery, with the seemingly endless Red Sea before them and Pharaoh's forces hot on their heels.

According to Legends of the Jews, Moses, in his wisdom, knew he had to calm the masses. He urges them: "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord." But, naturally, the people are anxious. "When will this salvation come?" they ask. Moses assures them it will appear the following day, but they cry out, "We cannot wait until to-morrow!" Can you blame them?

So, what did Moses do? He prayed. He turned to the Divine. And Legends of the Jews tells us that God showed him the angel hosts, ready and waiting to assist the people.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Even amongst themselves, the Israelites couldn't agree on a course of action. We’re told there were four distinct opinions. One group wanted to embrace death by drowning in the sea. Despair. Another wanted to turn back to Egypt. Familiarity, even in slavery, can be tempting. A third group favored a pitched battle – a desperate fight against overwhelming odds. And the last thought they should just try to scare the Egyptians away with noise and commotion. A bit like a toddler’s tantrum, perhaps?

To each group, Moses gives a specific response. To those wanting to drown, he repeats: "Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord." To those wanting to return to Egypt, he says, "The Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more forever." To the warriors, "The Lord shall fight for you." And to the noisemakers, "Ye shall hold your peace."

"What, then, shall we do?" they finally ask their leader. And Moses' answer is profound. "Ye shall bless, praise, extol, adore and glorify Him that is the Lord of war!"

Instead of relying on swords and spears, they were to use their mouths. According to the text, their prayer was more effective than any weapon of war. The Lord hearkened to their prayer, something He was waiting for all along. Imagine that: God waiting for us to simply turn to Him.

What does this teach us? Perhaps that even in the face of overwhelming odds, when we feel trapped and helpless, there is power in faith, in prayer, in turning our voices towards something greater than ourselves. Maybe the greatest battles aren't fought with swords, but with words of praise and gratitude. And maybe, just maybe, the salvation we seek is already there, waiting for us to simply ask.