In the story of the parting of the sea, it is said (Exodus 14:15): "And the Lord said to Moses, 'Why do you cry out to me? Speak to the children of Israel and let them journey forward.'" That is, Israel saw that they were doomed from all directions, as it is said in the Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishmael (Beshalach – Massekhta Vayehi, Chapter 3): "Rabbi Eliezer says, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: 'Moses, my children are in distress, the sea is closing in, and the enemy is pursuing, and you stand and prolong in prayer. 'Why do you cry out to me?' For there is a time to shorten and a time to lengthen.'" And at face value, it is puzzling, as it would seem the opposite is true, for this is the appropriate time to pray, as Maimonides wrote in his introduction to the laws of fasting: "One positive commandment, which is to cry out before the Lord at any time of great distress that should not come upon the community" [and see Ohr HaChaim (Exodus 14:15) who raised this question].