Lead Tidbit
But is it a Basis of Belief?
When G-d was sending Moshe into Egypt to demand that Par'o let the Children of Israel out, Moshe repeatedly hesitated and did not seem to want to go. Rambam says that part of Moshe's reservations were the signs that G-d gave him to display before the people and before Par'o. Moshe felt (knew?) that belief that is based on supernatural signs, miracles, etc. leave room in a person's heart for doubt. G-d said that Moshe will speak to the people and they will believe him. (Par'o will resist, but that's another thing.) Moshe says the people might not believe him. So G-d goes through the staff-to-snake and back again, the hand with tzora'at and healthy again, and the water to blood sign. G-d says if they won't believe the first sign, then they will believe the second. If not the second, then the third. Obviously, belief based on signs is not guaranteed nor is it firm.

Rambam states in Hil. Y'sodei HaTorah that our belief in Moshe is not based on the miracles he performed. Those miracles were for practical purposes, not to base belief upon.

On the other hand, the wonders Moshe performed did impress the people and did form some kind of belief. Which is exactly what Moshe was afraid of.

G-d assured Moshe that the miracle- based belief was a temporary measure - just until the people left Egypt. Then they would return to Chorev (Sinai) and receive the Torah, and that would be the solid foundation upon which Jewish belief in G-d is based. An everlasting belief.

We still have to understand the statement in this week's sedra, that as a result of the Splitting of the Sea the people "believed in G-d and in Moshe His servant". It can be suggested that the experience at the Sea was much more a GILUI SH'CHINA (Divine Revelation) than what had happened up to that point, but not likethe Sinai Experience was to be. (Based on Rambam and a conversation with Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Poupko.)