Still: God Will Fight For Us and Prepare the Way Forward

We do not need to be afraid. We are to be still and see the Lord at work, trusting that He will will fight for us and prepare the way forward.

Those who know me best would characterize me as an action person. Although in recent years health issues have slowed down aerobic activities, when a plan is adopted I want to attack it. Mulling over it, tweaking it ad nauseam, re-thinking the plan from multiple angles, or just plain procrastination can cause me intense internal combustion. In other words, my husband can sometimes make my head explode!…because don’t we usually marry our opposite?

Standing still is not my forte; never has been. A decision is made to be executed, so let’s not delay – make a list, mark items off as you go, MOVE!

So, in Exodus 14, let’s just say I totally GET why the children of Israel freaked out when they realized the Egyptians, now angry and vengeful, had pursued and caught up to them at – of all places – the Red Sea! They were shaking in their sandals.  After they had left Egypt on such an ‘in-your-face’ emotional high, having plundered them of much of their wealth, (at God’s insistence), God had lead them the long way around the wilderness rather than through the land of the Philistines (Exodus 13:17-18). So rather than getting into a war with the mighty Philistines, Israel ends up with their backs against a wall of water and the fierce Egyptians bearing down on them! Ouch.

After considerable complaining (Exodus 14:11-12), Moses reveals to Israel the incredible battle plan… Are you ready?

• Don’t be afraid
• Stand still
• See
• Know The Lord Will Fight For You
• Be quiet
• Go forward

WHAAAT??!! That’s IT?! No spears? No forward group to distract them and rear guard to defeat them? Not even a trumpet sound???

Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.

Exodus 14:13-14, NKJV

Don’t be Afraid…

Often, as we all probably know, fear can be paralyzing, but when a vast army of enemies is marching toward you, the last natural inclination one usually has is to stand still. Simultaneously, Moses instructed the Israelites to have more trust than fear and to stand still in the face of their enemy.

We don’t know the exact timeline, but let’s say just days before, God had released the people of Israel after many years of oppression in Egypt. Using jaw-dropping miracles, God made sure they were loaded down with Egypt’s wealth as He ushered them out of captivity. After the flush of victory had passed and they faced a test, did God’s people remember the miracles of God on their behalf in Egypt? Sadly, no…but then, do we?

In essence, I call God a liar when I grip my fear tighter than my faith in God’s character and intentions toward me.  I’m confessing He is not who He says He is and doesn’t do what He says He will do. It has taken me a lifetime of struggle and stumbling to reach this understanding rather than to simply beat myself up with guilt each time I am convicted about my lack of trust in a given situation. We are a fearful people. God already knows that about us, but we don’t have to live there. Our mighty God is greater than our most entrenched fears.

Don’t be afraid. Fear not. Remember when He has rescued you before; He will do it, again.

In essence, I call God a liar when I grip my fear tighter than my faith in God's character and intentions toward me. Click To Tweet

Stand Still…

I liken standing still to waiting. These are areas where I learn from my husband’s more patient nature. He doesn’t rush headlong into things; therefore, he sees potential problems that I might miss on my initial fly-by. He has an eye for details; I like the big picture. Standing still can take in the small things. Being still is necessary for knowing God more intimately (Psalm 46:10).

Moses instructed the people to stand still, to wait, in order to see the salvation of the LORD, (or the deliverance). If they remained fearful or panicky, running into action that God had not ordained, I am convinced Israel would have missed the deliverance God had planned for them that day. They would have been too preoccupied with what they were doing to see what God was doing! Or they might have been crushed.

I question how often I miss the wonder of what He is doing because I’m busy ‘helping God’ do His ministry or whatever I think He needs to be doing…

See…

The more I see what God is doing and join Him there, the more convinced I become that He is, indeed, fighting for me, and not just me, but for His people. God told His people in Deuteronomy, Joshua, 2 Chronicles, Nehemiah and Isaiah that He would fight for them or their victories had been due to Him fighting for them.

Know the Lord Will Fight for You…

I love the picture of God slaying the enemies for Israel, but at the same time, I am aware that I often fight against doing nothing while trusting the Lord to do all the fighting in a battle that is raging around me. I don’t like to admit it, but I believe that it’s a mixture of pride and some skewed notion I learned a long time ago concerning works. Not a good combination!

If the Lord God Almighty says He will fight for you, then sister, you and I can put our absolute trust in Him because He is faithful!

Be Quiet…

“Oh,” Moses said, “By the way, while God is fighting for you, you shall be quiet,” (this is the Dodie version).

Not that any of us are like this, but the children of Israel were the biggest whiners and grumblers you’ve ever seen! So, I have an idea that God just wanted them to button it up for just a few minutes and watch Him deliver them in a miraculous way. Like when God doesn’t answer that prayer how I wanted or when I wanted or where I wanted…you get my drift, don’t you? I don’t want to be quiet. I think He needs to be reminded because surely He didn’t hear me correctly, or maybe He forgot!

Be quiet. In fact, in verse 15, God wants to know why they are still TALKING and CRYING OUT to Him! Uh oh.

Go forward…

Now, God says GO FORWARD.

Um…Lord, have you noticed this large body of water we are standing in front of? We don’t have boats, and uh, what about the children? And we don’t swim!

Be quiet…Go forward…oh, what glory you will see.

And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward…”

Exodus 14:15

What is your obstacle? Does it feel like the Red Sea is before you and the vicious Egyptians are behind you?

Don’t be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.

Erda Estremera