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Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today….The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still. Exodus 14:13-14
I absolutely love this section of scripture! Hollywood couldn’t create a better, gripping, nail-biting scene in my opinion. After many plagues, Pharaoh finally “lets the people go”. As Moses leads them out of slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land, the Israelites find themselves trapped at the edge of the water. “As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them, Exodus 14:10. Panic would be the word I would use to describe the reaction of the Israelites. Moses, however, kept his cool and told them to “stand still” so the Lord can do His thing. And boy did He ever! “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left, verse 21. Sweet! They cross the sea and then as the Egyptians attempted to follow, “The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen-the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived” verse 28. Can you imagine?! How epic would that be, to see that kind of power from God?! At first, you may think, Oh that Mighty God, what a show off, did He really need to be so dramatic? Verse 31 concludes with this, “When the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.” Apparently He did need to “show off “ a bit, not because He needed to prove Himself, but because we needed to see the proof. Why can’t I just believe because God said it? Why can’t I just trust His promises and not have to be reassured time after time after time? Why do I need some major event or “show” to prove that God is big? You’d think a sunrise every morning and a star filled sky every night would be enough for me, but sadly it’s not. I don’t deserve those repeated reminders. “STAND STILL.” He died once on the cross for all my sins and to prove His love for me, that is enough. I am so grateful that God is patient and His grace is so great for you and me, aren’t you?
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9