LEARNING DAILY

Exodus 14:13-14, And Moses said to the people, “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.”

The people Moses was leading out of Israel found themselves backed up against the Red Sea with the army of Pharaoh coming after them. The army was huge with 600 chariots that carried two people – one to drive and one to fight (David Jeremiah). Stuck between the army and the Sea. Can you feel their desperation? Can you put yourself in their situation; it certainly looked impossible.

I read somewhere, “You are either going through some trial/difficulty, or just coming through some trial/difficulty, or about to enter into some trial/difficulty”. Consider that statement to be accurate. How do you respond? As I get older, I find more and more situations I cannot control. Like the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 7, I continue to do the things I don’t want to do and do not always do the things I should do. There are situations around me that change and I don’t care so much for change. I see this country divided and a world full of evil. Trials/difficulties all around and I don’t know what to do to make things okay.

I was thinking the other day about some of the situations I had gotten myself into and asking our heavenly Father for His favor in a particular situation. It was one of those situations I got myself into and now I need You to get me out of situations and I was led to once again read this situation at the Red Sea. I had written in the margin of my Bible, “Fear causes one to look at the situation. Faith causes one to look to the One who is in control of all things!” I remember telling some of my fellow teachers to stop worrying; God is in control. And now those statements are right back at me. It’s interesting how God works, right?!

Moses told the Hebrews following him: “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.” God instructed the people to “Go forward”! The people wanted to run; God instructed them to trust in Him because He was about to do the miraculous for them. He was going to fight for His people. He was going to defend them and meet their need. The Red Sea was no problem for God! He was in control! When their trial/situation seemed impossible, with no solution, “the people needed to obediently follow Him in faith, leaving the outcome to Him” (David Jeremiah).

My situation might not be like being caught between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea but God cares about it just as much. He told the people to “stand still” or watch Me work in your situation. He indicated in His instructions to stop trying to figure everything out and let Me do what I know is best for you. Let Me do it My way and in My time (that’s for you and me!).

I am writing today, sharing what I believe the Holy Spirit is speaking into my heart. It might be just for me. But, if one of you reading this needs to be encouraged in the midst of a trial or your situation, know that God is with you and He desires that you be still and see what He will do for you – in His way and in His time. Keep your faith in Him; do not look at your situation and be fearful. By the way, we keep ourselves centered in Him through our worship and praise and by being obedient to Him as we walk a narrow way!