“FEAR NOT, STAND FIRM!”

Exodus 14:13-18                                    (ESV)

“[13] And Moses said to the people, “”FEAR NOT, STAND FIRM”, and SEE the salvation of the LORD, which HE will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you SEE today, you shall never SEE again. [14] The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” [15] The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to ME? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. [16] Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. [17] And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. [18] And the Egyptians shall know that I AM THE LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.””

How well do you think that the crossing of the Red Sea would have been had the Children of Israel decided ON THEIR OWN to attempt the monumental feat without GOD’S intervention?  It is said by some that the Red Sea is is generally rather deep.  But precisely where GOD led HIS Children to “encamp” in Exodus 14:2 and WAIT!  It is said that the time WAITING was enough to cause angst among those who are used to seeing things happening on their time frame?  But where GOD had them WAITING took away ALL options for them!  There were mountain ranges to the north and south, and a narrow passage behind them.  Ahead of them was the Red Sea, a challenge that was beyond comprehension for man.

Like most of us, the Children of Israel were unaccustomed to WAITING ON GOD for anything.  But what else were they supposed to do given the situation in which they found themselves?  Typically we can keep our minds busy with the cares of “this world”, but GOD had removed all distractions from HIS Children.  They only could keep their EYES on “the salvation of the LORD”, or they could focus on the oncoming enemy, causing a dust storm as they drew near.  

“FEAR NOT, STAND FIRM” is hard to do when “the enemy” is coming stirring up a storm.  We can either have FAITH in the PEACE that comes from JESUS, or we can gaze upon the dust storm caused by “the enemy”.  Exodus 14:4 plainly tells us “And I WILL harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he WILL pursue them, and I WILL get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, AND THE EGYPTIANS SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.” And they did so.”  We can CHOOSE TO fret over the storm caused by our enemy, or we can “FEAR NOT, STAND FIRM” that GOD is getting GLORY from our trials!!!