“And Moses said to the people, ‘Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today… The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent’” (Exodus 14:13a, 14a).
The people of God had seen God perform 10 amazing miracles to deliver them from Egypt. Yet here in Exodus 14 they are still afraid that the Egyptian army would overtake and slaughter them.
So, Moses, the leader, gives them a message designed to increase their courage.
1) Fear not.
2) Stand firm.
3) See the salvation of the Lord.
a) He will work for you today.
b) He will fight for you.
4) Be silent.
This silence doesn’t mean that they should stop crying out to the Lord for salvation. Instead, the command to “be silent” refers to how God’s people were verbalizing their worries, their fears, their grumblings, and their complaints.
Crying out aloud for salvation is something that God encourages in many places in the Bible. Psalm 77:1-2a says, “I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord…” Crying aloud in this way shows dependence. And then when God rescues, He gets glory and everyone knows that our Father is indeed the Lord of heaven and earth.
But verbalizing our fears with in a grumbling, complaining way is something that demonstrates that we do not believe our God is bigger than our problems. And how can God get glory from that?
Our troubles and trials can become our opportunities to live in faith, not in fear.
Question: Where are you most tempted to live in fear – not standing firm, not looking for the Lord’s salvation, and not being quiet in His love?
A prayer:
You, Lord are worthy of trust. You have never let Your people without protection and provision. You are the God who brought Your people out of slavery in Egypt by Your outstretched arm and mighty power.
To lead them, You put a cloud before them by day and a pillar of fire before them by night. You parted the Red Sea. You caused that sea to swallow up their enemies. And You are the same yesterday, today, and forever.
If You provided for and protected them, You will provide for and protect me, my family, and my church.
Cleanse me of all godless fear. Cleanse from living like I do not have a mighty God in heaven. Cleanse me from a life that detracts from the glory due Your name.
Thank You so very much for the cleansing blood of Jesus that forgives and for the righteous life that covers me.
Now, help me trust You to provide for me and for my family. Help me to not fear, to stand still, to see Your salvation, and to be silent when it comes to being. a grumbler who sinfully verbalizes my fears to a watching world. I want You to get much glory from my life.
Today, I yield to You as my Provider.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
