Exodus 14:13
“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…’”
There can be little question that the children of Israel were following the leading of the Lord. They had a miraculous door open; freeing them from slavery. They began to march, carrying gifts from Egypt, and being led by a pillar fire and a cloud. What was hard for them to understand was, the Lord had led them into a very difficult place. With Baal Zephon on one side, Migdol on the other, and the Red Sea before them, Israel was boxed in, with no where to turn. As the Egyptian army approached, the Israelites were the proverbial sitting ducks. With fear gripping their hearts, they cried out to Moses, declaring life was better in slavery than in the wilderness. It was with this backdrop, Moses gave one of the most beautiful promises of God.
“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today…”
No matter how bleak the situation, Moses promised that God would deliver His people to safety. He promised it will be done in a uniquely divine way. Although no one in Israel or Egypt could imagine what would happen next, God had a plan to rescue His people. The plan would create a situation allowing God the latitude to do something amazing.
It seems to me, we do all we can to ensure we never find ourselves boxed in, with no way out. We save, plan, and even manipulate, to guarantee we will not have to rely upon the Lord. I think it is vital we keep in mind, that God wants to bring us to places where we have to rely upon Him, so He can do great things in our lives.
Whatever your circumstances, be sure you are allowing God the latitude to work in your life. If you are facing obstacles that are too big for you to handle, then seek the Lord to move them. If you are facing challenges that are too big for you to accomplish, then ask the Lord to transform you. After all, He is the God who turned a shepherd boy into a giant killer.
Pastor Jim
Jim Gallagher 