Stand Firm
“Does your relationship with God enable you to stand firm on His promises?”
Exodus 14: 5-14 (ESV)
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.
When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 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. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
Reflection
Great leaders do not over-promise and under-deliver. So, when Moses assured millions of people who were minutes away from death that they had nothing to worry about, it’s safe to assume he knew something they didn’t know. This week we have looked at the excuses and the arguments Moses offered up to God to avoid the call on his life. We have seen why his past could have easily disqualified him from representing God before the masses. Why is it then that Moses could speak so confidently on God’s behalf?
More than anything else, Moses wanted an intimate relationship with God. The Bible tells us that God spoke to Moses face-to-face as a friend (Exodus 33:11). Such was his devotion to God that Moses would settle for nothing less than His presence to lead them into the Promised Land (Exodus 33:15). God honored this hunger by revealing more of Himself to Moses than He did to the Israelites. Hi We see this in Psalm 103:7 (NLT):
He revealed his character to Moses
and his deeds to the people of Israel.
The Israelites saw God’s miracles and benefited from His generous deeds, but they didn’t know His character. Consequently, they panicked when they stared death in the face. Many people are content to receive God’s blessings without wanting a relationship with Him. It’s when trouble or sickness strikes that we wish we knew God well enough to remain peaceful through it all. Moses challenged the Israelites in this critical moment to strengthen their faith in God. The call to “stand firm” reveals who we believe is in control of the crisis ahead.
Action Steps
Think about the last storm that disrupted your life (or the storm you are currently in). Does your relationship with God enable you to stand firm on His promises? If not, what needs to change for you to have peace that God is in control?
Prayer
Father, thank You for the blessings You pour out so generously every day. May I always seek after You for who You are, and not for what You provide. Amen!
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.
When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 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. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
Reflection
Great leaders do not over-promise and under-deliver. So, when Moses assured millions of people who were minutes away from death that they had nothing to worry about, it’s safe to assume he knew something they didn’t know. This week we have looked at the excuses and the arguments Moses offered up to God to avoid the call on his life. We have seen why his past could have easily disqualified him from representing God before the masses. Why is it then that Moses could speak so confidently on God’s behalf?
More than anything else, Moses wanted an intimate relationship with God. The Bible tells us that God spoke to Moses face-to-face as a friend (Exodus 33:11). Such was his devotion to God that Moses would settle for nothing less than His presence to lead them into the Promised Land (Exodus 33:15). God honored this hunger by revealing more of Himself to Moses than He did to the Israelites. Hi We see this in Psalm 103:7 (NLT):
He revealed his character to Moses
and his deeds to the people of Israel.
The Israelites saw God’s miracles and benefited from His generous deeds, but they didn’t know His character. Consequently, they panicked when they stared death in the face. Many people are content to receive God’s blessings without wanting a relationship with Him. It’s when trouble or sickness strikes that we wish we knew God well enough to remain peaceful through it all. Moses challenged the Israelites in this critical moment to strengthen their faith in God. The call to “stand firm” reveals who we believe is in control of the crisis ahead.
Action Steps
Think about the last storm that disrupted your life (or the storm you are currently in). Does your relationship with God enable you to stand firm on His promises? If not, what needs to change for you to have peace that God is in control?
Prayer
Father, thank You for the blessings You pour out so generously every day. May I always seek after You for who You are, and not for what You provide. Amen!
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