Stand Still

The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.

Exodus 14:14

Egypt behind them. The Red Sea ahead. They could surrender to the Egyptians. They could attempt to fight the enemy themselves. Or they could stand still and watch God give them their deliverance.

Like many of us, their first response was despair, complaining, and a willingness to return to the slavery they had just escaped. But all that would accomplish was more heartache for themselves and their children.

Perhaps they could have fought off the Egyptians. More than likely they would have been defeated in their own strength, and once and returned to the slavery they had been delivered from. But even if they had somehow won the battle, the Egyptians would have continued to pursue them. They could not have destroyed every single one of them, and they would likely have found themselves caught later with no escape still.

But God had bigger plans than the Israelites could imagine. He wanted to deliver them from Egypt, from their land of slavery, but He also wanted to ensure that they never had to face this enemy again. His goal was not just momentary freedom, but lasting freedom without having to live in fear, looking over their shoulders, for their enemy to return. And He knew that He was the only one that could do that.

How many times do I try to fight my own battles when God is waiting to do what only He can? Sometimes it’s out of impatience. Sometimes it’s out of a desire to control. Sometimes it’s out of frustration and wanting to “fix” something my way. Sometimes it’s out of fear.

But most the time, I either find myself right back where I started or I end up only momentarily pushing back the problem, waiting for the day it comes crashing back into my life.

If I want see God move, sometimes I have to be willing to stand still, even as I’m watching the army racing towards me. Because no matter what I see behind me, I know the One that stands with me is far more capable of setting me free than I could ever be.