This Isn’t Your Fight

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”  Exodus 14:14

 

This is a very familiar passage of Scripture occurring right before the dramatic miracle of the parting of the Red Sea.  We all love this passage because we know what’s coming!  This account is one of the most exciting of our Sunday School lessons.  But for just a moment imagine you are living in the moment and have never read the happy ending.  You have been in captivity.  Your captors are using you mercilessly for slave labor.  God sends a man to rescue you but all that happens after that is that you get more work to do with even less resources.  Finally, you are allowed to leave.  You and your entire nation are walking out en masse.  Imagine the thrill of deliverance, the excitement, the rejoicing in the Lord…

Now look up from your celebration and behold- your enemy is coming after you with an army. The very ones who oppressed you, taunted you, possibly beat you, are now advancing with horses and chariots. You know what awaits you if they overtake you.  And now what is your recourse?  You have a known murderer telling you: “Don’t worry about it. God will fight for you.  Just be still.” (My paraphrase.)  Does the prospect of standing still, while an angry mob pursues you, sound like a good idea on any level?

Now fast forward to 2012.  What enemies are advancing on you?  A need to pay the house payment?  The restoration of a relationship?  A need for healing?  There is so much we can learn from the Scripture today.  First of all, realize that the Egyptian’s enemy was just as real as the things you face today.  Secondly, they too had a history of being overtaken by their enemy.  Thirdly, it took the heat of the battle for God to release His miracle into their lives.  No matter what you are facing, God is just as big, just as powerful, just as mindful, and just as ready to defend you.

There are times God tells us to do things to help ourselves.  But there are also the times of the miraculous when God asks us to simply stand by and see what He will do on our behalf.  Sometimes being still and trusting is even harder than grabbing a sword and fighting.  But God will not share His glory with anyone.  So do not be a hero when God wants you to just be a believer

Dear Lord, show me when to fight and when to stand.  Increase my faith to believe you will do all that you promise.  Thank you for fighting for me.  What lavish love you give me!  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri