Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand firm and see the salvation of the LORD that he will provide for you today; for the Egyptians that you see today you will never, ever see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you can be still.”
Exodus 14:13-14 NET
God had delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt. They were a free people, headed toward the land of promise. The land promised to their ancestors–to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was an exciting time for Israel.
But then, a bump in the road. They found themselves between the proverbial rock and a hard place. On one side was the sea. On the other side was the Egyptian army–come to reclaim their escaped slaves. It looked hopeless. And humanly speaking, it was.
But Moses told the people not to fear. To stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord. Then Moses stretched out his staff, and God opened a way for them through the sea. They crossed safely while the Egyptian army pursuing them was destroyed. Once again, Israel had experienced God’s salvation.
Trust in God
There is a lesson in this for all of us today who have been delivered from our slavery to sin. As we journey toward the promised land, there will be times when we might despair and look back on our previous life with longing. Or look at the lives of the people around us and wonder if we made a mistake.
But when, not if, that happens, remember Moses’ words to Israel. Don’t be afraid! Trust in the Lord to bring you through the sea, saving you from the hand of the enemy who seeks to enslave you again. Stand firm! Don’t be moved from the hope we have in Christ.
We are not promised that life as a follower of Christ will be easy. Quite the opposite, in fact. We are warned that all who want to live godly lives for Christ will experience suffering along the journey (2 Tim. 3:12).
But if you stand firm, he will see you safely through every obstacle you might face and bring you into the promised land. Unlike that generation of Israel who experienced all that God had done for them, yet, in the end, turned back and fell short.
