Don't Just Do Something; Stand There!

Wrap your cloak around you and imagine yourself an Israelite slave. For over 400 years, your family has served the Egyptians and now Moses has come to bring deliverance.  He has confronted Pharaoh many times, demanding that he allow the Israelites to leave Egypt, but each time Pharaoh has refused.  Each refusal has been followed by a plague, a terrible affliction that has affected all of Egypt, yet still Pharaoh has denied your release.

But now the angel of death has visited Egypt, striking the firstborn sons, and at last Pharaoh has sent you away.  Perhaps a million people are following Moses, fleeing toward the Red Sea.  You and your family are among the last in the mob and suddenly, in the distance, you hear the sound of chariots approaching.  Pharaoh has changed his mind and has gathered his army; they are in hot pursuit.

Though you cannot see it, you know that the Red Sea lies before you.  And Pharaoh and his army are behind you.  "Weren't there enough graves in Egypt," you cry out, "that you should bring us into the dessert to die?"

Moses speaks to the people and the message is passed through the crowd, until it reaches you: Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.  The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.  The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

I'm sure you remember the story -- God told Moses to raise his arms over the Red Sea and the waters parted, allowing all of the Israelites to pass through on dry ground.  And when the Egyptian army tried to cross the sea, the waters flowed over them and they were drowned.

Your own life is perhaps not so dramatic as this, but you may find yourself today between a sea and an army of your own, wondering what you can possibly do to solve your overwhelming problems.  Maybe God is saying to you, "Don't just do something; stand there!  This is not the time for action; it is the time for waiting on Me to act."

So stand firm.  God will work in your behalf in ways that will bring you great victory, and Him great glory!  

See Exodus 8-14 for this amazing story.

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