Exodus_14
Scripture
Exodus 14:10-18-
Exodus 14:10-18-
10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
13 Moses answered the people, “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. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”
Observation-What does it say?
The Israelites were terrified because Pharoah and the Egyptians were on their tail. They couldn’t see a way out. The Red Sea was right in front of them and escaping seemed impossible. They started crying out to the Lord and grumbling to Moses because they honestly felt like their deaths were imminent in the desert.
Moses encouraged them and told them not to be afraid, to stand firm, God will deliver them, they will never see their enemies (the Israelites) again, the Lord will fight for them, and to just trust and be still (vss. 13-14). Then the Lord spoke through Moses to tell the Israelites to stop their crying and move on.
Moses put down his staff, God parted the Red Sea and allowed them a path to cross through. God did the impossible and Scripture says in verse 31 that “when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant." God was given the glory as a result of what He did to Pharaoh and the Israelites, just as He said He would in verse 18.
Understanding-What does it mean?
In times of fear, we can be still and trust that God is the God of the impossible.
In that moment when the Israelites were seeing only one outcome ahead of them-death, God proved them wrong. He showed them that it wasn’t the end. He was the God of the impossible.
Life Application
Be still in His presence and don’t fear.
13 Moses answered the people, “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. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”
Observation-What does it say?
The Israelites were terrified because Pharoah and the Egyptians were on their tail. They couldn’t see a way out. The Red Sea was right in front of them and escaping seemed impossible. They started crying out to the Lord and grumbling to Moses because they honestly felt like their deaths were imminent in the desert.
Moses encouraged them and told them not to be afraid, to stand firm, God will deliver them, they will never see their enemies (the Israelites) again, the Lord will fight for them, and to just trust and be still (vss. 13-14). Then the Lord spoke through Moses to tell the Israelites to stop their crying and move on.
Moses put down his staff, God parted the Red Sea and allowed them a path to cross through. God did the impossible and Scripture says in verse 31 that “when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant." God was given the glory as a result of what He did to Pharaoh and the Israelites, just as He said He would in verse 18.
Understanding-What does it mean?
In times of fear, we can be still and trust that God is the God of the impossible.
In that moment when the Israelites were seeing only one outcome ahead of them-death, God proved them wrong. He showed them that it wasn’t the end. He was the God of the impossible.
Life Application
Be still in His presence and don’t fear.
“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Psalm 46:10-11 NIV
It seems easier said than done to just sit still in the presence of Jesus and let our worries and fears for today, tomorrow and the future fade away. However, it is Jesus’ heart's desire for us all. Financial, relational, health, and future concerns can rob us of the peace and joy that the Holy Spirit desires for each of His children. Those are His fruits!
Pastor preached a couple Sundays ago that a relationship with Jesus is not burdensome. Jesus said He would take our heavy yoke upon Himself for “His yoke is easy and burden is light (Matt. 11:30).” That doesn’t sound hard! I also shared on Sunday that Jesus encouraged Martha to stop worrying and being distracted with so many things because one thing was necessary..to sit still, listen and spend time at Jesus’ feet. The things Martha was doing wasn’t bad, but Jesus desired relationship with her more than making sure everything was perfect for Him.
Psalm 46:10-11 NIV
It seems easier said than done to just sit still in the presence of Jesus and let our worries and fears for today, tomorrow and the future fade away. However, it is Jesus’ heart's desire for us all. Financial, relational, health, and future concerns can rob us of the peace and joy that the Holy Spirit desires for each of His children. Those are His fruits!
Pastor preached a couple Sundays ago that a relationship with Jesus is not burdensome. Jesus said He would take our heavy yoke upon Himself for “His yoke is easy and burden is light (Matt. 11:30).” That doesn’t sound hard! I also shared on Sunday that Jesus encouraged Martha to stop worrying and being distracted with so many things because one thing was necessary..to sit still, listen and spend time at Jesus’ feet. The things Martha was doing wasn’t bad, but Jesus desired relationship with her more than making sure everything was perfect for Him.
Moses also gave us practical ways to encourage ourselves out of fear in this passage: 1) Don’t be afraid 2) Stand Firm 3) Believe in faith that God will deliver you 4) Believe that the Lord will fight for you. 5) Be still.
As we seek the Lord FIRST in everything we do and BELIEVE in faith and obedience that He is the God of the impossible, fear fades away and joy and peace take over.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:33-34 NIV
Dear Jesus, help us to take our brother Moses’ advice when fear tries to overtake us. Help us to not be afraid by standing firm in the faith, believing that You will deliver us according to Your will, believing that You will fight for us, and being still in Your presence through prayer and Your Word. May we also listen in faith to Your still small voice and respond in obedience just like Moses did. Amen.
Matthew 6:33-34 NIV
Dear Jesus, help us to take our brother Moses’ advice when fear tries to overtake us. Help us to not be afraid by standing firm in the faith, believing that You will deliver us according to Your will, believing that You will fight for us, and being still in Your presence through prayer and Your Word. May we also listen in faith to Your still small voice and respond in obedience just like Moses did. Amen.
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-Michelle Gaddi