Today's Monday Manna is hosted by Joanne Sher at An Open Book. We are focusing on these verses -
Exodus 14:13-14
"And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day... The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."
The Israelites have just been thrust out of Egypt by Pharaoh. Egypt has suffered the effects of ten horrible plagues, ending with the death of all the first-borns. God delivers His people with the instituting of the Passover Lamb, and they are leaving the land of their slavery.
But... they see a cloud of dust. Pharaoh changed his mind and his army is galloping behind them. The Red Sea is before them. They are trapped!
The people clamor to Moses, blaming him for leading them to their deaths. Moses calms them with the words,
"Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord."
Do we panic when we're in a tight spot? Do we blame those in authority or make some other excuse for our situation? Do we feel doomed?
Note Moses' peacefulness. He did not know what to do or what God would do, yet he calmly waited for God's instructions and obeyed.
God was telling them. "Don't worry. I've got things under control. I took care of you in the past, and I'm taking care of you now. Just stand there and watch what I will do."
(my paraphrase)
My little grandson, age 2, is getting very independent. He wants to do things all by himself. Often, it ends in a broken dish or a spilled cup or a frustrated toddler. If he would only stand still and let me do it for him, things would go much easier and smoother.
Do we find ourselves forgetting how God cared for us in the past? Do we clumsily try to do things "all by myself" like a toddler?
Psalm 46:10
"Be still and know
that I am God."
4 comments:
Great thoughts–We are so often "toddlers" when it comes to waiting. I teach the story of Moses in my A-List study this Wednesday so this was very appropriate not only to my personal life but also to my ministry.
What a great reminder. Self-sufficiency is a myth - and one that is so prominent in American society. Thanks, Vonnie!
I think I answered yes to all the questions you posed. Wonderful insights you shared.
How often we see the cloud of dust and the barriers rather than hear the voice of God telling us to be still.
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