Be Still, and Move On

"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today... the Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still...move on.." (Exodus 14: 13-15)

This is what God told Moses when he led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, and pursued by the Egyptian army after their exodus.

Despite having witnessed God's miracles and works during the Passover,  and witnessed the plagues that came upon their enemies, the Israelites were terrified and started complaining, losing faith in God when they were being pursued by the Egyptians, "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? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" (Exodus 14:10-12)

How familiar these grudges are!

"God, what have You done to me and my life? After confessing my faith before my parents, they left me, and I am worse than an orphan now!"

"God, before becoming Christian, I used to have more friends, more free time, more enjoyment! But now, I seem to only have sufferings and sacrifices! It's such a painful life."

"God, is this still Your good and perfect plan? Why then am I in great torment?"

"Why is it still the same after knowing You, O God?"

"Why do the enemies, the hostilities, the undesirable things, still follow me?"

But when faced with all these grudges, God only said, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today... the Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still...move on.." (Exodus 14: 13-15)

And we know how God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to walk on, confused the Egyptian army and wiped out all who pursued His people, gave instruction to Moses to stretch his hand over the sea and pay attention to God's works that followed. Eventually, "the people feared the Lord and put their trust in Him and in Moses His servant" after seeing the great display of God's power and glory in the entire battle.

The story of Moses and Israelites was one of the most comforting story we have heard in church. Yet, often, there remains an un-identified disbelief in us - will God also fight for us and lead us like how He did to the Israelites? In face of trying circumstances, doubt just springs and grow like a yeast inside us.  However, in face of trying circumstances, it is also God's litmus state to our hearts of our faith in Him. Do we trust Him?

If we trust Him, our response will be:
Yes Lord, I need not be afraid.
You are in front of me, and You will fight for me.
I need only to be still.
And move on doing what God calls me to do in my current state,  trusting that You will deliver me and lead me to the destination You've prepared for me. Not later, but move on, now.

The light which we read in Genesis, that came to earth with God's Word, is also the light which shines upon us. The creative power of God's Word is still with us.

Is there anything too hard in God's creative hand?
Fight the doubts that linger in our hearts by trusting in His promise and that He made all things beautiful in His time.

His rescue is never late.