STAND STILL, AND SEE GOD'S SALVATION

Exodus 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever.

One of the most memorable moments in biblical history was about to occur after Moses spoke these words to the children of Israel. Previous to this we can read about how Moses was saved at birth, about his forty years living as royalty in the house of Pharaoh, about his fleeing to the land of Midian for another forty years, marrying Zipporah, and living with the household of Jethro, his father-in-law, and how God called Moses from the burning bush to lead Israel from Egyptian bondage, in which they had been living for hundreds of years. We also read about the plagues brought on Egypt by God through Moses in order to convince Pharaoh to release Israel from their bondage. And how, finally, after the slaying of the first born of the Egyptians, Pharaoh relented and told Moses, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; an go, serve the Lord, as ye have said (Exodus 12:31).

It was immediately after this that the Israelites, estimated to be two to three million in number, began their journey to the Promised Land under the leadership of Moses, as he was directed by God. It is said in Exodus 12:51, And it came to pass the self-same day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies. They were led by God through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea (Exodus 13:18). As they were camped before the Red Sea, we find that Pharaoh's heart was hardened. Thinking that the Israelites were trapped by the Red Sea, he sent his armies to recapture them and return them to bondage. As the children of Israel saw the armies of Pharaoh approaching and being trapped on the opposite side by the Red Sea, they became terrified. One can only imagine how frantic and panic stricken they became at the jeopardy they faced.

It was at this point that Moses said to the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show you today. Certainly we know the story from this point, how God caused the waters of the Red Sea to part, how the children of Israel walked through the midst of the sea on dry land, and how Pharaoh and his armies were swallowed up and perished in the sea as the waters returned to their normal positions, burying the Egyptian armies in the sea to the extent that there remaineth not so much as one of them (Exodus 14:28). It was on that day that Israel saw the great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses (Exodus 14:31).

When God, through Moses told the children of Israel that He would lead them to the Promised Land, it should have been accepted by the people that God would not allow the armies of Egypt to kill them, do them any harm, or return them back to the horrors of bondage. Yet the people became frantic and panic stricken at the sight of the armies. You can almost see them running back and forth, wringing their hands in fear, possibly trying to find places to hide, knowing they could not swim across the Red Sea nor could they defend themselves from the hosts of Egypt armed with all sorts of weaponry. The phrase that Moses used to introduce the salvation of the Lord to the children of Israel is interesting - stand still!

Did you ever wonder why, when many are asked a question, their reply is, "Let me stop and think about that." Did you ever wonder why anyone has to stop to think? Maybe it is for the same reason that Israel was told by Moses to stand still and watch. Maybe we have to stop what we are doing in order to give thought to something else, just as Israel had to stand still - to stop their frantic actions of seeming despair that caused them to lose sight of God's salvation.

Could it be that your salvation is in jeopardy because you are so frantically wrapped up in life's mad pace? God promised Israel salvation from Egyptian bondage. In order to see it, they had to stop what they were doing and stand still. God offers you eternal salvation. Maybe you should stop and think about it! Maybe you should stand still, accept God's ways and allow salvation to take place in your life!