“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. …Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. – John 14:1, 27 ESV
The people of Israel camped facing the Red Sea. When the Tenth Plague had killed all of Egypt’s firstborn, from Pharaoh’s palace to the poor man’s livestock pens, Pharoah not only consented to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt—he ordered them out of the country immediately. But afterward, he changed his mind.
So, Pharaoh sent his army to pursue the Israelites and bring them back to Egypt to serve as slaves.
When the Israelites realized they were penned between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army, they panicked. Big time panic!
“When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD.
They said to Moses, ‘Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?‘
Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” Exodus 14:10-12 ESV
In recent weeks, Israel had witnessed God’s mighty hand perform incredible miracles, demonstrating His power over all the gods of Egypt and nature itself. Israel had seen clear evidence of God’s power, but they didn’t remember what God had done in Egypt. All the people could see or think about was Pharaoh’s fast-approaching army.
Not knowing what God had planned next, Moses preached a powerful three-sentence message:
“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Exodus 14:13-14 ESV
Fear not.
Stand Firm.
Watch What God is Doing.
Trust Him.
God fights for you.
Be silent.
Not one of those things comes naturally or easily in the best of times, but in times of panic – almost impossible.
Then God told Moses, “Tell the people of Israel to go forward.”
What? Straight into the Red Sea? The first instructions to be fearless, stand still, watch, trust, and be quiet seemed impossibly difficult in light of their desperate situation. Now, God wanted them to walk straight into the deep waters of the Red Sea.
That is precisely what God wanted His people to do—go forward.
God instructed Moses to raise his staff, stretch it over the waters, and watch as the water neatly divided itself and rolled back to create a dry walkway for the 600,000 men plus the women, children, and livestock to cross the Red Sea.
Most are familiar with the story’s conclusion. God’s people pass safely to the other side. Pharaoh’s army pursues Israel across the Sea’s dry floor, but as it reaches the center of the Red Sea, God releases the walls of water, and the entire Egyptian army drowns.
When the Enemy’s army closes in on us, panic can easily be our first response. Friend, I encourage you to remind yourself of Moses’s instructions to the Israelites.
Fear not.
“So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6 ESV
Stand firm.
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 ESV
Watch what God is doing.
“O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress.” Psalm 59:9 ESV
Trust Him.
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2 ESV
God fights for you.
“One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the LORD your God who fights for you, just as He promised you.” Joshua 23:10 ESV
Be silent.
The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Exodus 14:14 ESV
“Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings. Isaiah 51:7 ESV
It is in the silence that God speaks. He will tell you what you are to do next. He may tell you to walk straight into the “deep waters” as He did with the Israelites. He may tell you to remain still and silent, or He may have a word that He wants you to speak. If you listen, you will hear and know your next step.
I’ll add one more to the list.
Remember who God is and what He has done.
Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. Isaiah 46:9 ESV
Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He uttered. Psalm 105:4-5 ESV
When times of crisis, trials, or troubles come, don’t panic.
Fear not.
Stand firm.
Watch what God is doing.
Trust Him.
God fights for you.
Be silent.
Remember.
Referencing our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, God says:
“So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.’”Isaiah 28:16 NIV