I woke this morning with a couple mental pictures from the past week rumbling through my mind. The first was of tweets bashing people who were praying for the victims and families of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. The second was of another similarly minded person who, after mocking 2nd amendment supporters and those who would pray, screaming, “Do SOMETHING!” This is truly a gut-wrenching situation because I grieve for those who have suffered and I desire healing and unity in our nation. There are good things that can be done, but true sustainable results will not be found in a knee-jerk reactions. All the facts must be accurately shared and a civil discussion needs to be had. Then I think we can begin to separate ideas that will work from those that are extreme and foolish.
But overarching all this is the real crux of the issue. When we remove God and personal accountability from the equation we are doomed to poor results. I was reminded of a journal entry a few weeks back that helps me put this into perspective. I hope it blesses you.
Be Still
12-1-17 ‘The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” ‘Exodus 14:14
This verse resonates within my spirit today. For about a week the Lord has been stirring in me the call, the necessity of His followers to understand how to effectively win in the spiritual war we find ourselves. In the natural realm we see the conflict manifested between national interests. We see it between political parties. We see it in families torn by conflict. We see it between generations, races, socio-economic classes. But the root cause is Satan’s rebellion against the Lord God. From Satan’s view point we are pawns in the war. We are the battleground where he wants to create as much damage as possible. Why? Because he knows the Lord values each and every person. When Satan is able to inflict pain on people, he believes he is striking God, who has become his enemy.
God, loves with an everlasting love. He is patient and it is His desire for people to choose to respond to His love, to seek to enter into a love relationship with Him. God’s plan for each person is to know and to grow into the fully redeemed and renewed person we were created to be. It hearkens back to the garden where Adam and Eve walked with God. That intimacy is God’s desire for us.
But to get there, we must pass through this life and the spiritual conflict that it entails. Today’s verse speaks to a truth that we believers can rest in. Let’s unpack it a little.
This verse is what Moses told the nation of Israel as they stood at the edge of the Red Sea. The Egyptians had gotten over their mourning about the death of the all first born, the 10th plague brought upon Egypt due to the Pharaoh’s refusal to obey God. They got over their mourning only to rise up in wrath toward the Israelites who appeared to be wandering aimlessly in the desert. They mounted their war chariots and stormed out after the Israelites ready to conquer and enslave them again.
What a powerful picture of what Satan desires to do to believers. When we come to faith, we are sealed as God’s children forever. The Holy Spirit is given to us at our conversion and we are marked as God’s children. As His children we are Satan’s enemies. And because Satan cannot reach God directly, he seeks to hurt His children. Like Pharaoh, Satan wants to punish and enslave us again.
Prior to our conversion we garnered little of Satan’s direct interest. After our conversion we become objects of his wrath. Part of the reason is because he targets us as God’s children, therefore his enemies. But also because as God’s children we become the instruments of God’s grace in the world. We are direct threats to Satan’s hopes and plans. He wants to rule the world, but believers are God’s representatives who stand against his plan. Our very presence is a reminder to Satan that his days are numbered, his rule is not total, and his end is certain.
He will attack and he is a dirty fighter. Yet, God is omniscient. He knows all things including Satan’s plans and desires. As God’s children, we are called to maturity. Part of our calling as mature men and women of God is that we participate in the battle. Evangelism, Intercession, Service, Worship – all our acts of faith are edifying to the body of Christ and militant acts against Satan’s end goal. Satan wages war against the Church, but he is constrained to those persons he can manipulate. ISIS, Terrorists, corrupt politicians, elitists, and the anarchist mob are all people ultimately serving the devil’s purpose. But none of their maneuverings are hidden from God.
Through the Holy Spirit the Church is fully equipped for the battle. But… and this is probably why I am being stirred as I am, it is our responsibility to listen and submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is both an individual and a corporate responsibility.
Which brings me back to “unarmed” Israel on the sea shore facing the menace of an angry, fully armed enemy army. In the natural things did not look good for Israel. I am sure many of the people were near panic state. They had been wandering so the question of where they were going and the clarity of leadership would have been a logical question. But they had been called by God to this point. The Lord had demonstrated His power through progressive plagues upon Egypt and protection for Israel. Even as the battle heated up, God’s care for Israel became more visible and real. And there was the pillar of fire which even now was restraining the Egyptian army.
So, when Moses gave the word, ‘The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” The people needed only to look at God’s provision thus far and project that onto the current situation. His faithfulness is not variable, He is always faithful and true. Even when we are not, God remains faithful. He loves us and it is His desire and plan that we be conformed to the image of His Son. When we lose faith, He is ready and willing to pick us up, dust us off, and wrap His love around us anew to reassure us that He is for us and not against us.
In this situation the people responded in faith and God unveiled a plan that was as amazing as it was miraculous. God held the Egyptians at bay and then opened the sea for the Israelites to pass through. When the Israelites were through He released the sea and the Egyptians were finally destroyed.
Let’s go back to the “be still” part the Israelites were called to. In my minds eye I see the strong wind coming and lifting the waters, but I also see this as taking some time. The Lord dries up the sea bed. Yes, He could miraculously in an instant, but again I see this as taking some time. All the while, the Egyptians are just on the other side of the pillar of fire (night) or cloud (day) trying to figure out how to get to the Israelites. I suspect their shouts and war cries were heard by the Israelites. Throughout this time the Israelites had to be still and wait.
This reminds me of Ephesians 6:10-17 where believer’s are encouraged to STAND. God is the One Who fights for us. We are to do what we know to do – pray, give, worship, serve, but ultimately when the battle comes, it is God who fights for us.
At exactly the right time the ground is dry in the sea bed and the Israelites stream in, through, and out of the Red Sea. All make it through unscathed. The Egyptians now are at a fever pitch. They charge in vowing to destroy Israel in their anger. But God’s plan is to bring an end to the Egypt phase of their growth and begin the desert phase. The water crashes down and the Egyptian army is no more.
“Be still and know that I am God.” In every battle there will come a time when we are to simply stand still and know God is in control. “The battle is mine,” says the Lord God of Hosts. “I will never leave you or forsake you,” says the Lover of our souls. “You are my precious child. I love you with an everlasting love.”
Be blessed my friend. And let God bless through you as you seek to love and serve the LORD.
areliablefaith 