Exodus 14:10-14: a reflection

10When Pharaoh came near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were very afraid. The children of Israel cried out to the LORD. 11They said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this way, to bring us out of Egypt? 12Isn’t this the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘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.” 13Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today; for you will never again see the Egyptians whom you have seen today. 14The LORD will fight for you, and you shall be still.”

Trapped between the sea and Pharaoh's approaching army, the Israelites are terrified, and they cry out in fear and complaint, wishing they had never left Egypt. But Moses answers them with a word of calm faith: Do not be afraid. Stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. And then: The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be still. In their helplessness, they were not to fight or flee, but to stand still and watch God deliver them.

Notice what Moses calls the people to do in their helplessness: stand still and see God's salvation. They were trapped, unable to save themselves; the sea before them, the army behind. And Moses does not tell them to fight, or to flee, or to do anything in their own strength; he tells them to stand firm, to be still, and to watch the LORD fight for them and save them. The deliverance would be God's, not theirs; their part was to stand still and trust, letting God do what they could not.

That call, to stand still and see God's salvation, speaks to the times when we are helpless, trapped, unable to save ourselves. There are situations in which we cannot fight our way out or flee, in which our own strength is plainly unequal to the danger. In such times, our part may be, like Israel's, to stand still and trust God to act, rather than thrashing about in our own strength. When you are helpless before a danger you cannot overcome, do not despair, or exhaust yourself in efforts that cannot save; hear Moses' word: do not be afraid; stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD. The LORD will fight for you; you have only to be still. There are times when trust means standing still, ceasing our frantic efforts, and letting God do what we cannot. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, trusting the God who fights for his helpless people.

Lord, trapped between the sea and Pharaoh's army, the Israelites were terrified; but Moses answered, do not be afraid; stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD; the LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be still. In their helplessness, they were to stand still and watch you deliver them. Let that call speak to me in the times when I am helpless, trapped, unable to save myself. There are situations in which I cannot fight my way out or flee, in which my own strength is plainly unequal to the danger. In such times, my part may be, like Israel's, to stand still and trust you to act, rather than thrashing about in my own strength. When I am helpless before a danger I cannot overcome, keep me from despairing, or exhausting myself in efforts that cannot save; help me hear Moses' word: do not be afraid; stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD. You will fight for me; I have only to be still. There are times when trust means standing still, ceasing my frantic efforts, and letting you do what I cannot. Help me stand still, and see your salvation, Lord, trusting you, who fight for your helpless people. I will be still, and trust you to fight for me.