Good morning, and happy Sunday.

In Exodus 14, we witness the fullness of God’s glory in the deliverance of the Israelites from Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

Leading up to this point, after experiencing the deadly 10 plagues, Pharaoh tells Moses and Aaron to leave with the Israelites at once. But soon after, he has a change of heart and chases after them to reclaim them as his own.

Upon finding out about the Pharaoh’s pursuit, the Israelites panic and berate Moses:

“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? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

Like how Jesus calmed the raging storm, Moses gracefully settles down this ungrateful crowd by leaning into what God had already promised— that they will be delivered out of Egypt to the promised land.

Today’s Word is about Moses’ unrelenting response to this outcry.

Without further ado, let’s get into the Word.

If anyone crosses your mind as you read, I encourage you to put your faith into action by forwarding this post along, perhaps coupled with a loving word of encouragement. You just may make someone’s day without knowing it.

The Word of God

The 1-2-3 of What I Found Encouraging

1. The call to stand firm

Before any of the ten plagues fell on Egypt, God foretold His plan to Moses regarding how He’s going to deliver His people out of Egypt.

When Moses shared the news with the Israelites, they simply ignored him. However, Moses on the other hand witnessed and remembered the truth in every Word God spoke: God accompanying him step by step, Pharaoh’s hardened heart, the mighty acts of judgment and the Passover, and the final exodus from Egypt.

Even despite God having quite literally led them in a pillar of cloud and fire, the moment they saw Pharaoh’s army, the Israelites threw their hands up and resorted to mocking Moses— saying that they would’ve been better off as slaves.

But Moses was unfazed.

The contrast between the two parties reminded me of the Parable of the Sower by Jesus in Matthew 13:

Jesus later explains that the seed that springs up quickly but withers afterwards refers to someone who “when trouble or persecution comes because of the Word,... quickly falls away,” and the seed that falls on good soil and produces a crop refers to “someone who hears the Word and understands it.”

Moses heard God’s words and understood them, hence why he was able to remain true to His promises and unshaken by the physical reality. And therein, he was able to command the whole nation of panic-stricken people to have faith and be still.

There is power embedded in every Word spoken by the Creator of the Universe. When we understand what we hear, and stand in the reality that God is with us, we can do all things in Christ who strengthen us (Phil. 4:13).

2. Trusting the Lord will fight for us

Admittedly, I too, at times, feel overwhelmed by all the things the world throws towards my way. I also have the tendency to throw my hands up and ask God “Why, why, and why?” instead of trusting in the Lord.

In response to this, Moses says, “The Lord will fight for you” (Exod. 14:14).

And he’s right. There are times when God will lead by cloud and fire, and there are also times when He’ll direct the angel and the pillar of cloud to stand between us and our enemies— as He did when the armies of Egypt came near the Israelites— so as to protect us as a loving Father would.

For those who are feeling overwhelmed right now, I raise you Psalm 3:

As Moses and David both claim, the Lord will deliver us no matter what others may say. So, we need not let our hearts be troubled and trust that He’s fighting for us.

3. The call to be still

A speaker once shared that there are two types of people in the world:

1. People who shut down when anxious

2. People who become hyperactive when anxious

I fall squarely in the latter camp. My legs become restless whenever I read a verse about being still, and I wince whenever doctors tell me to rest up.

Truth be told, when I hurry around in my anxious state, I’m helplessly searching for control and attempting to find my way out with my own strength. The inevitable outcome is chaos and confusion, because when I hurry, I leave no room for God.

Some of us in the “shut down” camp can tend to do the opposite and become an unmovable rock with closed ears and hearts.

I have come to believe the state of anxiety signals the manifestation of the spiritual warfare we are in. Thankfully, the Bible mentions what we ought to do in the presence of our enemies:

• God says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

• Jesus tells us not to be anxious and instead seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all we need will be given to us (Matt. 6:25-34).

• Peter tells us to cast our anxiety on God, because He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7).

• Paul tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7).

When in trouble, our call is to be still in His presence and to:

Know who our Father is. Stand firm on the truth He speaks. Settle in our identity in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Believe that there is no way in hell for the enemy to win this war, for Jesus has already conquered the grave.

My Encouragement for You

One may say that Pharaoh and the Egyptians, the Israelites, and Moses all represent a part of us. Sometimes we are blinded by our own desires and chase after ephemeral things, and sometimes we succumb to fear and doubt.

Whatever may be coming our way, let’s lock in our arms with one another and be still— for we know that the Lord will fight for us.

Though there may be an army coming our way, God’s deliverance may just be right around the corner.

We were born for such a time as this.

With love, Jae

Got any prayer requests or praises? You’re welcome to share them here.

“Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path.” (Psalms 119:105)