Tyrants find it tough to let go of any advantage they think they have over others. Look at what Vladimir Putin is doing in Ukraine, and you’ll see a clear example of this – just like Pharaoh did.
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the minds of Pharaoh and his officials were changed toward the people, and they said, “What have we done, letting Israel leave our service?” (Exodus 14.5)
Pharaoh is similar to strongmen, tyrants, and autocrats. He doesn’t want to lose his source of cheap work and will do whatever it takes to keep them. That includes using 600 of his best chariots to chase them down.
While journeying, God’s people find themselves literally between a rock and a hard place.
Pronouncing the names in verse 9 is hard for me. Rudy Ross provides a great explanation of these verses in today’s video. You will want to listen to his thoughts on the Bob Spradling YouTube channel.
The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, his chariot drivers and his army; they overtook them camped by the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon (Exodus 14.9).
The Hebrews cried out in fear to God but grumbled to Moses.
In great fear the Israelites cried out to the Lord.
They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt?
Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, ‘Let us alone so that we can 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).
The slaves shout at Moses, thinking slavery is better than dying. They witnessed miracles celebrated by Jews for centuries. But now, they feared for their lives and their faith vanished like smoke before the wind.
Fear Not!
Moses gave them three imperatives:
Fear not,
Stand firm,
See.
Most importantly, he told them that God was supporting them and they weren’t alone.
But Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish 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 keep still” (Exodus 14.13-14).
Moses told the people to not be afraid when there was much to fear.
The Bible often tells us to not be afraid. When we have trouble believing, especially when we’re scared, remember God is with us. Consider these verses from Isaiah.
“Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be afraid, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you; I will help you;
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41.10)
During tough times, we don’t want friendship with God to be a distant memory. We always gain from our bond with God. However, there are moments when we truly need Him right by our side.
It’s smart to always keep a faithful and obedient bond with our Lord and Savior.
“For I, the Lord your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Do not fear,
I will help you.”
“Do not fear, you worm Jacob,
you maggot Israel!
I will help you, says the Lord;
your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 41.13-14)
Even though we might seem as small as a worm compared to God’s vastness, he is still ready to bend down and provide us with the help we need.
But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are mine. (Isaiah 43.1)
God made us and knows our names. He will surely keep us safe because he loves us.
He Will Fight
The Hebrews realized they couldn’t face 600 of Pharaoh’s chariots. But with God on their side, Moses assured them that God would battle for them. “The Lord will fight for you” (verse 14).
I don’t know about you, but I need God’s “fear not” message and his willingness to fight for me.
(1) I need God’s protection, guidance, and answers to my prayers.
(2) I need God’s help and wisdom to handle life’s challenges.
(3) I need God to fight for me to help me resist temptation.
(4) “Fight” might seem too strong of a word, but there are many hardships in the world that need God’s aid. I certainly can use all of God’s help with them.
Let’s remember the people living in war zones and those struggling with not having enough food. They need God to protect them. Let’s include them in our prayers, and ask God to fight for them.
Keep Still
Moses told the Hebrews to stay calm and trust in God to fight for them.
“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still” (verse 14).
The Psalm writer understood Moses’ command to the Israelites.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations;
I am exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46.10).
When is the admonition of Moses and the Psalms appropriate for our lives? Here are a few suggestions that I have experienced over the years.
(1) When I face a tough choice, I must set aside my personal wishes so I can try to understand God’s plan for me.
(2) Sometimes, I need to quiet the noise in my head to find peace and rest.
(3) It’s tough for me to concentrate on God’s presence with noise everywhere. Quietness really matters.
(4) A big problem for me is giving up control. To solve this, I must give my plans to God’s perfect guidance.
(5) Letting go of my troubles and giving them to God lets Him shine in the way He should in my life.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross, Whispering Danny and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 