Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14
Exodus 14:13-14 is Joanne of An Open Book pick for this week’s Monday Manna. It provides an opportunity for fellow bloggers to chew on the same scripture passage and share their insights.
Most of us are probably familiar with the Israelites exodus from Egypt. Oppressed for hundreds of years, they suddenly found themselves in the midst of God’s deliverance plan. However, it didn’t feel or look much like deliverance to them. In fact, it seemed foolish to leave oppressive comfort for a wilderness journey full of the unknown. So foolish that they were complaining and seeking to go back to bondage. Not to mention that their taskmasters were now pursing them.
When posed with danger, it is natural to be scared and to be tempted to run. Which makes Moses instructions sound illogical and like a sure recipe for disaster. So what does it take for one to be able to follow such unnatural instructions?
The exact same thing it takes for you and I to follow the illogical instructions, we hear uttered to us in our daily lives. TRUST.
To stand still when everything in us wants to run.
To forge ahead when our knees are shaking.
To face our enemies instead of avoiding them.
To rely on God rather than defend ourselves.
All takes TRUST.
Not in ourselves but in the one who is with us always to the ends of the earth.
What does this passage speak to you? To find out what others are saying visit An Open Book.
Follow2Serve {Lorna} says
Ah, He knows me so well. Trust is something I'm working on – thanks for the post.
Wanda says
Hi Lorna, He knows the very number of hairs on our heads. It's amazing to be known so intricately by a Sovereign Lord. Trust is pretty hard spot for me as well.
jackie says
so perfectly true. And this is exactly what I need right now Wanda. A COMPLETE, UNWAVERING TRUST IN GOD FOR HIS PROVISION ON MY UPCOMING WEDDING. Please pray for me.
Thank you and God bless you more and more.
Yolanda says
I totally agree Wanda, and with that trust, we walk out obedience. Obedience is what God desires of us!
Blessings-
Yolanda
Joanne Sher says
Trusting Him. That's the key for all of it, isn't it? Great post, Wanda. Thanks for participating.
BLUEBUTTERFLY says
The urge to run…yes, indeed. I'm one of those folks that has many pairs of running shoes (literally and symbolically), so I can get up and go at anytime. I have, however, learned the value of standing still.
Kim-Stuff could be worse says
I Love this scripture. It has become real to me, when I finally stood still, He did fight the battle for me!
welcome to my world of poetry says
A very good post Wanda and I agree with what you say.
Yvonne,
Just Be Real says
Truth reigns in the words of this post. Blessings to you Wanda.
Sharon Kirby says
I loved this one, Wanda. Trust is such a struggle for me. I love this passage – because it speaks to what I need to calm my fears – just BE STILL.
I was reminded that "in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength."
In my Bible Study, we are studying the book of Jonah. It's been so good. He was a person who gave in to the urge to run – and he ran as far as he could from God. But, God was there – and God rescued Jonah – and returned him to HIS purpose.
Rely on God – the only antidote to shaking knees, and quaking hearts.
GOD BLESS!
Wanda says
Jackie, congrats to you and I will be praying.
Yolanda, you are so right. Only when when we trust Him will we go about obeying Him.
Thanks, Joanne. Trust a small word but such a big key.
Bluebutterfly, thank goodness that He keeps on working with us and takes us from glory to glory.
Kim, stand still is hard work. Isn't it.
Thanks, Yvonne.
JBR, blessings to you too.
Wanda says
Sharon, there was time period God had me meditating on in quietness and confidence is your strength. You are not alone in your trust struggle. But there is hope for the runners too. Where can we go from His presence.
Joanney says
The urges to run, to hold back with shaking knees, to defend ourselves and to turn to others instead of God can be so strong at times. Yet what a blessing when we TRUST God instead. Thanks for a great message.
Catrina Bradley... says
Yes! Thank you, Wanda – I'm fighting those urges constantly, and praying for the faith to TRUST.
Beth in NC says
You're right Wanda. (If we do run, at least run TO God, not from Him.)
Your blog looks lovely. I haven't had a chance to visit my Sisters lately!!!
Julie Gillies says
Hi Wanda,
Thank you for visiting my blog–yours is SO beautiful! And I love your post!
This happens to be one of my favorite scriptures, and God really spoke to me through this particular verse last October. I hope you don't mind me sharing a post I wrote about Exodus 14:14:
http://www.juliegillies.com/2010/10/whose-battle-is-it-anyway.html
Blessings to you!
Ella says
A great word and remainder! I keep hearing the whispers of my intuition and I am trying to trust, it isn't easy! xXx Great post~
Toia says
Trusting God only for everything is something we need to be reminded of….Thanks for such a beautiful Word!! Have a bless week!!!
Faith Imagined says
Trust… so hard to do yet so important. Thank you for illustrating how important it is for us to TRUST God with every aspect of our lives!
Dean Spencer says
Wanda –
When I was reading this I was thinking of 1 Corinthians 1:18:
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
Trust is powerful. But the Object of our trust is so much bigger.
Great post! God bless!
Dean