The Lord will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm. Exodus 14:14 AMP
The context: Israel had just left Egypt after centuries of slavery. Israel was camped by the Sea when it saw the war horses and chariots of Egypt coming after them. The fact that I am on God-ordained assignments does not mean that the devil will not come after me. The fact that I am at work for God is the surest way to get the devil's attention. So, as I seek to walk with and work for God, the first lesson on the agenda is that I must take stock of what I am getting into. God does not promise me a life free from pressure, but He assures me of His Presence and Power. Those are enough for me.
God's Bit: and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, then complained to Moses, claiming that being in Egypt as slaves was better than dying at the Sea as free people. They completely forgot the mighty hands that had worked against Egypt, to the point of killing all the firstborn sons, yet the people cried to God and also grumbled against Moses. What is it about pressure that makes us prone to sin? Why does it atimes appear that trouble pushes us away from God? Why would I wish to go back into iniquity simply because the path ahead is difficult? Like it has been said, nowhere does God promise you roses without thorns, but you are assured that even though you are pricked, prodded and pinched, your purpose, place and partnership in and with God are not in jeopardy.
My Bit: God has promised me all of Him; what then can I give Him in return? Today's extract gives an insight. There is really nothing I can do to improve on what God wants to do, and there is nothing I can do that can change his mind if He does not want to. That must be clear from the beginning. Nothing I do can make God go against His Word, but there is a place for me to exercise faith in getting all that He has promised. How would I know what He has promised if I don't read His Word or listen as He speaks? How do I move out at his command if I don't even know what He commands? For me to stand still, be silent and calm in the face of an oncoming storm takes clear sight of what God has said. You don't stand or rest on a feeling; it has to be a certainty; clear assurance that this stand is sanctioned by God and is in line with his will. Whatever God ordains, He sustains. If he commands it, he controls it.
After all, which of us can determine the outcome of the battle we are to face, if we don't even know who we are fighting? If God says be still, better be still. Your input will not make a difference; if he says move, you better move; your standing still may lead you into trouble. Really, been silent and calm here was for this season of the lives of the people of Israel. When it came time to pick up the sword and fight, they had to. When it was time to just blow the trumpet and shout, they did, and they defeated Jericho. It really isn't about inactivity or just being relaxed; it is about knowing the seasons of God's dealings with you and acting accordingly. The Lord fights, and He gives direction as to what He needs me to do. Obedience unlocks the fullness of the blessings He has in store for me. Nothing else will work. His time of favour is here.
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