Stand Still and See!

Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea. (Please read the rest of Exodus 14:1-31).

In human terms, obeying the Lord’s command to, “turn and camp . . . by the sea,” had put the Israelites in an impossible position. Pharaoh certainly thought so too when he saw that “the wilderness has closed them in.” When the Israelites grasped the situation, “they were very afraid . . . and . . . cried out to the Lord.” Moses told them to, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.” The Israelites were to be mere spectators when it came to the total destruction of the Egyptians, Pharaoh, his army, all the captains of the chariot army, including all the chariots themselves. The Lord brought great honor to Himself that day, and “Israel saw that great work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so the people feared . . . and believed the Lord” (compare to John 2:11).

The experience of the Israelites in being told to, “stand still, and see” was by no means unique in Old Testament history. In later days, Samuel commanded the disobedient people to, “stand and see this great thing which the LORD will do before your eyes” (1 Samuel 12:16), when the Lord sent thunder and rain, which was unknown in the wheat harvest. The result was that “the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel” (1 Samuel 12:18). Much later still, the inhabitants of Jerusalem were told by Jahaziel, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s . . . You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you” (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17).

All this reminds us that, “When we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6), producing a great salvation for us, and great honor for Himself (see Revelation 5:12). The Lord Jesus finished the work for us (John 17:4; 19:30), when, “He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, [and] sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12).

Adapted and modified excerpts from Day by Day: Bible Promises
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.