Crisis moments come to us all. You know them. I mean the big ones. The huge ones. The times when you want to freak out and run away. Panic and fear surround your life. Everything we see and everywhere we look only makes us more scared. The children of Israel found themselves in a tough spot. It was a real moment when it made sense that they thought they would lose their lives. They felt trapped.
Led out of Egypt by the mighty hand of God, they take an unusual route into the promised land. God could have taken them a shorter way, but He led them into a seeming trap. Ahead of them is the Red Sea. On either side of them are large mountains. The Egyptian chariots filled with mighty men of war come up behind them at a rapid speed. It’s a challenging situation.
Trapped, fear and panic set in, leading them to question Moses and even wish they had never left Egypt. Isn’t this amazing? For generations, they lived as slaves, and in just a couple of weeks, they were miraculously delivered. The first crisis they hit makes them turn against Moses and want to go back.
It was a normal reaction. It was a natural response. It was wrong.
Maybe you feel trapped today. A loveless marriage, lonely singleness, hopeless situation—the situation you’re facing is messing with your head and undermining your faith.
What are you supposed to do? God reminds us that there are times when we aren’t supposed to do anything. Nothing. We’re to stand still and wait, looking to Him.
Exodus 14:13–14 (NKJV) “And Moses said to the people, “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 Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
Moses’ response to the Israelites’ fear was simple yet powerful: “Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord” (Exodus 14:13-14). This command to “stand still” is a command to trust in God’s deliverance rather than our own efforts. It’s a reminder that God is fighting for us, even when we can’t see a way out.
God often allows and even leads us into situations where we are stuck and seemingly out of options. He shows us our only option is to turn to Him. These critical moments in life are designed to deepen our faith and trust in God’s promises. Just as God promised to deliver the Israelites, He promises to be with us and take care of us in our crises.
In our own lives, we may face situations that seem impossible. We might feel trapped, with no clear path forward. In these moments, remember that not everything we see is the truth. Our circumstances might appear awful, but God is setting the stage for His deliverance.
Keep your eyes on the Lord, and get them off your problems. Peace and assurance are awaiting you as you look to Him. Get out the Bible and read it. Find a quiet place and pray. When we focus on God and His promises, we will find the peace that was stolen away, even in the midst of chaos.
The only cure for fear is to keep our eyes on the Lord.
Numbers 14:8–9 (NKJV) “If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”
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