Remember the ageless childhood game “Mother May I”?
One player is designated “Mother” and the other players are called “Children.” The “children” stand far away from “Mother” and ask her permission to move forward. The “child’s” ultimate goal is to move when “Mother” says to and be still until she calls you.
This entertaining game is a great picture of how God helped the Israelites escape their enemies.
Let’s read Exodus 14:13-16 (NIV)
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid … The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.
The Israelites were trapped. Their fierce enemies were behind them and the enormous Red Sea was before them. Their limited strength was no match for their powerful enemy and they feared that their end had come.
It was in this vulnerable moment that Moses profoundly said:
“Be still and watch God fight for you.”
What a powerful statement! They were to be still before God in complete trust and watch His power fall down from heaven. Amazingly, God gave them a way of escape and by faith they moved on the path He provided.
Sometimes circumstances, sins, or false beliefs make us feel trapped. Our limited power is no match for the enormous road before us. Instead of fearing that we may never come out, God encourages us to be still and watch as He fights for us. He will surely open the path for us to move on regardless of our present circumstance.
Too often we remain stuck in our current pain of lost and forget that God has strengthen us to move forward with the power of His Spirit. As we grow spiritually, let’s have courage to be still, watch the salvation of the Lord fight for us, and have the confidence to move from our place of bondage to everlasting freedom.
After you have prayed about your situation, are you moving forward in complete trust in God?