The LORD will Fight for His People

“¹⁴The Lord will fight for you, and you only have to be silent.” — Exodus 14:14 (ESV)

I read this verse this morning and thought, duh. I know that the LORD will fight for me and you as his people and for that I am grateful. But, how much do I trust that He will fight for me. I trust so much that I just sit in silence and go on about the work and just allow Him to work? Well that is what I am needed to do.

The people of Israel in this passage were escaping Pharaoh and the LORD had commanded that they stop, turn around and go to a very specific spot and wait. Get it, they backtracked, not to change course, but to stop and wait. How is it that the God that sent Moses to rescue them could tell them to stop escaping and wait?

“¹Then the LORD said to Moses, ²’Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea.’” — Exodus 14:1-2 (ESV)

I look out in what I am doing in this world and feel like I am not doing enough or, need to keep going. What if I am to just stop, turn back, and find a place to wait on God? What if I am in that place and just need to keep waiting? I am always looking as to where I am and am I accomplishing the work that the LORD has for me. I seem to be forcing myself to do more and more and more. What if I am just supposed to sit and wait?

“¹⁹Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, ²⁰coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.” — Exodus 14:19-20 (ESV)

The Israelite people where waiting and Pharaoh caught up to them, no surprise there. And the LORD sent His angel to go between them along with a dense cloud to provide cover as the Israelite people moved forward. The LORD told the people to wait, so that He could set up His defenses. This again demonstrates the LORD fighting for His people. The LORD not only protected them, but He began the fight as the people moved forward through the Red Sea on dry land, all the while providing even more desire in the heart of Pharaoh to continue to pursue.

When the time was right, the LORD moved the people forward. I have to believe that He is doing the same with me. As He has me waiting, He is fighting, or setting up the fight, to propel me forward. The LORD will harden the hearts of those pursuing me and will provide the protections and means by which I will come out victorious on the other side. He will fight for me to protect me from the pursuers. At the appointed time, the LORD will provide the victory against those who persecute.

I have to remember that the LORD is the one running the show. I am here but to continue to do as He has me do. He will fight for me, and I am the one who must stop, listen, and wait. As a child of God, I am protected on all sides. Those who persecute will be dealt with, I only need to continue to listen to the LORD and allow Him to fight for me and the balance of His people.

What are you doing in this world to protect yourself from your pursuers? Are you continuing to run when other actions may be asked of you by God? What if you were to listen to Him, and just stop and wait for the LORD to set up His defenses for you and fight as He has promised to do?