God is Already There

Scripture:

Exodus 14: 10-14 (ESV)

When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord.  They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?  Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”  And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.  The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Devotional:

Exodus chapter fourteen the Egyptians pursue Israel and both sides believe that the Israelites are trapped.  In fact, the Israelites complain to Moses.  Why did you bring us here?  We are just going to die out here.  What the Israelites do not see is what God has planned.  Moses follows God’s commands and in the end the Israelites are safe, dry, and on the opposite side of the water from what remained of the Egyptians that pursued them.

Unlike us God sees the big picture.  When it appears that we are trapped.  We are against the shore on one side and an army on the other side and all seems hopeless.  We are not defeated.  What no one sees is God’s army around us.  If we rely upon Him, He will fight for us.  Verse 14, “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”  We do not have to worry or fret.  We do not have to plan the battle or even go fight.  God will fight for us.  He is our protector and provider. 

This doesn’t mean we can just sit back in our rocking chairs and do nothing.  After all, where would the Israelites have been had they just sat in their homes in Egypt?  Well, they would still be in Egypt.  Instead they did as God instructed.  They packed up and left.  They were not idle.  We cannot be idle either.  God is calling us to get up and go. 

What does that look like?  Where do we go?  To be honest I don’t know.  It is different for each of us.  But each of us are called to do something.  Some may be called to go to China, or somewhere in South America.  Other people might be called to Europe, or even in North America.  Most of us are called right where we are.  But one fact remains, each of us is called.  Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” this verse is not for just a few.  This is for each and everyone of us. 

We have nothing to fear.  God will fight for us.  We can’t just sit by and do nothing.  Each of us is called to go.  The Egyptians were told to go.  They picked up and went.  Missionaries all over the world hear the call to go.  They too got up and went.  Some are called to go right where they are.  Some called to go somewhere else.  If you are not sure just read the Bible and pray.  God will guide you.  You can also start right where you are.  Take one step at a time.  You might just end up right where you are.  But you will be there with a purpose.  Be intentional in what you do.  We are called and God is with us.  There are no if then statements.  It is not either or. 

Simply put God calls, we answer, he provides and protects.  Even if it doesn’t seem like it God is there.  He is waiting on us.  The Israelites thought it was hopeless.  They thought they were going to die by the shore.  God didn’t just show up to save them.  God was already there.  He was already at work.  They just had to be faithful, listen, and obey.