Stand still ∙∙

Stand still ∙∙

Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. – Exodus 14:13

Exodus 14:10-31

 10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the LORD.

 13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.

 14 The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

 15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!

 16 Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.

 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will charge in after the Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers.

 18 When my glory is displayed through them, all Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the LORD!”

 19 Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them.

 22 So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!

 26 When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the LORD said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers.”

 27 So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the LORD swept them into the sea.

 31 When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the LORD had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

A Simple Question: Could the Red Sea Miracle Have Really Happened?

Late one Sunday afternoon, a group of professors and graduate students gathered for a potluck, discussion, and some brain games. One professor, who had been out fishing, arrived late, looking a bit scruffy in his fishing outfit, complete with lures stuck in his hat. He could have easily been mistaken for a disheveled gardener. As he entered the room, he sat down with a perplexed expression.

He broke the silence with a question he was contemplating while fishing. “The supposed miracle of the Red Sea, could it have really happened? The story reads like real history, not mythology. But is it possible?”

Another professor chimed in, mentioning that she had been discussing the Bible with one of her graduate students, who happened to be present. She suggested that he might know the answer. All eyes turned to the grad student, who was caught off guard and unsure how to respond. Yet, in that moment, the Father provided the words, as promised in Matthew 10:20,“For it is not you who will be speaking, it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

The grad student replied simply: “Oh, it’s quite simple, really. It is indeed the recorded history of a miraculous event. If you believe in God, then you believe miracles can happen. If you do not believe in God, then miracles are impossible. Because I believe in God, I’m totally confident that God performed a miracle, and it happened.”

The fishing professor nodded thoughtfully and said, “Oh, I get it; it is quite simple, isn’t it?”

The Red Sea: A Story of Miraculous Deliverance

The story of the Red Sea is one of the most well-known accounts in the Old Testament. For those who do not believe in God, it is often dismissed as mythology, likened to the tales of Greek and Roman gods. But for the children of the King, it is a story filled with the aroma of life unto life (2 Corinthians 2:16), a testament to God’s power and faithfulness.

The narrative is straightforward:

• The Father redeemed His people, Israel, from slavery in Egypt.
• Through the Ten Plagues, God broke Pharaoh’s resistance and secured their freedom.
• However, Pharaoh had a change of heart and pursued the Israelites, trapping them with their backs to the Red Sea.

In their desperation, the people cried out to Moses, who turned to the Father for help. God’s response was simple yet profound, Exodus 14:16, “Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.”

The Miracle of the Red Sea

In an astonishing display of power, the Red Sea parted, creating a dry path through what had been a mucky seabed. Towering walls of water stood on either side as the Israelites walked through to safety. When Pharaoh’s army pursued them, the waters returned, swallowing the Egyptians and securing Israel’s deliverance.

This miracle was not about Moses or his staff. The power resided solely with the Father. Moses and the staff were simply instruments in God’s hands, used to achieve His divine purpose. This event is a vivid example of God intervening in the space-time continuum to rescue His people.

The Miracle-Working Power of God Today

While most of us will never face a literal Red Sea, the same miracle-working power is available to every child of the King. The Father chooses when and how to intervene in human history, but His power to save, deliver, and provide remains constant. As Psalms 37:5 reminds us, “Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.”

REFLECT & PRAY

The story of the Red Sea is a reminder that God fights for His people. When we face impossible situations, we can trust in His power and faithfulness. As Exodus 14:14 says, “The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

Father, thank You for being there for me. When I face challenges that seem insurmountable, help me to calm down, focus, and remember who You are and what You do. I trust in Your power to deliver and sustain me.

INSIGHT

The Miracle of the Red Sea and Its Deeper Meaning

The parting of the Red Sea is one of the most awe-inspiring miracles recorded in Scripture. Yet, beyond the dramatic display of power, this event reveals profound truths about the Father’s purpose, human nature, and the essence of worship.

God’s Sovereign Plan: Protecting His People and Defeating the Enemy

This entire event was orchestrated by the Father to protect His people and eliminate a powerful enemy bent on their destruction. Exodus 14:4 reveals that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, leading him to pursue the Israelites, a decision that ultimately destroyed Egypt’s powerful and fearsome army.

This was not a random act of power but a deliberate plan to demonstrate God’s sovereignty and care for His people. The Father’s intervention was both a rescue mission and a declaration of His authority over all nations.

The Fleeting Nature of Miracles

Miracles are awe-inspiring in the moment, but their impact is like the morning mist and soon fades as time passes. Exodus 14:31 describes how the Israelites were filled with awe and faith after witnessing God’s mighty power, “When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the LORD had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the LORD and in His servant Moses.”

However, as time went on, their awe diminished, and the people quickly forgot what God had done. This pattern of forgetfulness is echoed throughout Scripture:

• Psalms 78:11-13: “They forgot His deeds and His miracles that He had shown them. For He divided the sea and led them through, making the water stand up like walls!”

• Psalms 106:13: “Yet how quickly they forgot what He had done!”

This forgetfulness is not unique to the Israelites. It reflects a universal human tendency to lose sight of God’s past faithfulness when faced with new challenges.

Faith Rooted in God’s Word, Not Miracles

While miracles can inspire faith, they are not the foundation of biblical faith. True faith is rooted in the facts and promises presented in the Word of God. Miracles may confirm God’s power, but His Word provides the enduring truth that sustains faith over time.

Even today, many dismiss the miracle of the Red Sea as myth or legend. If you were to ask the average person, “Did the miracle of the Red Sea really happen?”, few would answer “yes.” This skepticism underscores the importance of grounding our faith in God’s Word rather than fleeting experiences.

God’s Desire to Display His Glory

In Exodus 14:4, God reveals His ultimate purpose for the Red Sea miracle, “I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD!”

What does it mean for God to display His glory? The Hebrew word for “glory” is kabod. Kabod originally meant“heavy.” It came to convey the idea of “weightiness, honor, and splendor.” In this context, “it means that God’s actions would lead people to recognize and honor Him for who He is.” As the UBS commentary explains, this can be expressed as: “People will praise or honor me.”

God’s desire to display His glory is not self-gratifying but an invitation for us to acknowledge His greatness and respond in worship. Recognizing and honoring the Father for who He is and what He does is the essence of worship both then and now.

A Call to Stand Still and Trust

In the face of overwhelming fear and uncertainty, Moses delivered a powerful message to the Israelites in Exodus 14:13, “Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD.”

This command to “stand still” is a call to trust in God’s power and timing. It reminds us that deliverance is not something we achieve through our own efforts but something God accomplishes on our behalf.

The story of the Red Sea challenges us to remember God’s faithfulness, trust in His Word, and worship Him for His glory. As we face our own “Red Sea” moments, we can take comfort in the promise of Psalm 37:5, “Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust Him, and He will help you.”

Final Thought: The Heart of Worship

The miracle of the Red Sea is not just a historical event; it reveals God’s character and His desire for us to know and honor Him. As we reflect on His mighty works, let us respond with awe, trust, and worship, recognizing that He alone is worthy of all honor.

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© Dr. H 2025