How Can Faith Help Us?

Exodus 14: 10 - 12, And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD. Then they said to Moses, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, 'Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness." 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." NKJV 

Have you placed your complete trust in Jesus as your personal Savior? If so, then you are no longer a spiritual orphan, neither are you a slave to Satan nor sin. You are a child of God. The writer of Hebrews teaches us that we have an advocate. Jesus is our High Priest; He has entered the heavenly temple where God dwells and ever lives to make intercession on our behalf. Jesus stands in our defense when we are attacked by Satan.

When God told Moses that it was time for Pharaoh to let His people go so that they might go into the wilderness and worship Him, He was removing them from living in bondage. Once they departed Egypt, they were no longer slaves or outcasts. God had moved by His sovereignty and placed them under His loving care. 

As slaves, they were accustomed to being told what they could and could not do with their lives. However, when God brought them out, it was to break them from having a slave mindset. No longer would they be controlled by man; they would be led by God's voice and would move accordingly by faith. The Israelites were used to listening to man's instructions. Consequently, before their faith could be fully established, God had to use various experiences to teach them how to trust in Him for instruction. 

Therefore, God brought them down to the Red Sea and hardened Pharaoh's heart so that he would pursue the children of Israel. When they saw the army coming near them, their hearts became fearful and doubt began to control their mouths. They cried out against God to Moses because in their hearts, they believed that God had brought them there to kill them. You see; as former slaves, they weren't accustomed to anyone standing up for them, defending them against Pharaoh or his taskmasters. 

Therefore, out of fear, they begin to defend themselves; nevertheless, they did so against the very One, who was delivering them from their bondage. Please read that line once more. It was because the Jews knew their former dictator, but didn't know their God that they turned on God; they feared Pharaoh and didn't trust God. Have you ever gotten in a tough place and fear took over because of Satan's attack against you, and you began to accuse God of setting you up for failure? God understands why we do this, and He has patience with us. He's at work in our lives, trying to establish us in the faith, just as He did with the Jews.

Moses told the Jews to be still (keep their mouths shut), and they would see the salvation of the Lord. I stated it earlier; even so, I want to write to you once again. These FORMER slaves weren't used to having someone defend them against Pharaoh; however, God wanted to teach them to trust in Him. 

When God brought you and me out of bondage to sin, we didn't trust anyone, especially God because we were slaves to sin. Nevertheless, now that we have been saved by His grace, God has taken on the responsibility of taking great care of us and defending us against our "pharaohs." As sons and daughters of God, we must be willing to stand still and hold our peace in times of trouble. We must allow God to fight our battles. The time of being a slave and thinking like one is over. Now, we are the children of promise, and God is our gracious heavenly Father. He knows what is best for us, and He wants us to walk by faith and not by sight so that we will inherit His promises. May this word fill your heart with hope today and may you overcome any doubt and fear about your situations.

Peace Be Still,
Pastor Asa Dockery