Standing firm is a powerful way to glorify God
Author
Dr. Roberto Miranda
Summary: Exodus 14 tells the story of the Israelites being trapped between Pharaoh's army and the Red Sea. Moses encouraged them to stand firm and trust in God's faithfulness. Standing firm is a powerful way to glorify God and preserve our own dignity as soldiers in his army. Flight is not an option for the Christian soldier. Psalm 11 also emphasizes the importance of trusting in God and not fleeing from the enemy. Standing firm on God's word will lead to seeing his salvation in our trials.
Exodus 14 is one of the most memorable passages in all of Scripture. There we are told of the occasion when the people of Israel found themselves literally between a rock and a hard place. Behind them, they had the sword of Pharaoh's army. God had hardened the heart of the Egyptian monarch, so that he would renege on his promise to let the Hebrew people go. Now, he came full of anger to destroy God's people with his mighty army. Ahead of them, the Hebrews had a wall of water, the impassable Red Sea, which blocked their way.
Everything seemed lost. The Jews, as so many times in the future, began to deny God and complain. At that very moment, Moses began to encourage them, calling them to stand firm and set their gaze on God's faithfulness: “And Moses said to the people: Do not be afraid; stand firm, and see the salvation that Jehovah will bring to you today; because the Egyptians that you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. Jehovah will fight for you, and you will be calm. "
Moses invited the people not to give in to panic, not to start running unruly from one place to another. They were to stand firm, honoring with their faith and poise the mighty God who had brought them out of Egypt with a firm hand and outstretched arm. Any other kind of behavior on the part of the people would have been a dishonor to the God of Israel.
Often times, standing firm is a powerful way to glorify God. With that stance, we declare our confidence in his loyalty and power. Furthermore, it is a way of preserving our own dignity as soldiers in the army of the living God. To stand firm in our position, standing on the promises of God, is the only honorable posture for a son or daughter of God, even when the flesh invites us to throw the sword, allow ourselves to be possessed by panic and flee the field of battle. For the Christian soldier, flight is simply not an alternative.
In Psalm 11 King David, a brave and experienced warrior, declares: “In Jehovah I have put my trust; How do you tell my soul to escape to the mountain like a bird ”? In other words, if we have truly trusted in Jehovah, we have to face the enemy and hold fast to our profession of faith. Any suggestion to flee must be received as a real insult.
If we stand firm on God's word, cultivating a posture of peace and trust in his promises, we will inevitably see his salvation in our trials and difficulties.