◄ Stand Still ►

The Lord said to Moses, 'Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today'.
Exodus 14:13

Believing Faith

Faith believes what God said. Faith has nothing to do with impressions. Faith has nothing to do with inward feelings. Faith has nothing to do with the outward appearances. Faith has nothing to do with miracles, wonders, or signs. Faith has nothing to do with probabilities or improbabilities. Faith has nothing to do with humanistic philosophies. Faith has nothing to do with calculations. Faith has nothing to do with speculations.

Demonstrating Faith

If you desire to couple any one of these things with faith – it is no longer faith. Faith plus anything extra, however noble is no faith at all..and without faith it is impossible to please God.  Hebrews 11:6  Faith rests on the naked Word of God. Faith begins and ends with the promises of Christ. When you take Him at His Word you are demonstrating faith..and you will find rest for your soul, even when the circumstances surrounding you may scream to the contrary.

Examples of Faith

God delights to exercise faith in you, just as He did with his servants of old. Moses told the Israelites to 'Stand Still', in Ex.14:13 – but the Egyptians were bearing down on them and they wanted to run. The desert was behind them – where could they flee to? The sea was before them. They had nowhere to hide. They could neither go on, nor could they retreat. They were trapped and afraid.

Extraordinary Difficulties

They were in the midst of extraordinary difficulties… and their hearts must have been failing in them for fear of what was coming. But Moses told the Israelites to stand still– Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Do not be afraid. Moses told the terrified Israelites… 'Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD– which He will accomplish for you today'. Our Lord tells us this very same truth. Stand still, Christian and see the salvation of the Lord.

Challenges to Faith

Despair whispers: 'Give up – Lie down and die; there is nothing that can be done'. But God would have us stand steady, even in the most trying and difficult times. He would have us rejoice in His love and His never-failing faithfulness – even though the world appears to collapse around us.

Cowardice cries out: 'Retreat – Go back – The path is too difficult. Go back. Relinquish your principles and return to the world. Go back to the worldings and their ways and actions'. Satan may whisper: 'retreat.. it’s not good, nothing can save you now',  and like Job’s wife, some would say: 'curse God and die…'  But God would have us stand still and see the salvation of God.  Stand still for a while, if it is only to renew your strength.. so we can continue from strength to strength..and having done all we may continue to stand– stand therefore, we are told in Ephesians 6:14.

Impetuosity and sister Haste cries: 'do something and do it now; Stir yourself; act quickly, take action yourself; discover your own answer. Solve your problem, don’t wait for God, for He long delays His action'. Impetuosity argues that to stand by in idleness is foolishness! We can find the answer to our problems : – Activate – Calculate – Speculate – Operate. DO something and do it now! And so instead of looking to the Lord to do something –we look to ourselves for answers.

Presumption boasts: 'Positive thinking.. Just believe it and it will happen! If the sea is before you march forth and expect a miracle! Name it and claim it and tell God how to act and tell Him to save you!' And yet such foolish counsel rests on man's view – not God’s great plan.

Response of Faith

Faith responds not to Cowardice nor Despair. Faith takes no heed of Impetuosity or Haste nor foolish Presumption. Faith listens to the Word of God, even if the answer seems long in coming. Faith hears God’s quiet counsel and calm instruction: Stand Still… and see the salvation of God. What does it mean to 'stand still'? Well stand still means to keep the posture of an upright man; to be ready for action; to expect further orders. To stand still in cheerfulness and patient endurance; to await His directional voice; to refrain from self-effort  – to resist evil attitudes. STAND STILL …and see the salvation of the LORD.

Reward of Faith

'Do not be afraid…' Moses told the terrified Israelites. '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.' And the Lord said to Moses, 'Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground, through the midst of the sea'. Exodus 14:13 ff  Just stand still.