What Are You Waiting For?

“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

— Exodus 14:14 ESV

Facing the greatest danger they had faced yet, the nation of Israel stood between an uncrossable body of water and an unbeatable approaching army. It was an impossible situation. I am sure that fear gripped the people and their leaders. Uncertainty amplified tensions, and maybe people started acting irrationally. Perhaps some people started thinking about making a break for it. I wonder if someone started swimming across the Red Sea. I can picture men breaking their carts and tools to build makeshift weapons.

In the face of all of this Chaos, Moses has a word from the Lord. In Exodus 14:13 ESV, Moses said, “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.” He rose up in the authority of God and challenged not just the oncoming army or the deep waters, but the doubts of the people.

When Moses turns back to speak to the Lord, Yahweh challenges him further. Exodus 14:15-16 says, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.’”

This morning I am struck with the power of this moment. Everyone in the camp was losing heart and cursing Moses, Moses was doing his best to trust in the Lord, but God was looking to Moses to lead with faith. Moses did well to call attention to the power of God. He understood the ability of the Lord, and he had the heart of God’s plan, but God motioned to him in that moment to lead.

God looked at Moses and said, “What are you waiting for? I am with you! Stretch out your hand and watch what happens next.” We might not see it at first, but God was teaching Moses in that moment how to operate in his kingdom.

So often, when we look at the situations around us we see brokenness, sickness, lack, and oppression and we lose heart. Maybe we get to the point of faith to declare that God is going to do something or that he can fight the battle. Then God looks at us and says, “What are you waiting for? Take the staff and stretch out your hand.”

2 Corinthians 10:4 (ESV) says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” Today’s message is that God has given us authority beyond what we know. Through Jesus, we have weapons to tear down demonic agendas, deliver hope and healing, and proclaim the Kingdom of God into the darkness. Today I invite you to meditate on this story. Open your Bible to Exodus 14 and ask God to speak to you. Perhaps there are things in your life you’ve been afraid to deal with that God is calling you to address. Have faith.

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