From the Pulpit: I need to do what?

It doesn’t take much effort to think of seemingly strange or challenging things Gods expects His followers to do. We are told by Jesus to “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matt. 5:44). God takes this a step further and tells us to “Bless those who persecute you” and “Do not repay anyone evil for evil,” (Romans 12:14, 17). We clearly can’t do these things by our own power. It takes the Holy Spirit working in us, after we are saved, to do these things as part of our new life in Christ. Only God can give us the strength to do these seemingly impossible tasks. 

Now imagine for a second that you are an Israelite. You have just been released from slavery, and you have no weapons to defend yourself. Pharaoh’s army is breathing down your neck, the Red Sea is in front of you and you can’t swim across it with your family. What would you do, panic? Is it any wonder that in their weakness they asked Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?” 

And here’s the kicker: God tells them, “The Lord will fight for you, you need only be still,” (Ex. 14:14).  Be still? If I were an ancient Israelite, I would be tempted to protest, “You want me to do what? Be still? Couldn’t you at least give me a spear or a sword so I can defend my family?” But God wasn’t playing with them. You know how the story ends. They didn’t have to do anything to defend themselves. God did it all by parting the Red Sea so they could go through on dry ground and then closing it on Pharaoh’s chariots. 

“The Lord will fight for you, you only need be still.” Do these words apply to us today, or were they only meant for the Israelites on the shore of the Red Sea? This idea of being still and letting God fight our battles is repeated in one of my favorite Psalms. “Be still and know that I am God,” (Ps. 46:10). Martin Luther based his powerful Reformation hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” on this Psalm and this theme of God fighting for us. 

So yes, God meant us to also take heart when we read these words, “The Lord will fight for you, you need only be still.” Don’t confuse these words with other instructions God gives us in Scripture. If you want instructions on being industrious, read Proverbs 6:6-11 and see why we are told, “Go to the ant, you sluggard!” If you want encouragement to not be lazy and to work to support your family, read 2 Thes. 3:10. If you want a reminder that God will provide for you like He dresses the flowers and feeds the birds, read Matthew 6:25-34. But when you are overwhelmed by things beyond your control, world affairs and politics in particular, remember these words. 

After all, God has already taken care of the other “big stuff” you can’t control, like saving your soul from hell and promising heaven to those who believe and are baptized. He is the “Author and Finisher of our faith,” (Heb.12:2). If He has done all this for you, won’t He take care of the other things that cause sleepless nights? Let these words, “The Lord will fight for you, you only need be still,” be your faith pillow!