COMMANDED TO STAND STILL

ANSWER: “YES – BUT NOT FOR LAZINESS”

EXPLANATION:

The following is probably one of my favourite scriptures:

Speak unto the children of Israel, that they TURN and ENCAMP before PIHAHIROTH, BETWEEN MIGDOL AND THE SEA, OVER AGAINST BAALZEPHON: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. Exodus 14:2
Moses had ended up right at the very tip, the very bottom of the misnamed Mt Sinai Peninsula.

Today the beach resort town of Sharm el-Shiekh would be the location of where Moses crossed the Red Sea. It is perched on the Red Sea and hedged in by mountains.

The Sinai Peninsula has been misnamed as Mt Sinai is across the waters of the Red Sea and is located in Arabia, Jordan.

Moses had got to the Red Sea.
Moses had a few million people depending on him.
Moses had been brought to the end of himself as it were.
Moses had been reduced to nothing.
Moses could not retreat as the Egyptian armies were hot on his heels.

Moses after turning the corner at the bottom of Mt Sinai, had to TURN back as the mountains before him were impassable.

Moses had to ENCAMP, that is, set up camp, by the sea and be still.

They were camped on the sea-shore at and before PIHAHIROTH whose meaning is “the mouth of the sea”.
This was the place from which God would take them across the sea.
Look at a map, this place is shaped like an open mouth (Matt 13:35; 2Cor 6:11; Eph 6:19). Open mouths result, and indeed, produce deliverance if allowed (Acts 18:12-14).

Israel were on a very large stretch of beach, camped BETWEEN MIGDOL AND THE SEA.

They were trapped with Migdol behind them. Migdol was an Egyptian watch tower and military outpost from which messages could be sent back to the pursuing army.

BAALZEPHON was a sacred mountain of the ancient pagan Canaanite religion and was 
located directly across the Red Sea.

Moses was confronted with the sight of Mount Baal Zephon before him. He was OVER AGAINST BAALZEPHON.

WELL HOW ABOUT THAT? TALK ABOUT HEMMED IN!

 1.   Moses chased by the whole and full force of the Egyptian armies.

 2.   Hedged in by mountains

 3.   Physically shadowed by an Egyptian military outpost

 4.   Confronted with the presence of Baal across the sea

But the LORD says “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD...” (Ex 14:13)

DEAR BELIEVER, IT IS GOD’S DELIGHT TO DELIVER

It is God’s command to the believer when reduced to intolerable straits and brought into extraordinary difficulties, that we stand still.

You cannot retreat.
You cannot go forward.
You cannot go backward.
You are shut up on the right hand.
You are shut up on the left hand.

THE ANGEL OF LIGHT WOULD HAVE US DO ONE OF 4 THINGS:

1.  DESPAIR SAYS “LIE AND DIE”
Does God want this? No. He would have us with cheerful courage even in our worst times.

Moses didn’t say “That’s it Israel. We’re done. Let’s drink some Kool Aid, lie down and die.”

2.  COWARDICE SAYS “GO BACK TO THE WORLD”
Does God want this? No. He does not want us to say it’s too difficult and stop living as a Christian.

Moses didn’t fall on his knees and beg forgiveness from Pharoah and promise to be good little pagan Egyptians.

3.  ACTION SAYS “DO SOMETHING”
Does God want this? No. Action says to stir yourself, standing still and waiting is nothing but idleness.

Moses did not say “All right men, arm yourselves, we will turn and fight the Egyptians.”

4.  FALSE FAITH SAYS “MARCH INTO THE SEA AND EXPECT A MIRACLE”
Does God want this? No. This is the false mantra of the church today “How big is your faith! Step out and conquer!”

Moses did not say “Start speaking in tongues! Get filled with the Holy Ghost! Let’s name it and claim it!”

BUT HOW WILL I KNOW WHAT TO DO?

Dear Reader, having spent a large proportion of my life at University, I was well aware that I didn’t pass exams when I got into the examination room.

No. My passing was done months and months before in preparation in the accumulation of knowledge from books, lectures, Professors and so on.

How foolish is the man who decides to run a marathon without training for years before hand?

And so Dear Reader, the Christian life is the same.

How will you hear the still small voice (1King 19:12) if you haven’t prepared yourself to hear it.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN FEEDING/ABSORBING/LISTENING TO?

Only you know the thoughts and intents of your heart?

Today, the vast majority of Christians listen to popular ‘Christian’ music, the world, travel, TV evangelists, TV, church activities, read corrupt Bibles, follow Pied Pipers … the list is endless with three lusts at the centre … eyes, flesh and pride of life (1Jn 2:16 Gal 5:16).

You know a sort of “Live life! Love Life! Be life! God will give you the life you want to love and live! Live to love and love to live!


“I’ve got a life to live as well” said one fellow recently … family here, movies there, entertainment events elsewhere and so on.


Unless you have renewed your mind (Rom 12:2) and cleaned your life up, despair, cowardice, action and false faith will be your only recourse in times of trouble.


Moses had spent 40 years in the ways of the Egyptian world.

Moses had spent 40 years in the desert with sheep listening to God.

Moses had no doubt or hesitation in hearing God’s voice.  

He knew the difference between the voice of God Almighty and the voices of the flesh.

 

**** ****

Harley Hitchcock

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