Yesterday we talked about fear. As I said before the enemy knows this can be a weak point for us and so it should not be a surprise that we find ourselves attacked in this area time and time again.

Even throughout the Bible we can read stories about people who faced fear, trusted God and saw the unique ways that He was with them through it all.

In Fervent, Priscilla brings us to the story of Moses and the people of Israel. They have fled and now Pharaoh is mad. Exodus 14 details how Pharaoh takes 600 of his chosen chariots and all the rest of this chariots and army to pursue the people of Israel.

As you can imagine the people are terrified. Pharaoh’s army charging at them, their back to the Red Sea…no where to go. Surely they will die. They question Moses and ask why he would bring them there to perish and this is what he says. “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. ¹⁴ The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Exodus 14:13

Fear not, stand firm. The Lord will fight for you.

Pretty crazy words when it seems that death is charging at you full speed. But Moses trusted God. And stood ready to listen to His command. God spoke to Moses and told him to raise his staff and in doing so the waters of the Red Sea parted and the people were allowed to pass through on dry ground. A wall of water on their right and a wall of water on their left.

Can you even imagine what that must have felt like?!

And even more He again instructs Moses to pass his hand over the water and it swallows up the army that was chasing them. The Lord fought for them.

Priscilla says this that encapsulates everything so beautifully. “Notice that Moses wasn’t telling them not to feel fear. The prospect of looming death will just kind of do that. On its own. Fear is a natural human response to a lot of things, a Red Sea moment being one of them. So he knew they would feel fear, but he was telling them not to wallow in it. Not to choose it. Not to make friends with it. Not to entertain it, engage it. Because if they did, they risked not sticking around long enough to experience the stunning miracle their God was about to perform. And even more they risked not getting to the other side. To the Promised Land.” p110-111

The enemy knew that the Promised Land was just up ahead. If the people could be convinced that their plight was hopeless, they wouldn’t trust God and wait to see what He would do. The enemy always has and always will use fear as a means to get us off track.

Five years ago when my husband and I found ourselves both unemployed, in a new community, with a bigger mortgage…the fears of bankruptcy and loss, of having to move back with family, loomed heavy over us. In my Red Sea moment I was certain all was doomed. My husband though got on his knees and asked God to guide Him. He prayed that no matter what happened if we were still a family we would be ok.

In his Red Sea moment he chose to trust. He stepped out and did some crazy, scary things like file an LLC for a business he wasn’t sure would take off. He felt God’s leading and he followed it. People told him he couldn’t do it and it would fail…but standing on that water’s edge he knew he had no other option but to step forward.

God has been a part of every step. Doors have opened and connections have been made in ways that can only be accredited to God. He has blessed this business we work at together in a way neither of us could have hoped or imagined. We just pray that the work we do for families can be a blessing to them and we try not to take it all for granted.

I don’t know what you are facing today. It may be something small, a difficult decision to make. It may be a mountain of a problem and everything in you tells you that you will fail. But if God has called you to it, you better believe He will equip you and lead you to your Promised Land.

Get on your knees today and pray over it. Don’t let fear destroy the plans God has for you. Trust Him. He will fight for you.

Lord, thank you for giving us the Bible as a source of encouragement and hope. Reminders that we should not fear, and You will fight for us. Please remove fear from our hearts and replace it with Your peace. That in all things we may come to You and know that You will keep our paths straight. We love You Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen!