“Now therefore stand still and see this great thing which the LORD will do before your eyes” (1 Samuel 12:16). One of the essential disciplines of the Christian life is waiting on God. And God’s timing is always perfect. In general, many of us don’t like to wait for anything. We want everything immediately if not sooner.
Because people assign themselves to eat and drink in a hurry, there are many “fast food” restaurants that cater to this requirement. Also available are instant coffee, instant tea, instant soup, instant dessert. Companies realize the ongoing need for quick services hence their availability to the public. There is also instant weddings and “quickie” divorces.
Some people have a rather short attention span when it comes to worshiping God. Yet, so much attention is given to non-spiritual things. The prophet Isaiah wrote: “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walking not faint” (Isaiah 40:30,31). “Wait for the LORD” is a key discipline in Christian living.
Waiting on God does not mean sitting idly. Absolutely not. Waiting on God is quite the opposite. Waiting on God means drawing closer to Him through prayer and devotion for strength renewal and deeper insights into His word. And also to realize some of what He has in store for us. When we wait on God, He will get our attention because our expectation will be from Him.
God was executing His plan to miraculously provide a way of deliverance through the Red Sea for His people Israel. However, while Pharaoh and his army were in hot pursuit, the chidden of Israel were petrified and began accusing Moses for the developing situation. They told Moses that it would have been better for them to remain in Egypt and serve the Egyptians rather than to die in the wilderness. God’s people were allowing the situation to cast doubt on what God was able to do.
Moses did not give in to the charges and complaints against him. Instead, he asked them to “stand firm” and trust God to work out their deliverance. Moses told them “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. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:13,14). These were most assuring words.
This situation is a good lesson for us to learn as it highlights the importance of trusting God and allowing “him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20). The children of Israel were subsequently delivered and Pharaoh and his host were annihilated.
Absolutely nothing takes God by surprise. He was well prepared to deliver Israel from the onslaught of Pharaoh’s army. God allows difficult situations in our lives which will increase our faith. Was it not Israel’s God who hardened Pharaoh’s heart? Didn’t He say “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD.” And they did so” (Exodus 14:4). God’s will and purposes are always perfect. May we never underestimate the wisdom, knowledge, and power of Almighty God..
In today’s topsy-turvy world, Christians can easily be caught up with so much distraction, confusion, and uncertainly that tend to cast doubt on our faith and hope in the Almighty. Therefore, let us stand still and wait on God. Moses said, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today.” God requires our undivided attention to show us what is able to do. If we wait, we will what He is doing for us.
It is very clear that things are not getting any better in this present world. Therefore, we need to remain strong and firm in our faith and allow God to work out His will and purposes in our lives. If you are facing a crisis now, and don’t know what to do or where to turn; fear not and stand still. God will fight for you. Let your faith expel your fears. “God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Numbers 23:19). God is most reliable.
God has granted to us everything we need to live the Christian life. The Bible says “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire” (2 Peter 1:3,4). God always keeps His promises.
“Behold I am near to d