SCRIPTURE: Ex. 13:13-16 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” 15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! 16 Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.

OBSERVATION: Poor Moses seems to be contradicting himself. It is the same confusion we often feel when we wonder what we are supposed to do when we face challenges in our lives. First he says (inspired by God), "stand still", then God says through him, "get moving!" It reflects our confusion. When faced with a problem are we just supposed to sit and wait for God to do something, or stand and move--or even fight for the victory?

It seems the answer is both. The people are told to stand still--that is, don't be filled with anxious thought and action. Know that God will battle on our behalf, no matter what we're facing.

On the other hand, God says to them and to us, "get moving"--do what I tell you to do. Putting his staff out over the sea, the people walking into it did not defeat the Egyptians; God did that, but their obedience put them in a place where God needed them to be in order to win the victory. So God says to us; I'm not asking you to win the battle or to worry it to death, I am asking you to obey. I'm asking you to take action, as I direct you, that will put you where I need you to be so that I can defeat the enemies in your life.

APPLICATION/CONFESSION: In my life, as I care for my family and my wife, I need to do both. I certainly need to pray and give over the worry and the battle to God. He is the one who will provide for my family, help my children to stand against temptation, challenge my heart and my wife's in order to make our marriage as good as it can be. That is good, but it is not enough--I need to get moving. I need to train my kids. I need to be a good steward of my resources and I need to very actively love and serve my wife. These actions are not enough to win the battle but as I am obedient, then God will do the rest.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, teach me when to sit and watch you work and when to get moving. Even in my obedience teach me to rely on you for the victory--You are the only one who can win the battles in my life.