019: Let God Fight For You

Hello and welcome to The Hope Podcast. I’m Aneel Aranha. Today we are going to talk about how there are times in our lives when we need to stand still and let God do godly things. 

In our journey through life, there are several times we find ourselves in difficult situations where there are two equally unpleasant choices before us. No matter what option we choose, it is going to be terrible. What are we to do?

The ancient Israelites found themselves in such a situation one day in the wilderness. After Pharoah gave them their freedom, he changed his mind. He gathered his army and chased after the Israelites, catching up with them at the Red Sea. Imagine their plight. The devil in the form of Pharoah’s army on one side and a deep blue—nay, red—sea on the other. What could they do?

I’d like us to consider their options for a moment. If they headed toward the sea, they would drown. If they went the other way, they faced slaughter. But human nature, being what it is, would have compelled them to do one or the other. Fortunately, there was a wise man in their midst: Moses. He said to them: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:13-14).

Also, fortunately, they obeyed. As I said, standing still in moments of crisis is the hardest thing to do, which is why so many of us run around like headless chickens during such moments. And because they obeyed, God worked his great miracle. He parted the waters and led the Israelites through dry land to the other side. Then, to ensure that the Egyptians never troubled them again, he destroyed all of them. 

God wants to work miracles in our lives, too, because he is a mighty God who cares deeply for his people. But, for him to do something, he needs to see faith. As the author of the letter to the Hebrews said, “without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Believing that he exists also means that we believe he’s a good and powerful God who watches over us and watches out for us, even in our most terrible moments. God often allows us to reach positions of complete helplessness to make us realize these vital elements of faith and seek him out as the ONLY way out of our situation. How often do we believe our destiny lies in our hands until we are rendered totally helpless to realize anything, much less our destiny? 

So, if you are in a terrible no-win situation, do whatever is humanly possible, then be still and let God do what is only divinely possible. 

Enjoy the miracle!

May the Spirit be with you.