Are you fidgety – as in always doing something, like a hummingbird? How about when stressed or upset? These days, fidgety people are probably diagnosed as having ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. But if we only fidget when stressed, is it truly ADHD? I can’t say for sure. And when it’s an entire nation… for sure it’s not about a Disorder. As we ponder disorders and waiting, let’s consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Exodus 14:13-14 CEB
[13] But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand your ground, and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never ever see again.
[14] The LORD will fight for you. You just keep still.”
Peace, be Still
Reflecting, it is easy to wonder why the Children of Israel were worried. They had the great, big, wonderful, God on their side. It didn’t matter how many Egyptians were after them. God was in their side, they need not worry. That’s the benefit of hindsight, which they say has 2020 vision. Had I been one of those people caught between Pharaoh and the deep Reed Sea, I suspect I’d feel differently. I might have been among the complainants. ‘Why carry us to die at the edge of the sea? We could just as readily died in Egypt … eventually.’ Or, I might have been among the sceptics yesterday, asking Moses about the veracity of his rescue.
Self-Check
Can you identify with the events leading up to Moses’ speech? Where are you in the mix?
Application
Can we hear God through Moses simply telling us, ‘Be still’?
Just that.
Be still. I’ve got this.
Having walked out/run out of Egypt into freedom, seeing those Egyptians coming at us with their weaponry can’t be easy. Knowing that we have nothing to use to fight back, and the other option is literally death by drowning doesn’t sound like a viable option. I don’t know about you – if probably be pacing, not just fidgety. I suspect that I’d be trying to find a rock to hide under, or probably I’d be thinking we should just surrender with dignity.
Maybe I’d even try to find another god, one who realised that we were in serious trouble.
Regardless of what we face today, God has the same message for us.
Hey, don’t worry.
Peace.
Be still.
Issue with bills – ‘Peace. Be still’.
Issue with family – ‘Peace. Be still’.
Issue with friends – ‘Peace. Be still’.
Issue with foes – ‘Peace. Be still’.
Issue at school – ‘Peace. Be still’.
Issue at work – ‘Peace. Be still’.
Issue in the community – ‘Peace. Be still’.
Issue with health – ‘Peace. Be still’.
Issue with emotions – ‘Peace. Be still’.
Issue with our spiritual life – ‘Peace. Be still’.
Siblings, it’s time to stop fidgeting. We must pause from whatever we’re doing to solve things ourselves – let’s stop self-medicating, and allow The Healer, our God, to sort things out. Yes, we might be called to action – after we’ve consulted with God about the way forward.
Right now, let’s ensure we made time to check in with God.
Peace. Be still.
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May all we seek be found in Christ
