Read Exodus 14:1-31

“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:13–14)

The emotions of fear and urgency; the vengeance on relentless evil; the intrigue of how Israel would escape from entrapment; and the final vindication through divine intervention are just a few themes that make this account one of the most iconic chapters in Scripture. The crossing through the Red Sea has captured the imagination and the curiosity of children and adults alike for millenniums.

We wonder: What was it like to see walls of water on the right and on the left? Was there a curious Hebrew child who pushed his hand into that wall of water? Did they see small and large sea creatures swimming around like a modern day aquarium in the torchlit night? What a mystery the whole night was as the whole nation made their way across the Red Sea on dry ground, with the pillar of God’s Holy Fire behind them to guard against the Egyptians, and the promise of freedom ahead of them at the opposite shoreline. But they didn’t have much time to remain awestruck at the Lord’s mighty wonders — they must by faith walk into the divided sea and step forward through to the other side.

And they did — all of them. Not one of them was lost.

After passing through the division of the Red Sea and then seeing it crush the Egyptian army in one mighty collapse, freedom suddenly became their new song. Imagine, not one of them had experienced freedom in their entire life until they saw the dead Egyptians washed up on the seashore. Oh, to be free for the first time. What a feeling that must have been!

But all of this started, not with walking through the Red Sea, but first by standing still and seeing the salvation of the LORD. When fear gripped the Israelites at that critical moment in which they felt ambushed, any hope they had was melting away quickly. Some even retaliated at Moses in protest and disbelief. How was Moses going to get them out of this conflict? It still amazes me that after witnessing the 10 plagues on Egypt, and in particular, the death of their firstborns after which Israel was spared under the blood of the lamb, that Israel still lacked faith in God's deliverance.

How could this be? Perhaps they, as Jesus said, had eyes but would not see and ears and would not hear. They weren’t standing still and watching the salvation of the LORD. They weren't recognizing that the LORD would fight for them. They had no peace because they had not taken the time to look up. Thus Moses command is proclaimed: "Stand still and see!”

What a warning and exhortation for us today. We can read our Bibles, we can be faithful at church, we can pray daily and surround ourselves with all the wonders of God, as it were, but if we do not take the time to stand still and see His salvation, we may very well find ourselves faithlessly complaining in the middle of an awesome work of God. We must have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Could this be why our Lord Jesus, without fail, exhorted all of the sevens churches in Asia Minor, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches!" (see Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22)

Or as the Sons of Korah beautifully composed in their Psalm:

“Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.” (Psalm 46:8–11)

Sometimes we just need to stop, stand still and see. The Lord will fight for you, don’t miss it! Hold your tongue from saying unfaithful words you will certainly regret. Complaining is not only a vile sin, it’s a distraction from the Holy Fire of God working behind you and the spiritual freedom that lies ahead of you. Stop the tongue and use the eyes! Be quiet and watch!

May we cling to the prayer of Elisha which he made on behalf of a fearful young man after seeing the multitudes of enemies:

“Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:16–17)

May the Lord open our eyes as well! For the Lord is certainly fighting on our behalf. He will bring you His peace. Don’t trade it for an idle word of complaint. Simply stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Only then, when the Lord parts the sea for you, will you be ready to step into it by faith and reach the shore of freedom.