Dont Fret, Be Still

Don’t fret be still

Exodus 14:1-14 (NIV)

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 "Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Ha-hi-roth, between Mig-dol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Ze-phon. 3 Pharaoh will think, ’The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." So the Israelites did this. 5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!" 6 So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. 7 He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. 8 The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. 9 The Egyptians--all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops--pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Ha-hi-roth, opposite Baal Zephon. 10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ’Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" 13 Moses answered the people, "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. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Look at your neighbor and say don’t fret, time to be still

Intro: we have been talking about trouble and hard times today. We discussed how we know hard times will come. But we don’t have to be overcome by these hard times. We can have the peace of Christ in us. We can get to a point in life where even though things seem bad and hopeless we can know we have a God on our side that will fight with us.

We see in this scripture that we have a God that can do some things for us.

1. He will keep his promise.

a. He said he will set the Israelites free and he did

i. Had a few sit-downs with the pharaoh

ii. Sent to plagues on Egypt

1. Ultimately kills the first born son of all without the blood

b. He said he will set us free from sin and he has

i. Send the first born son Jesus to die so we can be free

c. Don’t be afraid. Seek the lord when he can be found

d. If it looks like were loosening trust in Him for redemption don’t

It’s not always the best route though

God doesn’t always work in the way that seems best to us. Instead of guiding the Israelites along the direct route from Egypt to the promised land, he took them by a longer route to avoid fighting with the Philistines. If God does not lead you along the shortest path to your goal, don’t complain or resist. Follow him willingly and trust him to lead you safely around unseen obstacles. He can see the end of your journey from the beginning, and he knows the safest and best route.

2. He will overcome all our enemies

a. Egypt tried to stop their freedom

Run the story: Pharaoh Changes his mind goes to kill them. They complain. They are scared. Complaining he says be still.

Exodus 14:13-14 (NIV)

13"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. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Relax. Calm don’t get in a tiff. Moses raises his arms and the water parts.

b. Many try to stop it for us

i. Satan tries to discourage us

ii. Attacked in many ways

iii. We need to rely on God

Window: He gave the Israelite the pillar of fire to follow to know that God was with them.

He has given us His word. The bible is our comfort and knowlege he is with us