"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. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14:13-14)

Moses is talking to the children of Israel during the great exodus from Egypt. They had just left Egypt and Pharaoh's army was in pursuit—the Red Sea before them and the enemy behind them. They were surrounded. Moses is offering the people encouragement by the Spirit of God ... "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you TODAY."

We've all read "do not be afraid" or "fear not" over and over again, but Moses is admonishing the people to STAND FIRM and they would see the deliverance that God had appointed for that day.

God has deliverance appointed to us every day if we would just STAND FIRM. This isn't deliverance because of works or because of things we might think we earn by being good people. This is divine deliverance that the "Lord will bring [us] TODAY."

Today holds many opportunities for God to deliver us ... from the oppressor, from the snare of the fowler, from the devourer, from the thief, from the destroyer, etc. All He asks is that we STAND FIRM.

What really blesses me, however, is the rest of the verse: "The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

When God delivers, HE DELIVERS. The obstacles you face right now ... when God delivers you from them YOU WILL NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN.

When God intervenes in our situation, it is a divine deliverance. When He speaks, it's done. When God delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt, they never faced those same enemies (oppressors) again—they were completely destroyed by the hand of God. Sure, they faced other enemies but when God delivered them, they remained delivered (they stood firm even though they were often tempted to return to Egypt). If we will remember the entire story, when God delivered the children of Israel from Egypt, God wiped out the Egyptian army by causing them to drown in the Red Sea. Their enemy was removed and was no more.

Today is a new day, complete with new opportunities to see God's deliverance in our lives. Remember, though, the only way we will ever face today's "Egyptians" again is if we refuse to allow God to have His way—we do that by not standing firm but meddling in God's business and/or turning back again into the situation He desires to deliver us from.

Stand firm. Don't allow God's deliverance to be in vain. Be still ... the "Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." Amen.

Have a great day of deliverance; enjoy the incredible blessings of the Lord.

Lord, I praise You for Your delivering power at work in my life. Oh God, forgive me for failing to stand firm and allowing You to do the work of deliverance. Forgive me for meddling in Your business by trying to work things out on my own. Help me, Lord, to trust You for complete and total deliverance from today's "Egyptians" and, then, help me to remember that the battle is Yours and I only need to be still. Deliver me from my oppressors, Lord, and lead me into Your victory so Jesus will be glorified and His triumph over the enemy will be seen. Be glorified, Lord … in Jesus' name, amen and amen!

"All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands." (1 Samuel 17:47)

© Jan Ross
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