There Is No Reason To Fear

BIBLE STUDY # 814-CHURCH IN THE HOUSES TUESDAY MAY 27 - JUNE 2, 2014

Topic: “There Is No Reason To Fear” Exodus 14:13-20 God had sent Moses to take out the nation of Israel from Egypt’s slavery. By obeying and carrying it out they knew they were going to face a great opposition on behalf of the Pharaoh and his army. They were pursued by the enemy to kill all of them and when they were coming close to attack and destroy them the Israelites cried out to Jehovah and claimed to Moses. Exodus 14:9, 10 “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 Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon. As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord.” Moses spoke to them telling them they had no reason to fear. Exodus 14:13, 14 “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.” We see that in difficult situations like this one we should trust the Lord who called us. WE MUST REMAIN FIRM, NOT MOVE, STAY PUT BECAUSE GOD WILL DO AND WE WILL SEE SALVATION. It is like saying: I will also get out of this one! It will be God who will provide fortress. Human beings run, but those who trust God have fortress. As some say: “Nothing happened!” Moses is tested here like no one has ever been tested. His fortress is severely tested in that great crisis. He and his people were exposed to diverse and inevitable dangers. He was exposed to Pharaoh’s vengeance who contested a multitude of his army ready to attack violently; and the people of Israel responded with great uproar and great despair. But, we see Moses with serenity and with meek tranquility. Here is shown one of the most sublime examples of MORALE COURAGE. Where does this courage result or come from? It was that he was seeing the miraculous cloud and his confidence was in the divine intervention. Moses would seek the expected liberation looking everywhere except in direction towards the Red Sea; it was something impossible to think about. God said to them: “…the Egyptians you see today you will never see again…” This is the beauty of God! It is like saying to us: “Do not close the eyes; these enemies that you see now, you will never see them again, I will take care of what disturbs their sight.” How much do those enemies disturb your ways? They were following them to the Promised Land the same as your enemies follow you who are also headed to what God has promised you for your life. But you, be still! Still, because you do not fight, it is God who will fight for you. It is tranquility what God expects from us for the trust we should have, knowing that He will fight on our behalf. Exodus 14:14 “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:15 “Then the Lord said to Moses: “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.” There are also moments in which we have to act, walk, move. March! That’s what God told Moses to tell the people. Do not stop because of what your eyes can see. March! No stopping! Be calm! Moses, why do you cry out to me? What is happening? Do you not trust? Who has done so much among you? God commanded them to march and to not fear. The road was already prepared, why pray so that God could do what was already done? Faith is the attitude when one believes. When in response to his prayers Moses received the divine mandate to hurry, then he no longer doubted about the kind of miracle God was going to perform. Exodus 14:16 “Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry land.” There you have the staff and the sea is in front where you’re going to pass in dry land; divide it because that’s where you are all going to get through! But the problem was even greater, God would harden Pharaoh’s heart and they would go after them through the open path in the sea. Exodus 14:17 “I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they would go in after them… More problems? Yes, there they are! But, it was that God would turn the hearts of the Egyptians heavy so that they would enter the path in the sea and die drowning in darkness and without hope. IT IS THAT GOD GLORIFIES HIMSELF IN THE PROBLEM, IN THE SITUATION. Exodus 14:17 “…and I WILL GAIN GLORY through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.” “Glorify” means, “I am going to exalt myself among them. God will bring out His marvelous qualities and His great power will stand out; that is to gain glory. To glorify is to bring out His greatness and that’s what the Lord would do with His people and Moses! When He glorified Himself in Pharaoh, when He did wonders with His presence over Pharaoh, the poor would not be able to resist so much greatness of God upon him, a sad mortal. Exodus 14:19 “Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel‘s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them…” God’s angel and the pillar of cloud! The slow and silent movement of that majestic pillar that was following them in the air and its position in back of them must’ve excited the amazement of the Israelites. It was an effective barrier between them and their persecutors, not only protecting them but also hiding their movements. This way the same cloud produced light for God’s people and obscurity (symbol of wrath) for their enemies. God is always

supporting us, above all in the difficult and asphyxiating situations. We should not fear and like Moses we should go forward obeying in everything He has asked us. Let us march! Amen.