“Just stay calm!”

My favorite story in the Old Testament is from Exodus. In Chapter 13, after the Israelites leave Egypt, before they escape by way of the Red Sea, God decides to lead them through the wilderness to get to the Promised Land. In 13:17 and 18 it says:

“When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through the Philistine territory, even though it was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, ‘If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.”

We face the same sort of things in our own lives. There have been plenty of times when I’ve cried out to God and asked Him, “Why can’t I just take the shortcut? Why are you taking SO MUCH time leading me to this place, when I can see it just beyond that hill (and that big Philistine army)?” But God knows the path He’s taking me on is the best for me, and the path He’s taking you on is the best for you. There are so many reasons why, but here in Exodus we see that God didn’t want the Israelites to face a battle they weren’t ready for. He knew that it would take years for the Israelites to be ready to face the Philistines, and not because He knew they needed to strengthen their armies. It says in 18:b that the Israelites “left Egypt like an army ready for battle.” I’m not going to pretend to know why God wanted them to wait, I can only speculate, but I’m sure one day He may answer my question.

Now, fast forward to Chapter 14, where the Egyptians decide to chase after the Israelites.

“As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the LORD, and they said to Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!” But Moses told the people, ‘Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.’” Exodus 14:10-14

I think this part is absolutely amazing! Right after this, God parted the Red Sea. Moses tried calming the Israelites down by reminding them that God is bigger than an Egyptian army, bigger than a body of water, and bigger than anything standing in the way of their Promised Land. And we don’t have to do anything but watch God rescue us from the battles in our lives. He may ask us to have faith, to fight along side of Him, and to pursue a relationship with Him more deeply, but through all of that, we will see Him victorious in our lives! “Just stay calm!”