The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. - Exodus 14:14
In his youth Moses believed he could fight in his own strength. He had the idea bred in him by the court of Egypt, that armies and human wisdom would bring all the power he needed to deliver his people. He learned his mistake, though the lesson cost him dearly. Forty years of sheep herding in the desert changed his outlook. He found that Jehovah had resources of power for him that he had never dreamed existed.
When the bonds of slavery were broken and the Israelites marched out of Egypt, Moses reminded the children of Israel that it was "by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place." Exodus 13:3. Then, as the camp faced its first grave crisis -- the approach of the Egyptian armies to recapture the people -- Moses turned to the Lord for help. There is a ring of true courage in his command, "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will shew to you to day." These untrained people were not prepared to defend themselves; they were helpless before the best armies on earth. Later on, God would allow them to put up a defense against savage attackers, but now they must depend fully on His strength. Therefore, Moses declared, "The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."
That day a marvelous victory came to the children of Israel, and the chapter closes with this fitting epilogue: "Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and His servant Moses." Exodus 14:31.
Why do we not see decisive victories over the spiritual enemies that assail us? There can be but one answer: We have not allowed God to fight for us. We have not given Him our full allegiance. We have tried to be half Christians and half worldlings. Thus, we have dissipated our faith in the Almighty and refused His help when we needed it most.
God is ready to act in our behalf this day. Will we take Him at His word and consecrate ourselves to His service? First of all, we must willingly leave the bondage of sin and allow His spirit to possess us. Then we can say, "The Lord will fight for me this day. I shall have victory through His glorious power!" What thrilling words were spoken at the Red Sea. God told Moses: "The Egyptians whom we have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever." After long years of humiliation and bondage under the enemy they were free -- free forever!
The same triumphant experience will be ours today if we will allow God to have His way in our lives. - Neff
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