I have been contemplating the story in Exodus 14; God used Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery, crossing the desert into the chosen land of milk and honey. They had been enslaved under Pharaoh for many years. The Lord provided and protected them throughout the journey.
The Israelites had seen many miracles along the way, but they were still in fear. Before reaching the Red Sea, the Israelites saw Pharaoh and his men in the distance pursuing them, causing much terror in their eyes. At that moment, they had forgotten all the miracles God had performed to get them out of Pharoah’s grip. They started to moan and grumble and said that it would have been better that they go back to Pharaoh’s land.
They were angry with Moses for taking them out into the desert to die. They were focusing on their circumstances instead of putting their trust in God. I love Moses’ answer in Exodus 14:13-14 (NIV); “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.” And of course, that is when God parted the sea for them to escape the Egyptians.
Oh, wow. How many difficult situations have we been in and been ready to give up? Sometimes we might think it’s much easier to go back to familiarity, even if it’s back to bondage, rather than walk into the unknown and trust God.
Certainly, on a much lesser scale to the Israelites…. for us, it may even be the simplest of distractions that can get one frustrated and angry; this can then fester. So how does one try to be still in God?
My date with God is often at my dining room table. This morning, I hear the noisy roadwork sounds, planes flying overhead, sirens blaring, neighbours throwing abuse, footsteps upstairs, disruption of a fire drill, the lawn mowers, the temptation of my fridge and goodies…Arghh all these noises together drive me crazy! Grrrrr…anything that can distract me immensely from my time with God. And at the same time, I sit here surrounded by beautiful orchids, a small eagle plaque, special verses stuck on the wall, bibles, a canvas painting of a colourful butterfly, and a little angel, where these bring warmth of comfort and peace.
I turn my eyes to these affirmations of God’s awesomeness and beauty. I begin to feel at peace. I sit at my table reflecting and thanking God for his goodness for far too long. The noises and temptations blur into the distance.
When the heart becomes still and calm, the lens changes, and thankfulness and gratitude become the focus. Let’s pray Psalm 100, a Psalm of Thanksgiving, together. Lord, yes, I do want to make a joyful shout to you and come into your presence with singing. What a great way to enter your gates, with Thanksgiving and Praise. You are good: your mercy is everlasting, and your truth endures to all generations. Thank you, Lord, for this great reminder of turning turmoil into stillness. Amen
By Jean Griffiths
________________
Want to read the full magazine? Click here to read the current and previous issues or to sign up to get future issues delivered digitally to your mailbox or posted a hard copy!