With crisis ahead and behind, Moses turns to Israel, God’s people, and says, “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.”
Many of us feel the same. No matter where we turn, we face resistance and danger. The attacks come from all sides and in various ways—physical, spiritual, emotional, economic, and political. The enemy has the world’s systems world in his hands and targets God’s people today.
When surrounded by enemies and experiencing fear, humanity has three natural responses. We either want to fight back, escape, or give up. We can assume Israel wanted the same. Yet God provided a fourth option: “Stand still and witness my salvation.”
The Word of God continues to speak this word to us today, yet what does this strange advice mean? Let’s first explore the original narrative and what it can teach us.
When Does Moses Tell the Israelites to “Stand Still and See the Salvation of the Lord”?
Whether through Passover celebrations or one of the famous Bible movies about Moses (for example, Prince of Egypt and The Ten Commandments), most know the story of God delivering Israel from Egyptian slavery.
After 400 years of slavery, God sends Moses from the wilderness to deliver Israel from slavery. Moses initially asked Pharaoh to let the people out to the wilderness to worship God, but Pharaoh wouldn’t allow it. God sends plagues to try and convince Pharaoh, yet time and again, the Egyptian king resists allowing Israel to travel to the wilderness to worship God. The final plague, the death of the firstborn, causes so much grief within Egypt that Pharaoh and his people force Israel to leave.
God gave a way for Israelites to avoid their firstborns dying—a series of acts instigating the Passover tradition. God and Moses then led the Israelites to the wilderness.
Even then, Pharaoh regrets letting the enslaved people go free. He gathers his army and moves to attack.
Meanwhile, God and Moses had taken Israel to the Red Sea’s banks. When Pharaoh’s army arrived, the Israelites were caught between the world’s strongest military and an impassable body of water.
The people begin to complain about their leader (a pattern that appears through the Torah—the first five books of the Bible). They believe they are about to die and blame Moses, telling him it would have been better to stay in Egypt. Interestingly, these Israelites already witnessed several supernatural events through the plagues, and even at that moment, a pillar of fire—a manifestation of God’s presence—protected them from Egypt. Still, they feared and complained.
During this seemingly hopeless situation, Moses listens to God and delivers a profound directive to Israel. In Exodus 14:13, Moses declares, “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.” Facing imminent peril, Moses admonishes his people to stand firm in their conviction that the Lord will intervene on their behalf.
A miraculous scene unfolds as the Israelites obey and stand on the shore. Moses stretches out his hand and the Red Sea’s waters part, forming a dry path through the water. Empowered by this miracle, the Israelites traverse the seabed with awe and wonder, their faith reaffirmed with each step.
When the Israelites had crossed, God removed his protection—the pillar of fire. Despite a recent experience with God’s wrath, Pharaoh thought pursuit was a good idea. The Egyptians ventured into the parted waters to overtake the Israelites. However, the Lord’s hand intervenes once more, causing confusion and chaos among the Egyptian ranks. Their chariot wheels become entangled, and returning waters engulf the mighty army. They drown beneath the weight of their hubris.
After this miraculous deliverance, the Israelites stand on the opposite shore, their hearts overflowing with gratitude and praise. Moses’ command to “stand still” resulted in witnessing salvation wrought by God.
When Else Do the Israelites Stand Still to See Salvation of the Lord?
During King Jehoshaphat’s reign (2 Chronicles 20), a coalition of enemies besieges the nation of Judah. Judah’s survival hangs in the balance. In the face of these odds, King Jehoshaphat proclaims a solemn fast and leads the people in prayer, begging God for deliverance. Moved by their prayers, God’s Spirit comes upon Jahaziel, a Kohathite Levite, who delivers a prophetic message to the king and assembly:
“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:17)
Emboldened by this oracle, Jehoshaphat and his people rise early the next morning and march out to confront the enemies. However, instead of carrying weapons, they employ an unconventional strategy: praise and worship. As they advance on the battlefield, they sing praises to God, exalting his name. The Lord intervenes on their behalf, causing confusion and discord among the enemy ranks. The opposing forces turn against each other, resulting in a resounding victory for Judah without them having to lift a single weapon in combat. The Israelites witness the Lord’s salvation as he fulfills his promise of deliverance.
Another notable event occurs during King Hezekiah’s reign, recorded in 2 Kings 19 and Isaiah 37. Jerusalem comes under siege by the Assyrians, led by King Sennacherib. The Assyrians were known as an unstoppable and disturbingly violent army. Faced with this doom, Hezekiah seeks the prophet Isaiah’s counsel to ask God for deliverance. Isaiah relays a message from the Lord, promising to defend Jerusalem and thwart the Assyrian plans. In 2 Kings 19:35, we read, “That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies!”
In the morning, the Israelites awoke to find their enemies vanquished and their salvation wrought by God’s hand. They stood still and witnessed the Lord’s miraculous intervention and deliverance.
Similarly, the disciples witnessed the crucifixion and resurrection in the New Testament. During his death, they felt fear and hopelessness, yet the resurrection filled them with joy. The salvation wrought through Christ had nothing to do with their actions. God alone accomplished it.
Are There Times When We Shouldn’t Stand Still and See the Salvation of the Lord?
We shouldn’t misunderstand the command to “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord” as an invitation to passivity. God didn’t only tell the Israelites to stand still; he also told them to move forward.
In Exodus 14:15, as the Israelites stand trapped between the pursuing Egyptian army and the Red Sea, Moses receives a directive: “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.’” Despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles before them, they are instructed to take action, trusting that God will make a way where there seems to be no way. God parted the Red Sea, but they had to move forward to enter the deliverance.
Similarly, in Jericho’s conquest, God instructs Joshua and the Israelites to take action rather than remain passive. In Joshua 6:2-5, the Lord outlines his strategy: “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets made from ram horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.”
Despite God’s unconventional command, Joshua and the Israelites obeyed. They actively participated in God’s plan, marching around the city as instructed. Their obedience and active participation led to Jericho’s walls falling and the Israelites capturing the city.
After Jesus rose from the dead, he charged his disciples with spreading the Gospel across the world. We call this the Great Commission. He did the work of salvation but gave them a part to obey and participate in. Even still, Jesus told the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit’s power and anointing. It began with God’s work in Christ and could only continue with God’s power.
While it may seem contradictory for God to say these two things in Exodus 14, “stand still and see the salvation of God” and “move forward,” God desires to teach his people to move from his peace and power, not our own. That begins with standing still, trusting, and witnessing his goodness and power.
How Do We Know When We Should Stand Still and See the Salvation of the Lord?
Hopefully, we noticed a pattern when covering these biblical narratives. God spoke, and people obeyed. As with Hezekiah and Jehoshaphat, these kings intentionally sought God’s leadership. And God responded. Deliverance resulted from seeking God, hearing his voice, and responding from that place.
Many people quote the verse, “Be still and know that I am God,” from Psalm 46, and the phrase works within this discussion. But looking at the psalm’s whole context, it connects further.
Psalm 46 begins with declaring God as Israel’s refuge and strength, help in a time of trouble. Therefore, even though epic tragedies happen, like “the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,” God’s people don’t fear. The psalmist then focuses on God’s goodness, strength, peace, and might. “Come and see what the Lord has done,” the Psalm says, taking our attention to God’s faithfulness in the past, especially escape from enemies. Toward the end, Psalm 46:10 declares: “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’”
In context, the instruction to “be still and know” he is God appears during visions of being surrounded by enemies. To “be still” means to reject fear, not out of a false positive attitude but because of who God is and his love for us.;
When we act from fear, we aren’t acting from faith. Fear lies to us and leads us to death, as the Israelites spoke when they wanted to die back in Egypt. Faith, however, gives us a different response, a supernatural option. No one, probably not even Moses, thought God would part the Red Sea. Yet, Moses wouldn’t have been able to see this deliverance without hearing and responding to God’s voice at that moment. He becomes part of the list of people in Hebrews 11 whose faith allowed them to overcome impossible odds.
Many of us have felt (or feel) surrounded by darkness and enemies. It may seem hopeless. Frightened, we either fight in our own power, run from the situation, or give up entirely. Yet, through faith, God can show us another option. Trusting God’s ability and character serves as the foundation for this option. We choose to rely upon him and call upon him in every situation, especially when it seems hopeless. Nothing is hopeless with God.
In this “stillness,” God speaks, and we can hear him. He may speak through prayer, Scripture, fasting, or the family of God. When he speaks, our part is to move forward in faith, emboldened with his Word and empowered by the Spirit.
Because it’s his power, his word, his plan, we will see him keep his promise.
Peace.
Photo Credit:©GettyImages/creativica
Britt Mooney lives and tells great stories. As an author of fiction and non-fiction, he is passionate about teaching ministries and nonprofits the power of storytelling to inspire and spread truth. Mooney has a podcast called Kingdom Over Coffee and is a published author of We Were Reborn for This: The Jesus Model for Living Heaven on Earth as well as Say Yes: How God-Sized Dreams Take Flight.
This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.
"Be Still and Know that I Am God"
"Pray Without Ceasing"
"Fearfully and Wonderfully Made"
"All Things Work Together for Good"
"Do Not Fear"