(Originally posted June 12, 2016)
There they were. The Israelites, I mean. They were stuck in between the Red Sea and the sea of their enemies who sought to destroy them. In recent days, weeks, and months, I am able more and more to identify with the predicament and the seemingly impossible situation that the people of God found themselves in that day. Perhaps some of them had faith that God was able and would do something to deliver them. Perhaps others were full of fear, focused on the fact that they were either about to drown in the ocean or drown in the sea of the ones who were about to overtake them and bring them back into captivity or kill them.
We cannot imagine ourselves among the throngs of the Israelites and deny that it was a dire and desperate place to be. Eyes wide, clinging onto your children and spouse, wondering, “What do we do next? We’ve nowhere to go. There is nothing I can do to protect or deliver myself or the ones I love.”
It was in this moment of desperation and helplessness that God said to His people through His servant, Moses, “Be still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
In other words, God wanted to tell His people to stand with no anxiety in their hearts and minds. He wanted them to watch Him deliver them. He wanted them to have minds and hearts full of calm and confidence in spite of the seemingly impossible, trusting that God was able to deliver His people from the dangerous or devastating circumstances that surrounded them.
The phrase, “Be still in Hebrew is “rahpah” (pronounced raw-faw). This same word is found in Psalm 46:10. “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Hebrew word here “Rahpah” means to “cast down; to let fall; to let hang down; then, to be slackened; to be relaxed, especially for the hands.” This communicates the need to stop putting forth effort, putting forth exertion – which expresses the idea of leaving matters with God and not being anxious. (Philippians chapter 4)
Sometimes God chooses to use our working hands and our speaking mouths for His glory. But sometimes He tells us to be still. When we are obedient in letting our hands fall and surrendering our need to figure out the solution, we will see the salvation of the Lord. And not only will WE know that He is God – the unbelievers and all the nations will know that HE IS GOD.
Oh, and how great the comfort in the next verse, Psalm 46:11. “The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Fortress.”
One more little thought and then I’ll sign off for the night. Hang with me, I know it’s been long but I want to share just one more thing with you about Psalm 46:10.
Before I came to Costa Rica, I came across this verse and read it in a new light. (Don’t you love that God’s Word is alive? You can read a verse 103 times and the Holy Spirit can still teach you new things from that same scripture verse!) Before, I always have read or heard this verse in light of God’s sovereignty and set-apart-ness.
That day as I read it, it was like the Holy Spirit stopped me and said, “Be still and know that I AM.”
“I AM.” That is the all-inclusive name that God told Moses to give the people of Israel when He was sending Moses to be the deliverer of the nation. “But Lord? Who should I tell them sent me?” God’s response? “I AM that I AM. Tell them the I AM has sent you.”
To put any singular characteristic or name behind the “I AM” would be to limit the vastness of our God.
So – adding this thought to Psalm 46:10 changed the whole impact of the verse for me.
“Be still and know that I AM…”
Be still child. Know that I am Healer.
Be still and know that I am Provider. I am Strength. I am Peace.
Be still and know that I am Light. I am Purpose. I am your Future.
Be still My child and know that I am your Rest.
Be still and stop struggling for answers. I AM the Answer.
Be still and know that I AM.
Be still and know that I AM GOD.
And I do not fail.
