BE STILL | Exodus 14:13-14

INTRODUCTION

How many of you have experienced your GPS leading you to an unintended destination? In today’s world, many of us rely on tools like Google Maps. It’s likely that we’ve all encountered situations where we entered what we believed to be the correct coordinates, only to end up somewhere unexpected, different from what we had anticipated or even completely off course.

How are you doing today? Are you facing a Dead End? Through this message, I hope to  emphasize that even when faced with apparent dead ends in life, standing still in faith and trusting in God’s deliberate direction will showcase His glory to both believers and the watching world. We got to be still.

Exodus 14:13-14

¹³Moses answered the people, “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. ¹⁴The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

ILLUSTRATION

One of the most striking and unexpectedly challenging moments from my memory occurred during a journey we undertook. The scenario unfolded when we needed to reach a specific destination, and I had entrusted our navigation to the guidance of Google maps.

As we embarked on our journey, the GPS charted a course that took us through a route less travelled—a path that wound its way through mountains. Have you ever heard the phrase “the road less travelled?” We found that road as we found ourselves venturing into unfamiliar territory. It was late into the night, we were in the middle of nowhere, facing a long, narrowing road that seemed to lead to nowhere at all. We hit a dead end. We had to return the same way back for 30 minutes and we came to understand that just before we had embarked on the mountainous route, the highway stretched before us, offering a straightforward path.

Have you ever wondered if God’s GPS is working correctly? Things start to get difficult and seem to just keep getting rougher. Finally, we come to the place that for all practical purposes this is a dead end. We see no path forward. The path backwards at some point is really no better. And if someone were to ask you where are you headed? Your answer may be,  “I have no idea.”

The Bible’s filled with examples of people who thought that they knew where they were going and then they came to this dead end in their life.

Example 1: A classic example is a guy named Joseph who felt like he knew the plan and the pathway that God had for him. He did not come up with a cock-and-bull story, but it was God who revealed it to him. God reveals, “Joseph, you’re going to be in a place of leadership, of influence, of power. Joseph, your family and other people are going to bow down to you.

Joseph felt like he knew that path that God has laid, but before you know it, his brothers actually seize him, assault him, they place him in a pit, and they sell him into slavery. He finds himself now in a foreign land. He begins to serve with integrity but he’s lied about violating his master Potiphar’s wife and he’s thrown into prison. He is forgotten about in prison. If you ask Joseph, “Hey, what’s next?” Joseph may well have said, “I have no idea. My life is at a dead end.”

Example 2: You think about others throughout the course of history. A guy named David whose the anointed king of Israel. Samuel, the prophet comes and anoints the young man. And guess where David is sent after he’s anointed king of Israel? David, you still got to go take care of some sheep. And so, David has to go back out and become a shepherd. It doesn’t end there. Well, maybe God’s still working and God was enrolled as armour bearer of king Saul. But before you know it, he’s the enemy of the king. And not only is he the enemy of the king, at one point in David’s life he becomes the friend of Israel’s enemy, the Philistines.

David’s living in Ziklag. He’s living in enemy territory and guess who he aligns with when Israel goes to battle with the Philistines. He aligns with the enemy king and the enemy king says, “David, you’re going to be the keeper of my head forever.” David said, “Your head I’m going to keep, I’m going to serve you.” And David is aligned with them.

If you said hey David, “What’s the path forward to the throne for you?” The throne of where? The throne of Israel. “There’s no path for me to the throne of Israel. I have no idea. I’m in enemy territory. I am actually preparing to fight with an enemy king.” David comes to a dead-end position as it pertains to his walk with God.

Are you in a dead-end situation today?

Transition: One of the great dead ends that we find early in Scripture came as a result of God’s clear and unmistakable leading of Israel out of Egyptian bondage, slavery. God had decimated Egypt through the 10 plagues, then in miraculous fashion He led them out of Egypt. Pharaoh had agreed to let the people go but then he changes his mind and says, “This will actually put an end completely to our way of life. We rely upon the Israelite labour force. We cannot let the people go.”

So, Pharaoh changes his mind. He’s going after them. And fortunately for Pharoah, he thinks they are confused, they have no organization because reports come back to Pharaoh they are at the edge of the Dead Sea. As Israel looks at this situation, they say to themselves, “Well, clearly this is the end of the road.” Pharoah would have thought, “They are right where we want them.” Interestingly enough, they are right where God wants them as well.

Take you Bible now and look with me if you will at Exodus chapter 13.

Exodus 13:17-18

¹⁷When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” ¹⁸So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.

We are going to look at this situation in 3 different ways:

1. A Deliberate Direction.
2. The Darkness Of Doubt.
3. The Delight Of Deliverance.]

1. A Deliberate Direction

God does nothing haphazardly. There’s a deliberate direction regarding every turn of our life.

Remember, when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them on a certain way, but make no mistake about it, it was God who led them.

Now, there had to of been some contagious excitement about the people actually leaving this land of bondage. They’re coming out of Egypt, released from their captivity. They are free men and women. In fact, if you ask them, they are ready for a fight.

They have been slaves and servants in Egypt, but they come out. I mean their chest is sticking out a little bit higher, you know. Like hey, God just, you know, the ten plagues, He just destroys Egypt. We’ve won every battle. We’re 10 and 0 right now as it pertains to the scoreboard, so, bring it on man, and they come out of the land Egypt ready for war. They’re coming out of Egypt; they have a lot of stuff. I mean, they have their possessions and they’ve just spoiled the Egyptians, they’re loaded. They were geared up for the battle.

Exodus 13:18

The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.

ILLUSTRATION

Have you ever seen a team that comes ready for some sporting event until the event actually happens? Okay, they come out with some swagger, they come out with some little like, “Ah, we can’t wait to get on in the field.” That’s about what happens with the people of Israel. They come out ready for battle.

Do you know the way they anticipated to go by way of the Philistines in the land? There was, by the way, a well-established coastal road from Egypt, the Via Maris, that existed from the Bronze Age (3300-1200 BC), much before the Exodus timeline.

But God says, “You have to take another route.” Even though that was by far the shortest and easiest route from the point of view of travel and time and convenience, this way was not the leading of the Lord.

APPLICATION

You know, sometimes we might be eager and excited because we know God is leading and we have an open door before us and often times God does not lead us in the way of our choosing.

Remember, God sees what you and I do not. There is an advantage point that God has. He sees tomorrow as clearly as He sees yesterday, as He sees all of our future. God sees the path forward. He saw something the Israelites could not. He saw a battle they were not prepared for, so He led them in a different way. They simply weren’t prepared for that battle.

And at times we start to wonder why does God place us in these difficult situations. “Lord, I know this is Your leading, but why is this so hard.” Have you ever paused to think that it may be God’s mercy that He led you to a difficultly that you are prepared for so that you could avoid a difficultly you are not prepared for?

Was the Red Sea difficult for the people of Israel? The obvious answer is yes, but not nearly so difficult as were the Philistines for the people of Israel.

Remember, God sees what we don’t. So, have we ever stopped to think the situation some of you are in right now isn’t because God is unkind, but rather that God is keeping from us a larger challenge for which we are simply unprepared?

So, God sees what we don’t, God leads where we wouldn’t.

Had Israel gone the way they thought was right:

• First of all, they would be in a battle they weren’t prepared for.
• Secondly, they would have lost some opportunity to see God work in ways that only God can work.

There is a deliberate direction of God.

Psalm 107:7 KJV

And he led them forth by the right way,

that they might go to a city of habitation.

Aren’t you thankful. God’s ways are always right.

ILLUSTRATION

How many of you’ve ever been driving behind vehicle another vehicle that was leading the way? I remember an instance where I know the area well and I have a definite route that I take. The person who is leading the way ahead in the front car is someone who is born and brought up in that place. I am just following them, and I thought, “Where in the world are they going?” But I had a shocking surprise when we made that final last turn, and it’s like I can’t believe, where in the world? We’re here. And you found that there was a way that you would not have known and a way you’d never have arrived at the right destination had you not been willing to follow.

God knows what He’s doing. He has a plan for His directing. He needs no backseat driver. His GPS is not broken. He is never at a dead end. He’s just leading us to a place.

Now think through this: If we knew what He knew, we would go exactly the same way. Church, I don’t know where you are right now, but there is a deliberate direction that God has put into place for your life, and if you knew what He knew, you would take exactly the same path.

Frist, A deliberate direction.

2. The Darkness Of Doubt.

Exodus 14:9-12

⁹The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon. ¹⁰As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. ¹¹They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? ¹²Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

We see the darkness of doubt: Do you know, one of the things that doubt always invites?

• Doubt always invites fear.
• Doubt always invites darkness.
• Doubt sinks our faith.

Israel is about to demonstrate a pattern that’s going to plague them all along their march from Egypt all the way to Canaan. When life was easy, they walked with God. But when life becomes filled with challenge, their faith revealed itself for what it was, and that was not faith at all.

Now, their miserable past becomes something other than miserable.

Now, think about that. Their miserable past, it becomes something other than miserable. Now they are facing the Rea Sea on one side and Pharoah’s army on the others. They are saying, “What are we doing at the Red Sea? Moses, is it because there’s not enough graves out here, you brought us out here? There’s plenty in Egypt. Why don’t we just go back to Egypt?”

Now, wait just a minute. Who was it that cried because of their affliction? Oh yeah, that was the people of Israel. “Dear God, dear God, would You please rescue us.” The people of Israel cried because they are slaves in Egypt and God heard their cry and God sent a deliverer, and now the days of gruesome labour become the glorious good-old days.

Do you know, doubt has a way of turning even our past into something it’s not truly is? The groanings of their past, it turns into something other than reality.

The doubt that leads to darkness takes us to some unrealistic place of our own frightened imagination.

Do you know what we often do when we start to doubt the path, the plan, the way of God? We start to play a game in our mind called the ‘what if game.’

• What if I lose my job?
• What if my husband or my wife leaves me?
• What if my marriage never improves?
• What if the medical test comes back positive?
• What if I can’t pass the class?
• What if I have a panic attack?
• What if my child never returns?
• What if I am rejected?
• What if this happens?
• What if? What would you put in there?

That is the darkness of doubt. Not only does doubt destroy our future, it manipulates our past and doubt start to fill in the future with things that are wrong.

You say okay, so, what do I do?

Remember, God was leading His people. God knew exactly where He was taking them. God always makes Himself visible in the darkness.

You may not know the whole path, but you say, “Lord, I can see You. You’re the lamp for my path. You know exactly where you are leading me.”

Remember, God’s leading them through very specific means.

Exodus 13:21-22

²¹By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. (see this verse) ²²Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

The pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire ‘went ahead,’ ‘in front of’ or ‘before.’ All along the path Egypt until God leads them to crossover Jordan, there was something before their face that said we’re following the right path. God is with us. God has a way.

Church, do you know there is not a step that you are going to take that God is not prepared to reassure you that He is leading you all the way? You say I know, but sometimes I just I feel like I’m at a dead end. Not with God! Certainly there could be no question of God’s leading. The only question is, “Is Israel ready to follow? Are you and I prepared to follow?”

When the people began to doubt, they simply needed to look at the cloud before them, the pillar of fire that was unmistakable. God was in fact leading them, and God is leading you. Although you might see darkness around you, there is a way that God is preparing for you.

Frist, A deliberate direction.. Second, The Darkness Of Doubt:

3. The Delight of Deliverance.

Exodus 14:13-14

¹³Moses answered the people, “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. ¹⁴The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Moses believed there was no dead end with God. Moses is acting upon the word of God.

Exodus 14:1-2

¹Then the Lord said to Moses, ²“Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon.

Exodus 14:4

And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this.

Did you notice in this passage that God does something that He doesn’t always do.

In Joshua chapter  He did it a different way. In Joshua 5, it appears that Joshua has this meeting with the captain of the Lord’s host. And it appears that preparing in Joshua chapter 6 to go in and take the first of the conquests of the promised land, Jericho. It appears that Joshua had been given the whole plan. “Joshua, here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to march around the city one time a day for six days. On the seventh day you’re going to march around seven times. You’re going to have the people shout with a great shout and the walls are going to come crashing down.” Joshua knew the plan but Joshua doesn’t reveal the whole plan to the people.

But here in this instance it appears that Moses doesn’t know the whole plan. God just said take the people and go camp out by the Red Sea, and Moses said, “Okay God, we’re going. We’re going to camp out by the Red Sea.” And that they did.

• Moses doesn’t know the whole plan. He just knows the One who does.
• I may not know what God’s going to do next, but I know God is doing something and I’m going to follow after God.

Notice what Moses tells the people:

Exodus 14:13

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm ….

ILLUSTRATION

Have you heard mothers use a little expression to their children, “Don’t just stand there. Do something.” Has somebody told this to you before? Don’t just stand there; do something.

God’s telling His people just the opposite, “Don’t just do something, stand there.”

Many times when we come to our own dead end, we say, “Okay, I got to do this, I have to force this, I have to try this.” How many of you have ever come to those dead ends? I am trying to make this, I’m trying to force this. I’m trying to work this out. Have you ever pushed on a door so hard that you just thought man, I’m going to break if I keep pushing any harder. I can’t get this door open.

Is it possible, it is possible that the Lord’s just saying, “Hey, stand still! stand still!”

Well, I know I’ve got to do something, and the Lord says “I’ve got you right where I want you. Just settle down, just stand still.”

You say, “Well, what am I supposed to?”

God says, “No, don’t do anything, just stand and see the salvation of the Lord.”

“When God says ‘Wait,’ we’re on pause, but God’s at work!”

Exodus 14:14

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Be Still. Hold your peace.  Be quiet. Well God, what? Shhhh. Okay, Lord, I stand still.

But what about? “Be quiet and notice I have a plan and if you’ll watch and listen, you’ll see My plan unfold before you very eyes.”

WHAT DOES GOD DO WHEN HE TELLS US TO STAND STILL?

1. Dispels Fear.

2. God is at Work.

“When God says ‘Wait,’ we’re on pause, but God’s at work!”

Exodus 14:15-16

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? (He is speaking to Moses as a representative). Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your had over the seas to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.

Is it possible that the Lord is asking you to stand still and be quiet so that you are prepared for Him to open the way before you?

You know, so often we try to manipulate, coerce, we try to open some door of our own making and the Lord just says, “Listen, as soon as you’re ready I do have a plan and I can open a way before you but until you stand still and be quiet trust in Me.”

Now, after they had stood still and God had their attention, that’s when God opened the way.

Not before.

3. He Destroys The Enemy. Ex. 14:19-28.

The Lord shall fight for you.

Result of God Delivering Israel:

1. We boldly confess God’s promise-keeping faithfulness.

2. God reveals his power and glory to the world.

Exodus 14:18

The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.

You say, well, He’s showing His power to Israel because they need to see it. Yeah, but guess who else needed to see it? The Egyptians.

Egypt’s always been throughout Scripture a picture of the world. And do you know, when the Christian, the children of God learn to keep quiet, stand still, God begins to work on their behalf. And not only do we get to see wow, look at the deliverance God’s provided. Guess who else gets to see that? A watching world, and God said Egypt is going to know that there is a God in Israel.

3. The people of God will fear him through his deliverance.

Exodus 14:31

And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

God is doing something that is simply revealing His glory not only to Israel, but he is doing it to a watching world. Have you ever paused to consider that God maybe doing something in you and through you that will stand as a testimony of his power, not only to you but also through you.

CONCLUSION

Have you come to a dead end?

Do you remember Apostle Peter? He said to Jesus, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will. Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”

And how much did it take for Peter to come to a dead end in his life? It took a question from a little servant girl. You were with Jesus of Galilee. Peter denied and said, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” Then another servant girl saw him and said, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it again with an oath. Some bystanders said to Peter, “You accent gives you away.” Peter called curses upon him and said “I don’t know the man.” Remember, earlier he called Jesus, Christ the Messiah.

And the rooster crows and he goes out and he weeps bitterly because this is not just a dead end of God’s directing, this is a dead end of his own making. “I have literally destroyed my life and any future of serving God has come to a crashing conclusion. I am at a dead end in my life.”

Transition Question: So, how about you? Do you think that some sin in your past has predetermined the usefulness of your future? Has some diagnosis ended your dreams?

In times of uncertainty and apparent dead ends, remember the wisdom of standing still in faith. Just as God led the Israelites through the Red Sea, He guides us through life’s challenges. Let go of the need to control, trust in His deliberate direction, and watch Him work wonders. Your path may seem blocked, but God’s way is always open, leading to unexpected blessings and His glory revealed.

Are you at a dead end right now?

Are you at a place where you say I just don’t know how to go forward anymore?

Then my encouragement for you today is the same thing that God told them.

Stand still, be quiet, and then see the salvation of the Lord.

LIFE APPLICATION

Trust in Divine Guidance

When facing life’s dead ends and uncertainties, practice trust in God’s guidance. Just as He led the Israelites through the Red Sea, He has a plan for your life. Be still, listen, and follow His direction, even when it doesn’t align with your expectations.

Overcoming Doubt

Doubt can cloud our judgment in difficult situations. Instead of dwelling on “what ifs,” focus on God’s promises and His track record of deliverance. Let your faith dispel doubt and embrace the assurance that God is working for your good.

Witnessing God’s Glory

Understand that your trials and triumphs can be a testimony to others. Just as Egypt witnessed God’s glory through the Israelites’ deliverance, your life can be a beacon of hope to those around you. Trust God’s purpose in your journey, as it might be a source of inspiration for others.

Embracing Divine Timing

Recognize that God’s timing is perfect, even when it leads you to seemingly impossible situations. Sometimes, God allows dead ends to reveal His power and bring about incredible breakthroughs. Be patient and surrender your need for control, knowing that God’s path is always open, even when it appears closed.