What do you think of when you hear the word "battle?" If you're like me (Nate), then your mind probably jumps to negativity, your heart sinks, and you try to start figuring out how to get out of the battle.
We battle (or fight) a lot of things: weather, allergies, traffic, political views, children, our spouse, friends, bugs, enemies, storms, and the list goes on and on. We are not alone in fighting battles. As a matter of fact, God has been winning battles since the beginning of time!
In Exodus 14 we see that God hardens hearts to work out His will. It's all to bring glory to God! Every trial, every battle, every headache and heartache is finely tuned to bring about a moment where God proves Himself faithful to His people and He receives the glory.
And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord." And they did so. Exodus 14:4 (ESV)
This past month I feel like I have had to battle a lot of thoughts that go raging through my mind. During this time I was drawn to Exodus 14 where the Israelites have just left the domain of the Egyptians and are getting ready to cross the Red Sea.
The Israelites are surrounded in fear as the Egyptians have now pursued them right up to the sea. It's in this moment that the people are filled with fear once again and question God on why He would deliver them, only to die this way!
And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians who you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."
Exodus 14:13-14 (ESV)
I feel like this goes against what our flesh would want us to do. We want to fight, to defend ourselves and others, to take some sort of action to turn the enemy away. Yet here we see Moses telling the people to stand firm, to be silent or still, and to not lose their peace. Peace. That's where I fail. I allow the battle before me to steal my peace instead of bringing it to the Lord to fight for me.
Allowing God to be God and for me to sit back and trust God is my battle. My prayer lately has been that God would increase my faith to trust Him daily. Truly the battle is not ours, it is the Lord's (2 Chronicles 20:15)!
Do you feel like you've been set up, slandered, and have no option of where to go as your back is against a wall? Are you questioning God's guiding you to this moment in your life? Trust the Battle Winner! We serve a God of victory!
