Imagine yourself with your back up against the sea, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of other slaves, fleeing Egypt, when, on the horizon you spot the dust clouds of Pharaoh’s approaching army.
Your heart sinks, certain that they will recapture you and your family, maybe kill you, and, at the least, return you to slavery and punish you.
You don’t know what Moses knows. You don’t hear God’s voice like he does. Sure, you witnessed the plagues, and you heard about Moses’s confrontations with Pharoah, but… still, how does any of that help now? Now that you are trapped…
Then, Moses speaks:
“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
What is it that Moses knows that no one else knows? He knows how God works behind the scenes. He know that God saw the darkness and stubbornness of Pharaoh’s heart and made it even darker. He compelled Pharoah to chase after the people of Israel.
Why, though? Why would God set Pharoah against His Chosen People?
God would demonstrate to the people of Egypt that He is the Almighty God, the One True God.
And, He would allow the Israelites to lose all hope, to fall into such desperation that there would be no doubt that it was God who rescued them. He would allow them to hit rock bottom, so as to have a solid foundation upon which they might rebuild.
If only we could see through God’s eyes, then we would have no fear. Fear Not, for God is in control.