There are times when a Christian needs to lie still, when our only safety is doing nothing. The voice of our Savior -God is heard beside many a Red-Sea difficulty— “Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD” (Exodus 14:13 KJV). It is a hard thing to “stand still” in the presence of opposing forces. Jehovah is the Living God. Cloud and storm are beneath His feet, and His throne remains unmoved.

“Am I in the dark?” asks Charles H. Spurgeon. “Then Thou, O Lord, ‘will lighten my darkness.’ Before long things will change. Affairs may grow worse and more dreary, and cloud upon cloud may be piled upon cloud; but if it grows so dark that I cannot see my own hand, still I shall see the Hand of the Lord.”

When I cannot find a light within me, or among my friends, or in the whole world, the Lord who said, “Let there be light” and there was light, can say the same thing again. He will speak me into the sunshine yet. The day is already breaking. This sweet text shines like a morning star: “You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light.”

Clouds pass; stars remain!

My lamp is shattered, I’m deprived of light; my lamp is shattered, and so dark the night. My lamp is shattered, yet to my glad sight—a star shines on.

My lamp is shattered, but a star shines bright, and by its glowing I can wend aright. My lamp is shattered, but I still can fight—for a star shines on.

My lamp is shattered, sad indeed my plight. My lamp is shattered, yet I’ll reach the height—for a star shines on!

WILHELMINA STITCH

To human reason, what God was promising seemed simply impossible, but nothing is too difficult for Him. Without any sound or sign and from sources invisible and seemingly impossible, the water flowed the entire night, and “the next morning . . . there it was . . . ! And the land was filled with water. . . . The sun was shining on the water . . . . [And it] looked red—like blood” (vv. 20, 22).

Our unbelief is always desiring some outward sign, and the faith of many people is largely based on sensationalism. They are not convinced of the genuineness of God’s promises without some visible manifestation. But the greatest triumph of a person’s faith is to “be still, and know that [He is] God” (Psalm 46:10).

The greatest victory of faith is to stand at the shore of the impassable Red Sea and to hear the Master say, “Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today” (Exodus 14:13), and “Move on” (Exodus 14:15). As we step out in faith, without any sign or sound, taking our first steps into the water, we will see the water divide. Continuing to march ahead, we will see a pathway open through the very midst of the sea.

Whenever I have seen God’s wondrous work in the case of some miraculous healing or some extraordinary deliverance by His providence, the thing that has always impressed me most was the absolute quietness in which it was done. I have also been impressed by the absence of anything sensational and dramatic, and the utter sense of my own uselessness as I stood in the presence of this mighty God, realizing how easy all this was for Him to do without even the faintest effort on His part, or the slightest help from me.

It is the role of faith not to question but to simply obey. In the above story from Scripture, the people were asked to “make this valley full of ditches” (2 Kings 3:16 KJV). The people obeyed, and then water came pouring in from some supernatural source to fill them. What a lesson for our faith!

Are you desiring some spiritual blessing? Then dig the ditches and God will fill them. But He will do this in the most unexpected places and in the most unexpected ways. May the Lord grant us the kind of faith that acts “by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7), and may we expect Him to work although we see no wind or rain. A. B. SIMPSON

There are times when doing nothing is better than doing something. Those are the times when only God can do what is needed. True faith trusts Him then, and Him alone, to do the miracle. Moses and Jehoshaphat knew this secret; they knew the same Lord and the same Divine grace.

As the pursuing Egyptians trapped the helpless Israelites at the Red Sea, Moses said: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you. . . . The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13–14).

As the Moabites and the Ammonites, a vast multitude, closed in on Judah, King Jehoshaphat said to the helpless people: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. . . . You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you” (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17, emphasis added).

When God alone can win the victory, faith lets God do it all. It is better to trust than to try.

Faith is the Victory that Overcomes. The battle is not yours, but God’s; Therefore why fight? True faith will cease from struggling, And rest upon His might: Each conflict into which you come Was won on Calvary, ’Tis ours to claim what Christ has done, And “hold” the victory. - H. E. Jessop

Hold thee still. “And this,” says Saint Jerome, “is the hardest precept that is given to man: inasmuch as the most difficult precept of action sinks into nothingness when compared with this command to inaction.”

This verse contains God’s command to me as a believer for those times when I am confronted with dire circumstances and extraordinary difficulties. What am I to do when I cannot retreat or go forward and my way is blocked to the right and to the left?

The Master’s word to me is, “Stand firm.” And the best thing I can do at these times is to listen only to my Master’s word, for others will come to me with their suggestions and evil advice. Despair will come, whispering, “Give up—lie down and die.” But even in the worst of times, God would have me be cheerful and courageous, rejoicing in His love and faithfulness.

Cowardice will come and say, “You must retreat to the world’s ways of acting. It is too difficult for you to continue living the part of a Christian. Abandon your principles.” Yet no matter how much Satan may pressure me to follow his course, I cannot, for I am a child of God. The Lord’s divine decree has commanded me to go from “strength to strength” (Psalm 84:7).

Therefore I will, and neither death nor hell will turn me from my course. And if for a season He calls me to “stand firm,” I will acknowledge it as time to renew my strength for greater strides in the future.

Impatience will come, crying, “Get up and do something! To ‘stand firm’ and wait is sheer idleness.” Why is it I think I must be doing something right now instead of looking to the Lord? He will not only do something —He will do everything.

Arrogance will come, boasting, “If the sea is blocking your way, march right into it and expect a miracle.” Yet true faith never listens to arrogance, impatience, cowardice, or despair but only hears God saying, “Stand firm.” And then it stands as immovable as a rock.

“Stand firm.” I must maintain the posture of one who stands, ready for action, expecting further orders, and cheerfully and patiently awaiting the Director’s voice. It will not be long until God will say to me, as distinctly as He told Moses to tell the children of Israel, “Move on” (Exodus 14:15).

CHARLES H. SPURGEON

Be quiet! Why this anxious heed About your tangled ways? God knows them all. He gives you speed And He allows delays.

It’s good for you to walk by faith And not by sight. Take it on trust a little while. Soon will you read the mystery aright In the full sunshine of His smile.

In times of uncertainty— wait. If you have any doubt— wait, never forcing yourself into action. If you sense any restraint in your spirit, do not go against it— wait until the way is clear.

Lord , thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.—He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.—His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Your life is hid with Christ in God.—He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.—Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord . The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.—God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear.

Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.—Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see ; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.—I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.