Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, ‘Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 But Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the LORD will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.” 

V.11 made me chuckle a bit. It’s a snarky thing to say don’t you think? I suppose if I saw the army of Egypt bearing down on me I’d be freaking out a bit myself. Then in v.13 Moses speaks what will be repeated over and over again throughout scripture.

Do not be afraid…

God had worked wonders to secure freedom for the Israelites. There was no way they’d have been allowed to leave Egypt otherwise. The people complaining were eyewitnesses to God’s power and advocacy on their behalf, but they were fearful anyway.

I’ve heard it said “you can’t logic your way out of an emotional process”. Logically one would expect more confidence in the Israelites. Would God really have worked all those wonders only to have the people die days after their deliverance? That doesn’t make sense – but fear doesn’t care.

I admit, as many times as I’ve seen God do great things for me and those I love I still get anxious. Yes God saved me last time, but what about now? Will God forget me this time? Am I on my own in the middle of this crisis? Is God done with me? I should know better but sometimes fear gets the better of me anyway. So this morning I’m receiving the words of Moses – and many others in scripture.

Do not be afraid...

Amen.