Blog In Audio:
Greetings,
What does it mean to stand still? I have often heard believer’s state those words in the context of not doing anything and simply trusting God in a situation. Is that what it means to stand still?
One example is found in the story of Moses and the children of Israel as they were up against the banks of the Red Sea and the Egyptian Pharoah, and his army were coming down upon them.
Exodus 14:13 And Moses said to the people, “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. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
These verses are often quoted as the word of God to stand still; however, in this case God didn’t say to stand still. These were the words of Moses. God told Moses to lift up his rod and move forward.
Exodus 14:15 And the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. 16 But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.”
The statement of Moses is a truly stated statement in Scripture, but it isn’t a statement of truth. We only discover the truth when we read the following verses. Moses’ words revealed his trust in God, but God’s words to Moses revealed His trust in Moses, for He was with him. When we see these two statements together, it gives a greater statement of truth. God wants us to understand that our relationship with Him is a partnership of life that brings life to our world through Him working in our lives.
There’s another story in Scripture where God did say to stand still. It is the story where King Jehosaphat and the people of Judah were facing the opposition of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir.
2 Chronicles 20:14 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.”
The word of the Lord wasn’t to do nothing; it was to do what God said to do and stand still. They went down and faced their enemy. They worshipped God before them and God moved mightily on their behalf and their enemies turned upon one another and there was a great victory. Their standing still included facing their enemy, lifting their hands in worship to God before them, and plundering the spoil after God’s miracle victory. There was action, not action of self-defense or weapons of the flesh. The action was to move forward in the trust of God, not in the strength of their own abilities.
To stand still is not to do nothing. It’s to do only what God says and to not be shaken in our present circumstance. As leaders, we must set an example and lead others to know how to stand still. Our attitude is always one of moving forward. It is not one of doing nothing. It is an obedience to all that God says and an expectancy of His testimony in all things.
Food For Thought,
Ted J. Hanson
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