(Exodus 14:13) And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
In their minds, it was more comfortable back in Egypt. The Lord led them to a place where they were uncomfortable. Israel wanted to return to slavery rather than live with the risks of freedom. They forgot the promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They forgot the covenant God made with their fathers. It was more comfortable to turn over the accountability and responsibility for their lives to an idolatrous master.
(Exodus 14:12) Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
They valued their lives above the purpose God had for them. Freedom was more than they could bear. They believed the price was too high. But they forgot something – their freedom was not theirs to bear. It was the “salvation of the Lord” promised to them. God never called them to free themselves. God never called them to defeat the Egyptian army. Their words to Moses rang out to God Himself – “Let us alone…For it had been better…”
All of us come to a place in our lives where the faith God calls us to an uncomfortable position. In the pit of your stomach, the nausea starts as you realize the potential consequences. Your legs shake when the thought hits you again and again. You lie awake night after night in cold sweat thinking about the possibilities and the risks. You fear for the impact to your livelihood. You fear for the impact on your family. It becomes easier to consider the alternative. Fear whispers in your ear…turn back. Don’t pursue the avenue of faith. It’s too hard. The cost is too high.
When the noise of disbelief, the opinions of other people and the doubts ring loudest in our ears, we must turn again and again to the voice of faith. Although we’ve already been saved from the debt and penalty of sin, God is working out a practical salvation in our everyday life. We have an advantage today: Christ in us. Moses told Israel to “Fear not.” In Christ, we are told in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” We are called to quit working so hard to save ourselves from the hardship – Jus as Israel was told to “stand still…,” we are called to trust Him to lead us through the trials and tribulations of our faith. He is calling us not back to where we came from, but into the promised land of His purpose working in us and through us.
Renewed Thought – You may need to get uncomfortable to have the comfort that you are living in the will and purpose of God. Don’t turn back when faith calls you forward.