We all know the account in Exodus 14 where Pharaoh had finally let the children of Israel go out of their captivity. Then, though, he had a change of heart and had his army pursue the Israelites. Needless to say, the Israelites were scared beyond belief when they saw the army of Pharaoh approaching, and they cried out to Moses, “It had been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness” (Exodus 14:12). They were wishing they were still Pharaoh’s servants! Moses told them, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord…the Lord will fight for you.” They were fleeing from the Egyptian army right behind them, and they were on the bank of the Red Sea, so they couldn’t go forward. Moses told them to “stand still”! Then, God told Moses to let them go forward and He divided the Red Sea so they could pass through it on dry ground. We know that Pharaoh’s army was destroyed by God in the sea. Yet, can you imagine telling these distraught people who were fleeing for their lives to “stand still”! Just wait on God!
We all get caught up in the process of daily living, and it’s easy to be distracted from what is important. There are so many things going on around us and many of them involve us. We have to make time for God. Of all the characters in the Bible, I believe that David was the best at finding quality time to spend alone with God. So many of the Psalms are heart-warming because they are personal and because they are praises to God. David didn’t pen these psalms while he was on the battlefield or hearing about kingly matters from his throne. He had to make time to be “alone” with God. This very thought is expressed in Psalm 46:10, which reads, “Be still and know that I am God.” We all need to do that every day. We need to take time out of our busy lives to be still and to spend time alone with God.
Hosea told the people of his day, “It is time to seek the Lord!” (Hosea 10:12). When things get bad, it usually is time to seek God. However, if one wants to enjoy God’s blessings, he better not wait until bad times come to seek God. The wise man was inspired to write, “I love them that love Me and those who seek Me diligently will find Me” (Proverbs 8:17). God is not going to hide from those who want to serve Him and enjoy His blessings. He loves His people and wants them to “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom” (Colossians 1:9). In order to do that, one must “be still” and give diligence to knowing and obeying God’s Word.
We often sing a song that says:
Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord; abide in Him always and feed on His word; make friends of God’s children; help those who are weak; forgetting in nothing His blessings to seek. Take time to be holy, the world rushes on; spend much time in secret with Jesus alone; By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be; thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see. Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul; each thought and each motive beneath His control; thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love, thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.
Like the song says and just as David did, we need to take time from the busyness of the world to make room for conversation with God, study of His Word and active discipleship. We’ll truly be richer for it—not earthly riches but Godly riches.
We need to slow down, “stand still” and be quiet to learn of God and to know His will. We must allow the knowledge of His will to permeate our very beings so that we can enjoy the best of this life and the one to come. We truly need to listen and obey as God says to “be still and know that I am God.” He is our Lord and Master, as well as a loving God.
