When God Fights For You

Aug 21, 2017 2843

What happens when God fights for us? Moses says the words of Exodus 14:14 to the Children of Israel just before the crossing of the Red Sea,

The Lord will fight for you, and you won’t have to do a thing (Ex 14:14, CEV).

Even more, in the preceding verse he says,

Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today (Ex 14:13, NKJV).

These words are important because Moses represents Jesus Christ, the Children of Israel represent you and me, and the crossing of the Red Sea is a very powerful representation of salvation itself.

Over many years, I have come back again and again, and reflected on this text. I’ve meditated on it, puzzled over it, and prayed about it. Because salvation can’t be that easy, can it?

Those who say that we can contribute, in some way, to our salvation through our own efforts don’t agree with the teachings of the Bible. Over and over again, the Bible emphasizes that salvation can only be achieved when we are quiet and still, and when we let God do the work.

Think about the Children of Israel by the shore of the Red Sea. On one side, they were trapped by the sea, and on the other side they were trapped by the army of Pharaoh that was rushing towards them. It’s almost as if God had brought them to this position to help them see that they were powerless, and that it was he who did the work.

In spite of their seemingly helpless situation, many of the people were running around panicked, while others prepared themselves to fight. That’s the moment when Moses tells them that the Lord will fight for them, and that they won’t have to do a thing.

Perhaps quietness and stillness are the most difficult attitudes of faith that we can achieve. Standing still, without fear, and not doing anything can be the hardest thing in the world, when all of your instincts tell you to run or fight.

We do nothing for our salvation, but we have a lot to do with our salvation.

It’s like that with salvation. God does the work; not us. But trusting him enough to let him do his work can be the greatest battle we will ever face. It’s the battle of faith, and it’s the battle of surrender. It’s all there on the Cross. If our role is to allow ourselves to be “crucified with Christ,” then we have to realise that in terms of our own salvation, our hands are nailed, our feet are fixed, and even our words are restrained. That’s what Paul talks about when he says that we are to count ourselves as dead to sin (Rom 6:11).

We do nothing for our salvation, but we have a lot to do with our salvation. God, by himself, made a path for his people through the Red Sea, salvation was assured, to everyone who was willing to put their entire lives into God’s hands. At the end of the day, they had to accept that God was good, and that the waters wouldn’t come crashing down over their heads. They had to step into the terrifying unknown: the place between the waters. Once they were saved, they had to keep walking, as they experienced the wonder of being right in the middle of God’s will. And when they stepped onto the opposite sure, they broke into song, because they knew the joy of salvation. This was a powerful metaphor of the entire Christian experience, of both salvation, and of the life of obedience that must follow it.

What that they had started in faith, by crossing the sea, they now had to continue in faith. The Biblical record tells us the sorry story of how, after crossing the Red Sea, they started doubting and refused to believe. And their faithless works corresponded to their disbelief. Works follow faith (or the lack of faith); it’s never the other way around. Our efforts and our works always follow salvation; but they never have nothing to do with procuring it.

Salvation is easy, when we believe in Jesus. And believing in him is the only work that Jesus requires of us so that we might be saved (John 6:29). – Eliezer Gonzalez

Eliezer Gonzalez

Sep 2, 2017

Thank you Blanca. Be blessed!

Blanca Mateo

Sep 2, 2017

I thank God my Father for Dr Ford's works ln His word. And now Mr Eliezer continuing on Dr Ford's efforts. May God keep you in health and love. Yours truly Blanca Mateo

We do nothing for our salvation, but we have a lot to do with our salvation.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply