Posts Tagged: the context of Scripture
“Be Quiet and Move Forward!”
“The Lord will fight for you; you must be quiet.” (Exodus 14:14)
This is the YouVersion verse of the day for July 1. It is a very fine reminder. The Israelites were in a desperate situation. They were trapped between Pharaoh and his army behind, and a seemingly impassable body of water in front of them. As we might say it, they were between the devil and the deep blue sea.
The Israelites were quite understandably panicky. They cried out. They blamed Moses. They longed for “the good old days” when they were the Egyptians’ slaves. After all, there were plenty of graves in Egypt. What need was there to go into this desolate place to die?!
And into this impossible situation, Moses speaks the improbable words, “. . . you must be quiet.”
However, taking vs. 14 all by itself may be somewhat misleading. This is a common problem in reading the Bible or any other book, or in having any conversation. Words out of context can be very misleading. In fact, an isolated statement may mean precisely the opposite of what it seems to mean when you factor in the context. In this case, vs. 15 seems to stand on their heads Moses’ words about being quiet.
“15 The LORD said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.’” (Exodus 14:15-18, English Standard Version)
When there is no forward, God commands his leader Moses to command the people to move forward. How do you go forward when there is no such thing?
There is frequently a forward, even when we don’t see it is, or think that there could be one. We may not like the forward, but it may be the right one, nonetheless.
So, you don’t know what to do? Move forward! You may need to be quiet first. But then, you may hear the command to move forward anyway.
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- DTEB, “Getting Christ and Ourselves Back in Focus” November 11, 2024“Col. 3:1 ¶ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Col. 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Col. 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden […]
- “Search Me!” October 27, 2024“Psa. 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24, English Standard Version) I am participating in a Bible study, and this is a prayer […]
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- “Grandma’s Pump” October 8, 2024When I was a little critter, I would stay at my grandma’s house for a night or two sometimes. I liked this for a lot for many reasons. One thing I liked about staying with her was that Grandma’s house was much more technologically advanced than ours was. For one thing, she had indoor water—sort […]
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- “Witnessing Versus Being Witnesses” September 19, 2024“Acts 1:1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, Acts 1:2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. Acts 1:3 He presented himself alive to them after […]
- “A Bathroom Prayer for Hurting Hands” September 11, 2024A week ago Sunday, my hands were hurting so badly at church that I went to the bathroom to run hot water over my hands. Arthritis perhaps, or carpal tunnel, or general orneriness—I don’t know why my hands hurt, but they do. They have for years. So, while I was running hot water over my […]
- “Waiting and Seeking” September 10, 2024“Lam. 3:19 ¶ Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! Lam. 3:20 My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. Lam. 3:21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: Lam. 3:22 ¶ The steadfast love of the LORD […]
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