Prime Time by the Shoreline

By Karen Friday

Sometimes I’m too emotionally exhausted to put on my armor—much less fight the battle. The battle belongs to the Lord. It’s not my battle.

In Exodus 14, we read about a battle. The people of Israel are being led by Moses out of slavery in Egypt. A place of physical and emotional bondage. “Exodus” in the Greek is “a going out.” Traveling through the wilderness, the Israelites discover the Egyptian ruler, Pharaoh, and his army are in pursuit of them. It’s a battle they are too exhausted to fight.

“And they said to Moses,…are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this way and brought us out of Egypt?…it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” Exodus 14:11-12

“It would have been better” attitude usually comes on the heels of the enemies pursuit—when we are up against unbelievable barriers—with no foreseeable way to escape or win the battle. 

The Israelites find themselves up against a huge barrier…the Red Sea. As they wait on the shore, the enemy closes in with no where for them to go. Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today” (verse 13). The Lord tells Moses to have the people go forward (verse 15).

Four attitudes for shoreline waiting:

1. Fear not: Do not be afraid of the enemy or tactics of the enemy. Both pale in comparison to God’s power and glory.
2. Stand firm: Do not shift in your perspective. Shaky perspectives may move us out of a position for God’s glory. “God…is this not what we said would happen?” or “Lord, what have you done?” and “God, it would have been better….” Keep a God-perspective—he will fight the battle—so stand firm.
3. See the Salvation: of the Lord, which he will work for you today. Timing is everything. The Lord created time, is the giver of time, and fully understands time. The Lord’s glory is perfectly orchestrated at the right time in the battle. Prime time. 
4. Go forward: The Lord tells Moses to have the people go forward before the Red Sea is divided—so they could cross on dry land. Before they could see a way of escape. The Lord pre-arranges the details of the battle plan, and the final results that will bring about his ultimate glory. Beforehand. 

“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (verse 14, ESV). The NIV says “you only have to be still.” Silently still. No words, no fists, no weapons, and no clanging armor.  A position of waiting silently. The Lord is doing the work—it’s his fight. 

I WILL…I AM…The Lord…

• I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians (verse 8). Many times our enemies fall right into the will (hand) of the Lord without realizing what’s happening. To have a change of heart against us and to pursue us. Why?  So the Lord will receive the highest and the most glory. Prime time glory.
• I will get the glory over Pharaoh and all his host (verse 4 & 17).
• I AM the Lord (verse 4).
• The Lord drove back the Red Sea by a strong east wind for Israel to cross on dry land (verse 21).
• The Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea; the waters returned, covered them, and not one of them remained (verses 27-28).
• The Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of their enemies (verse 30).
• The Lord used great power and Israel saw the great power against the Egyptians (verse 31).

 A prime time audience will see the Lord’s glory. 

“Prime Time,” defined by Merriam Webster online-“the choicest or busiest time; the highest or most difficult level of use.” Google-“…occurring time at which a viewing audience is expected to be greatest.” Cambridge dictionary-“the time when the largest number of people are watching.”

God’s prime time glory is displayed in our battle; during the choicest time, at the most difficult level of use, and when the audience is expected to be the greatest…when the largest number of people are watching. 

The battle belongs to the Lord. I WILL…I AM…The Lord.

Waiting silently for prime time glory!

© 2014 by Karen Friday