"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.
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.
The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."
Exodus 14:12-14
This is an interesting verse, as the children of Israel, escaping from Pharaoh, see the Egyptians coming behind them with an army, and are understandably concerned. They complain to Moses, saying that it would have been better to stay where they were, even though they were slaves. Moses reassures them, telling them that the Lord will fight for them.
I think this is something that happens to us a lot in life... not a literal Egyptian army following us, but that time between miracles when we fear and doubt, uncertain whether the next miracle will come, and uncomfortable with change, we wish we could just crawl back into our old life, even though it was worse. At least it wasn't so uncomfortable and exposed and scary and full of effort.
I think God was helping these people learn to readjust to freedom, but also to making bold choices and thinking for themselves... to becoming more than a cog, but realizing their own power and ability to do hard things and to become more than they had been. And he is doing the same for us. ... Promised lands are usually not at the end of a luxury cruise, or supplied with all of the comfort and amenities of home. It's a long walk in the wilderness, with tents and privation, and sometimes barges or arks. It's hard to set out for someplace new and break ground and start over.
As God taught Abraham, and Moses, the Israelites, the Jaredites, Noah, Lehi, Nephi, Joseph Smith, and so many others though... his path is the worthy one. He wants us to be the powerful people that we can be and make a change in the world. He wants us to step up and be a light, and be an example of strength and goodness.
Today, and the next time we get caught between miracles and Satan tries to get at us with fear and doubt, let's choose peace over panic. Let's trust that God has the next miracle in store, and keep going, and keep praying, knowing that our promised land is at the end of the journey. Let's not turn back, physically or spiritually as Lot's Wife did, but instead let's pray and follow the Lord's advice, accepting the discomfort of discovery and change in order to grow, trusting that the Lord will fight for us, and guide us to where we are needed.
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