Rev. Don Campbell
Exodus 13-15 Ref: Ephesians 6
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019: BE SILENT [Ex 13-15]
The Passover has been kept, the exodus has begun, and Pharaoh and the Egyptians have changed their minds and pursue Israel to enslave them once again. Hemmed in by the Red Sea before them and the pursuing armies of Egypt behind them, the people cry out: “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness” (Ex 14:11-12). Seldom do I read this passage that I am not reminded of the cold war slogan “Better red than dead,” meaning American would be better off to voluntarily surrender to communism than to fight and risk a nuclear war. It is not impossible that the thought was planted by the Kremlin machine.
Moses’ response to their sniveling was “SHUT UP!” Well, it wasn’t quite that sharp: “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (Ex 14:13-14).
If we are confident that the Lord is on our side, we do not have to rush into verbal battles with the enemies of truth. When we rush in, we often become the wind in their sails, empowering them instead of silencing them.
Paul tells us to equip ourselves with the armor of God, but he does not say, “And then charge!” He says that we are to put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil (Eph 6:11). We are to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might (Eph 6:10). Note verses 13-14 of the text: “withstand,” “stand firm,” “stand therefore.” There are only two offensive weapons: the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; prayer in the Spirit (vv.17-18).
We must always be ready to speak the truth in love to one another and the world. That message will be best received when accompanied by prayer in the Spirit. When we become verbally aggressive, using the human tactics of innuendo, rumor, insult, and sarcasm, we may have like-minded cheerleaders cheering us on, but we fall short of standing for the truth. Peter instruction us: “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Pet 3:8-12).
Some of us need to shut up. Some of us need to stand up.
CONNECTIONS
1. Will you accept this challenge? Examine your posts and those of your “friends.” How many posts do you see that are filled with innuendo, rumor, insult, and sarcasm?
2. Read James 3:1-12. What kind of water is flowing from your mouth—or your keyboard?
