Paralyzed by Grace

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"

Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."
Exodus 14:10 - 14

Have you ever been gripped with fear? How about paralysed with fear? Have you ever looked at your situation and felt helpless... hopeless? This is exactly what the Israelites felt when they saw the Egyptian army advancing.

No weapons...

No training...

No idea where they were to go...

Helpless...

Hopeless... (or were they?)

What these dear people forgot was the One who delivered them with a strong arm. They forgot the Lord.

They focused on how small they were against such a threat instead on how small their threat was to THEIR HUGE GOD!

Please do not miss the significance of this....

It was the Lord who was going to win this battle... not the Israelites. True... the Israelites would be the recipients of the blessings... but the battle belonged to the Lord.

I don't know what you are going through at this very moment... but you can take comfort in knowing these three things:

1. Jesus is bigger than your problem.

2. He is constantly fighting for and interceding for God's people.

3. You are safe in the will of God.

Jesus came to set the captives free and sometimes freedom can be scary.

When you think life has gained the upper hand and you feel overwhelmed, take this counsel from the book of Hebrews:

"...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Hebrews 12:1 - 3