“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1).

During our Wednesday night church service recently, I began getting ideas of how God helped His people at different times in history. These events are very relevant to our world today and are some things we need to be reminded of. Let’s look at them.

God had mightily delivered the Israelites from the oppression of the Egyptians and was leading them to their Promised Land. However, the journey that should have taken only 40 days, ended up being 40 years because of their disobedience. Now, they had come to the Red Sea with the Egyptians in hot persuit. They lost faith again, complained to Moses and wanted to go back to Egypt! But God had directed Moses to follow His command and Moses told the people, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you today: (Exodus 14:13). In today’s language, “Stand still and watch this!”. We know the Red Sea parted, God’s people crossed safely and then their enemies were all drowned. It also says in Ephesians 6 four times, concerning the armor of God, to stand. STAND!

Later, the Israelites came to another obstacle in their journey, the Jordan River. They were to cross the Jordan and take possession of the land as God would drive out all the inhabitants who were living there. But how would they get across the Jordan? God directed Joshua to have the priests carry the Ark of the Covenant and go out in front of the multitude and…“It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water above that point began backing up” (Joshua 3:15). When the priests obeyed and stepped into the river, it stopped flowing and they crossed over on dry ground! Sometimes, God will have us take the first step to show our faith in Him. STEP! (Check out Abraham’s test in Genesis 22.)

Then, there are some things God may ask us to do that seem utterly ridiculous. In Joshua 6, God gave Joshua a message and some instructions as they faced the battle to take the city of Jericho. He basically said, “I am giving you the city of Jericho but there’s something I want you and My people to do first. March around the city once a day for six days then, on the seventh day, march around it seven times with the priest blowing the trumpet and then have all the people shout loudly. When they do that, the walls of the city will fall down, and you can go in and take the it.” What??? Yes, follow God’s commands, no matter what you think, just do it and you will SEE the deliverance of the Lord. And sometimes, you may not even have to fight, just march toward the enemy, following God’s direction, and SEE what He does. Go read 2 Chronicles 20 and see what happened with Jehoshaphat. “As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.” (V.22). They were “prayed up”, following God’s direction in faith and saw the victory. And, we could add another word here, SEEK, because Jehoshaphat and the people sought the Lord before going to battle.

Are you facing a battle, a problem or a decision? Get your armor on and STAND. Take the first STEP. SEEK the Lord and SEE what He will do for you. “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13). Let’s go!