On Worry

If you are reading through the Bible with us this year, we have been reading the story of the deliverance of the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt. We will soon get to the portion where Pharaoh finally lets them go after all the firstborn in Egypt are killed by the angel of death, but he passed over the firstborn of the children of Israel when he saw the blood of the sacrificial lambs on the doorposts of their houses. As they came out, Yehovah purposely took them by a circuitous route rather than the shorter and easier route that went through the land of the Philistines. He did not want them to see war and want to return to Egypt. He eventually led them into a place where they were hemmed in by the mountains, the Red Sea, and Pharaoh and his armies. Even though they were being led by Yehovah Himself, with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, they became worried and fearful when they saw the chariots and armies of Egypt coming toward them with no way to escape. In their fear, they cried out to Yehovah.

Read Moses’ response to them—

But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD (Yehovah) which He will perform for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again, ever. The LORD (Yehovah) will fight for you, while you keep silent.”
Exodus 14:13-14 NASB20

And the rest, as they say, is history! Yehovah performed the miracle that is still talked about the world over. He divided the Red Sea, the Israelites crossed over on dry ground, and Pharaoh and his chariots and army were drowned in the waters of the Red Sea that came crashing down on them!

When it appeared that the people of Israel had every reason to worry, God proved in spectacular fashion that He can and will provide deliverance if we just stand still and keep silent and refuse to worry! Everything that Yehovah planned to accomplish He did in such a way that no one on earth could claim credit for or explain away. He did it to prove that there was a God in Israel.

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It may be human nature to worry, but as Christians, worry shows a lack of trust in our Father’s ability to rescue us from whatever it is that we are worrying about.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said the following about worry and what we should do instead—

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span? Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ’What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ …for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:25, 27, 31, 32b-34 NASB20

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Whatever God permits to happen in your life is a gift to you. God has two goals…
His Glory and Your Good!
Kingsley Opuwari Manuel

“It does not matter how heavy troubles are if you can cast them on the Lord. The heavier they are, so much the better, for the more you have gotten rid of, and the more there is laid on the Rock.”
Charles H. Spurgeon

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.”
Corrie Ten Boom

“Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.”
George Washington

“God is my Father, He loves me, I shall never think of anything He will forget. Why should I worry?”
Oswald Chambers

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So take heart, believe, seek His kingdom and His righteousness. Then, stand back, stand still, and watch your miracle working God deliver you—for His glory and your good!

Shalom!

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Featured Image by Hamed Mehrnik from Pixabay