“Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land” (Exodus 6:1).
Then...God speaks to Moses. Moses had complained that since the time that he had done what God told him to do, Israel’s plight had become only worse. The Egyptians laid more work on them. The officers of Israel were beaten. All of this occurred after the elders of Israel heard and believed what Aaron and Moses told them from God: that He would deliver them out of Pharaoh's hand and from Egyptian bondage. To Moses, there was no evidence that God had done what He said He would do. The people, more than ever, now knew they had no power to deliver themselves. Their heavy burdens had become worse. The elders, once believing, now doubted. Moses relied on what he saw rather than God's promise; he complained against God. And Pharaoh was evidently stronger than ever. Yet -- O, that blessed yet of omnipotent grace -- it was in this situation that God spoke, "Now you shall see what I will do.”
Faith is believing God. Faith’s foundation is God’s word. Faith is seeing from God's word what He has done in Christ. Faith sees that what God is now doing is according to His promise. Faith sees that what God will yet do is because of Christ's triumph over sin, satan and the world by His answer of justice and righteousness to God for His people (2 Cor. 1:10; Romans 8:1-39). Faith is seeing God’s salvation in Christ. It is seeing that salvation is of the LORD. It is seeing that salvation is accomplished. It is seeing that salvation is in Christ alone. Faith is seeing what God has done in Christ to save His people from their sins with no help from them. It is seeing that God is working all things together for good to them that love God and who are the called, according to His purpose. Faith is seeing that God will yet do what He promised, because Christ fulfilled all of His will for His people by His death on the cross.
But it is one thing to talk about faith. It is another thing to experience it. Only when things seem their worst, when all human wisdom and strength is gone, when hope is all but lost, then -- and only then -- do we look to Christ alone (Psalm 50:15; Psalm 80; Psalm 107; Psalm 119:67). It is then that we see the salvation of the LORD. Only the spiritually poor, naked, blind, plagued, dying and helpless will cry for help. God has to expose to us our spiritual needs before we will ever call or cling in faith to Christ alone.
When the Egyptian army was bearing down on Israel to destroy them at the Red Sea, God instructed Moses to tell the people, “Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD” (Exodus 14:13). The hardest thing in all the world to do when we're in trouble is nothing. Yet God brought Israel to the point where there was nothing they could do but see what He would do, see His salvation. And that is the point to which He must bring us.
In 2 Chronicles 20:1-17 these words are repeated. When the Moabites and Ammonites came against Judah with a great multitude to destroy them, and Judah had no power against them, then Jehoshaphat prayed to the LORD. He confessed the truth he believed in his heart: that God is God in heaven and rules over all the kingdoms of the heathen, so that all power is in His hand, and no one is able to withstand Him (v6). Jehoshaphat reminded the LORD that He had delivered Israel out of the hands of their enemies, had driven their enemies out of Canaan and had given Israel their land according to His promise to Abraham, His friend. And Jehoshaphat also claimed God’s promise spoken by Solomon: that if Israel -- the Church -- in their affliction, prayed toward God’s dwelling place (the throne of grace in heaven), that He would hear and deliver them. Jehoshaphat also brought attention, in his prayer, to the enemy that had come to destroy Israel, God’s people and inheritance. And Jehoshaphat further pleaded God's righteous judgment against their enemies, “O God, wilt Thou not judge them?” Jehoshaphat owned his and Israel’s utter helplessness, “We have no might against this great company, neither know we what to do” (v12). And then he spoke these wonderfully inspired words that God gives to every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ when He brings them to see that Christ is all: “But our eyes are upon Thee” (v12; Hebrews 12:2). After Jehoshaphat’s prayer, God's prophet spoke. He said to Jehoshaphat and to all Judah, “Be not afraid; for the battle is not yours, but the LORD’s” (v15). The prophet further said, “Set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD” (v17).
What we learn from this, we learn over and over again. All power in heaven and earth has been given to the Lord Jesus Christ. He rules in heaven and on earth and does all of His will at all times and in all places. No one can stop Him: not you nor I nor angels nor devils nor satan. He always does all His will in every circumstance. And this is our salvation and hope and glory. We are reminded that Christ has already delivered His people from their enemies according to the promise God made to Him and to His people with Him (2 Cor. 5:19-21; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 1:2; Eph. 1:3-11; 1 Pet. 1:18-20; Rom. 11:27). Christ is the One with whom God the Father is well pleased, and He has given all blessings to Christ and to His people in Him. But we now live in time. Our enemies are present with us. They threaten us and it is apparent that they are stronger than we are. But faith knows its place.
The believer sees his utter weakness and knows that in himself, he does not know what to do. Yet faith does not stop there. Faith looks to Christ only. And the word of God comes to us and tells us to stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. Faith is hearing God from His word. Faith is seeing what God will do (Psalm 110:1). Faith is seeing what God has done in Christ (Heb. 1:3). Faith is waiting for the hope of righteousness (Galatians 5:5). And faith rejoices in God over its enemies (1 Samuel 2:1-ff).
Who are your enemies? Are they not your sin, your doubts, your old nature? Aren’t your enemies the world of antichrist, freewill works religion, the world of man’s philosophy, the kingdom of darkness and satan? Is not even the accusing law of God your enemy, which says that whoever does not continue in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them is cursed? And who is it that has by Himself delivered us from our enemies, who does at this time deliver us, and who will yet deliver us by His accomplished salvation, by His advocacy and intercession for us and by His reigning power as our King? It is our Lord Jesus Christ! O soul of mine, dear friend, dear brother and sister in Christ, look to Him and be saved, for He is God and there is none else (Isaiah 45:22)!
In these last days, when the world of religion and our hearts and our circumstances seem as bad as they can be, and all human hope for deliverance is lost, God has spoken to us by His Son. "When He had, by Himself purged our sins, He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3). Set yourselves. Stand still. See the salvation of the LORD. You who have no strength, you who don’t know what to do, look to Christ! He is faithful who promised (Hebrews 10:23).
Then...God speaks to Moses. Moses had complained that since the time that he had done what God told him to do, Israel’s plight had become only worse. The Egyptians laid more work on them. The officers of Israel were beaten. All of this occurred after the elders of Israel heard and believed what Aaron and Moses told them from God: that He would deliver them out of Pharaoh's hand and from Egyptian bondage. To Moses, there was no evidence that God had done what He said He would do. The people, more than ever, now knew they had no power to deliver themselves. Their heavy burdens had become worse. The elders, once believing, now doubted. Moses relied on what he saw rather than God's promise; he complained against God. And Pharaoh was evidently stronger than ever. Yet -- O, that blessed yet of omnipotent grace -- it was in this situation that God spoke, "Now you shall see what I will do.”
Faith is believing God. Faith’s foundation is God’s word. Faith is seeing from God's word what He has done in Christ. Faith sees that what God is now doing is according to His promise. Faith sees that what God will yet do is because of Christ's triumph over sin, satan and the world by His answer of justice and righteousness to God for His people (2 Cor. 1:10; Romans 8:1-39). Faith is seeing God’s salvation in Christ. It is seeing that salvation is of the LORD. It is seeing that salvation is accomplished. It is seeing that salvation is in Christ alone. Faith is seeing what God has done in Christ to save His people from their sins with no help from them. It is seeing that God is working all things together for good to them that love God and who are the called, according to His purpose. Faith is seeing that God will yet do what He promised, because Christ fulfilled all of His will for His people by His death on the cross.
But it is one thing to talk about faith. It is another thing to experience it. Only when things seem their worst, when all human wisdom and strength is gone, when hope is all but lost, then -- and only then -- do we look to Christ alone (Psalm 50:15; Psalm 80; Psalm 107; Psalm 119:67). It is then that we see the salvation of the LORD. Only the spiritually poor, naked, blind, plagued, dying and helpless will cry for help. God has to expose to us our spiritual needs before we will ever call or cling in faith to Christ alone.
When the Egyptian army was bearing down on Israel to destroy them at the Red Sea, God instructed Moses to tell the people, “Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD” (Exodus 14:13). The hardest thing in all the world to do when we're in trouble is nothing. Yet God brought Israel to the point where there was nothing they could do but see what He would do, see His salvation. And that is the point to which He must bring us.
In 2 Chronicles 20:1-17 these words are repeated. When the Moabites and Ammonites came against Judah with a great multitude to destroy them, and Judah had no power against them, then Jehoshaphat prayed to the LORD. He confessed the truth he believed in his heart: that God is God in heaven and rules over all the kingdoms of the heathen, so that all power is in His hand, and no one is able to withstand Him (v6). Jehoshaphat reminded the LORD that He had delivered Israel out of the hands of their enemies, had driven their enemies out of Canaan and had given Israel their land according to His promise to Abraham, His friend. And Jehoshaphat also claimed God’s promise spoken by Solomon: that if Israel -- the Church -- in their affliction, prayed toward God’s dwelling place (the throne of grace in heaven), that He would hear and deliver them. Jehoshaphat also brought attention, in his prayer, to the enemy that had come to destroy Israel, God’s people and inheritance. And Jehoshaphat further pleaded God's righteous judgment against their enemies, “O God, wilt Thou not judge them?” Jehoshaphat owned his and Israel’s utter helplessness, “We have no might against this great company, neither know we what to do” (v12). And then he spoke these wonderfully inspired words that God gives to every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ when He brings them to see that Christ is all: “But our eyes are upon Thee” (v12; Hebrews 12:2). After Jehoshaphat’s prayer, God's prophet spoke. He said to Jehoshaphat and to all Judah, “Be not afraid; for the battle is not yours, but the LORD’s” (v15). The prophet further said, “Set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD” (v17).
What we learn from this, we learn over and over again. All power in heaven and earth has been given to the Lord Jesus Christ. He rules in heaven and on earth and does all of His will at all times and in all places. No one can stop Him: not you nor I nor angels nor devils nor satan. He always does all His will in every circumstance. And this is our salvation and hope and glory. We are reminded that Christ has already delivered His people from their enemies according to the promise God made to Him and to His people with Him (2 Cor. 5:19-21; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 1:2; Eph. 1:3-11; 1 Pet. 1:18-20; Rom. 11:27). Christ is the One with whom God the Father is well pleased, and He has given all blessings to Christ and to His people in Him. But we now live in time. Our enemies are present with us. They threaten us and it is apparent that they are stronger than we are. But faith knows its place.
The believer sees his utter weakness and knows that in himself, he does not know what to do. Yet faith does not stop there. Faith looks to Christ only. And the word of God comes to us and tells us to stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. Faith is hearing God from His word. Faith is seeing what God will do (Psalm 110:1). Faith is seeing what God has done in Christ (Heb. 1:3). Faith is waiting for the hope of righteousness (Galatians 5:5). And faith rejoices in God over its enemies (1 Samuel 2:1-ff).
Who are your enemies? Are they not your sin, your doubts, your old nature? Aren’t your enemies the world of antichrist, freewill works religion, the world of man’s philosophy, the kingdom of darkness and satan? Is not even the accusing law of God your enemy, which says that whoever does not continue in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them is cursed? And who is it that has by Himself delivered us from our enemies, who does at this time deliver us, and who will yet deliver us by His accomplished salvation, by His advocacy and intercession for us and by His reigning power as our King? It is our Lord Jesus Christ! O soul of mine, dear friend, dear brother and sister in Christ, look to Him and be saved, for He is God and there is none else (Isaiah 45:22)!
In these last days, when the world of religion and our hearts and our circumstances seem as bad as they can be, and all human hope for deliverance is lost, God has spoken to us by His Son. "When He had, by Himself purged our sins, He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3). Set yourselves. Stand still. See the salvation of the LORD. You who have no strength, you who don’t know what to do, look to Christ! He is faithful who promised (Hebrews 10:23).
Rick Warta
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