Be still and do not fear

Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ Exodus 14:3

An ambush, by definition, is “a surprise attack by people lying in wait in a concealed position,” and this is often accomplished by enticing your opposition into that place. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is to make them think you are wounded and nearing defeat. They will attempt to close in and finish you off like a boxer with their opponent on the ropes. Strategically, however, you have taken a concealed position and await their approach, where at the most effective time, you will launch an assault from your hiding place to ambush them with excellent efficiency. The hunter has become the prey, and you will have achieved a great victory.

At this point in their history, the Israelites feel defeated even as they have begun to experience freedom. They are no longer in physical bondage, but fear has taken its place, and now they find themselves bound mentally. Their emotional anguish is so intense they begin to wish for their former bondage; such is the power of assaults on the mind. These attacks attempted to convince them that they could never truly experience deliverance. Exodus 14:12 says, “It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” This statement shows the mental anguish they were experiencing in the desert was more significant than their physical slavery back in Egypt; the emotional distress was equivalent to death.

Spiritual warfare is still a part of our lives today as we contend with the issues of life. Given how effective fear and anxiety are, it is clear why they are being used often and with much success. They aim to keep us in bondage so we cannot experience the freedom that Jesus’ death provides. Fear leads us to give up on breaking free by closing our eyes to healthy perspectives. Amid fear, we forget all God has done and the numerous victories he has sent into our lives. Fear paralyzes our spirits and will to fight, and we are hindered when we focus too much on anxiety and become frozen in our minds.

The aforementioned “healthy perspective” is when you look at your situations differently. In this context, think of it as a spiritual ambush against your adversary, the secret plans of God for delivering you. Though you may feel weakened, you must continue to trust God. He will cause the enemy to think you are about to give up, but it is all about setting up the ambush. The mental attacks may increase in frequency and intensity to the point where you question your ability to hold on. It is then when satan has committed everything to the assault on your mind, that God will launch the counter-attack. You need only stand still, resist fear, then watch God destroy your foes!

Exodus 14:13 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. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”