Excerpt from Exodus 14: 10-31

"But Moses said to the people, 'do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.'"

Reflection by Anthony B. Robinson

It was a Saturday night. The next day was it. That was the day callers would go out after worship to visit every member of the congregation and ask them to make a pledge to the capital funds drive to restore the church’s rundown and neglected buildings. This, after years of conflict and discouragement for the church.

On that Saturday night, the group leading the venture gathered one last time to go over the plans. We were not a confident group. Ours was a small church of graduate students and their families, single adults and elderly, retired people. We were not a wealthy congregation. That night the goal looked huge. We felt small. Small and daunted.

At least I felt that way. I just didn't see any way from here to there. Disaster, I felt sure, loomed.

The chairperson of the group, Judy, said, "I think we need to pray." Let me add, we were not a particularly pious group. While prayer may have been a regular part of the lives of some, it was a Sunday-only thing for most. But pray we did. And Judy's prayer that night had the effect of the words of Moses to the Hebrew slaves when the Egyptian army was bearing down upon them and their backs were to the wall.

Moses said, "Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance the Lord will accomplish for you today." "The Lord will fight for you, you have only to stand your ground." There is another power at work. Trust it and stand your ground.

That night we went home relying on a power not our own. And the next night, after all the visits had been made, the callers returned. We were like the disciples who came back to Jesus full of joy saying that they had seen Satan fall from the sky. A great thing had happened. People's generosity overwhelmed us all.

When, for whatever reason, our backs are against the wall, when our courage fails, hear the word of God, "Do not be afraid, stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will accomplish for you today."

Prayer

Who makes a way out of no way? Only you, O God. Help me to stand my ground and trust your power of deliverance today. Amen.

About the Author Anthony B. Robinson, a United Church of Christ minister, is a speaker, teacher and writer. His newest book is Stewardship for Vital Congregations, published by The Pilgrim Press. Read his weekly reflections on the current lectionary texts at www.anthonybrobinson.com/ by clicking on Weekly Reading.

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