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Shut Up and March

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While in Bible College many years ago I was fortunate enough to be selected for the Chorale. It was a big thing to make the Chorale. We were to go on a two-week tour during the summer break. It was the highlight of our summer. I don’t know why, but recently one of the songs we sang during that summer tour has been on my mind. I can’t remember much of the song except the main line of the chorus, which was also the title of the song. It was called, “Shut up and March”.

The theme of the song centers around the idea that talk can only do so much good. There is a time to quit talking and a time to get on with the business at hand. I frequently tell my employees, “A little less chatter and a little more clatter, please.” I think you get the idea.

When Israel fled from Egypt after 400 years of slavery they thought they had gained their freedom. The Pharaoh had finally relented and allowed them to go. On their very first night of freedom, they set up camp on the shores of the Red Sea. I can imagine how their spirits were soaring. They were looking forward to a bright future. However, in a moment’s notice, their freedom was taken from them again. The Pharaoh had changed his mind. He had assembled his mighty army and come to take Israel back. When Israel saw the Egyptian Army they panicked and began to cry out to God. They began to curse Moses for leading them out.

When this barrage of words came against Moses, he responded with some of the most inspiring words in Scripture;

Ex 14:13-14

13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

We have all heard these words before. “Fear not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” “Hold your peace, the Lord will fight your battles.” We have preached great sermons of faith from these words. We have written songs about Moses’ words in this story. We lean on this Scripture when we need to build up our own faith. We depend upon it when we need an answer from God.

It is encouraging to know that the Bible says that we can stand back and let the Lord fight for us. We don’t have to do anything except stand still and pray. God is going to take care of it all.

I warn you, there is a little problem with this kind of thinking. God has a different outlook about the whole thing than what Moses had. Remember, it was Moses who spoke those words, not God. In verse fifteen, God contradicts what Moses said in verse fourteen.

Ex 14:15 TLB

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Quit praying and get the people moving! Forward, march!

Apparently there was a whole lot of praying going on. Israel was crying out to God. Moses was crying out to God. At the same time, there was a whole lot of complaining going on. The people of Israel were blaming Moses for this dilemma they were in. In fact, I submit to you that their prayers were prayers of complaint. “God what are you doing? You set us free only to die in the wilderness? It would have been better to die as slaves.”

I can picture God looking down at this crazy scene of panic and confusion with more than a little frustration. He had just sent ten miraculous plagues to convince the Pharaoh to release Israel. He had just saved Israel’s sons in the very first Passover. He had just delivered Israel from bondage. Yet, in a moment’s notice, Israel lost faith in God. I love God’s response to them; “Shut up and March”. I wish I could say that and get away with it.

What is mind boggling is that God told them to shut up while they were praying. Imagine that. Why would God do that? There are a couple of very good reasons; First off, complaint prayers don’t get you anywhere with God. Secondly, there is a time to quit praying so you can get on with the business at hand. In this case that business was marching. If you read the story and pay attention to the timeline you will see that Israel had to start marching before Moses lifted up his rod. Israel had to start marching before the waters were parted. It wasn’t until they ‘shut up and marched’ that God parted the sea and gave them ultimate freedom.

Faith is not when we ‘stand still and cry out’, faith is when we ‘shut up and march’. God will fight for you, but He will only fight when you are marching forward.