Wanderings & Wonders - "When You Are in Need of a Miracle" - Exodus 14 - Tim Nay

When You Are in Need of a Miracle

Exodus 14
Tim Nay

Part of Wanderings & WondersLessons from the Wilderness

June 29, 2025

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” 18 But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. —Exodus 13:17-18 

1. God often gives us MORE than we can HANDLE. 

Exodus 14:10-12 

2. God has a MESSAGE for us as we face our trials. (Exodus 14:13-14) 

13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” —Exodus 14:13-14 

Natural Human Response to Difficulties: 
• We are afraid 
• We run 
• We fight 
• We tell everyone

Be not AFRAID 

Be firmly PLANTED 

7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” —Psalm 20:7 

Be WATCHFUL 

22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, 25 clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.” —Exodus 14:22-25 

Be SILENT 

7 “a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” —Ecclesiastes 3:7 

When we are silent: 
• No complaining 
• We do not say dumb things 
• More ready to see what God may be doing (Psalm 46:10) 
• We acknowledge God sees the bigger picture 
• We have time to pray28 “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” —Proverbs 17:28 

“Because of the misuse of the spoken word, destinies have been derailed, disunity has replaced unity, nations are destroyed. Our very lives, both physical and spiritual, depend upon our ability and willingness to speak out at the proper moment. And by the same token silence can bring pain, destruction and the inevitable onslaught of sin. Or it can allow the time for God’s healing power to work in a life.” (When to Speak Up and When to Shut Up, by Dr. Michael D. Sedler, p. 16) 

TAKEAWAY: What are the most important words you need to HEAR today? Don’t be afraid, STAND firm, WATCH, or be QUIET? 

30 “Thus, the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.” —Exodus 14:30-31