Why did God tell Israel to stand still at the Red Sea instead of doing something?
God told Israel to stand still at the Red Sea so He could evidence His power, not because they could rescue themselves. Trapped by the sea, mountains, and Egyptian army, they had no place to go. Their standing still by faith let God display grace by opening the Red Sea.
Les explains that Israel's situation at the Red Sea illustrates grace. With the sea before them, forbidding mountains around, and the Egyptian army behind, they were trapped with no place to go. God did not scream at Moses to tell the people to do something; He said, "Stand still." The reason was that God would evidence His power. As Israel stood still by faith, not frantically searching for driftwood to float across, they waited for the grace of God to open the Red Sea. Les applies this to believers today: grace says there is nothing we merit and nothing we can do; we simply throw ourselves at His feet.
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.
What did God tell Israel to do at the Red Sea instead of trying to save themselves?
At the Red Sea, God told Israel to stand still and do nothing—not to scavenge for driftwood, build a bridge, or find something to float them across. Their deliverance depended on God moving in and performing the miracle, just as salvation requires God's miraculous work rather than human effort.
What was Israel's situation at the Red Sea when God told them to stand still?
Israel was trapped at the Red Sea: the water was in front, forbidding mountains on one side and almost the same on the left, with the Egyptian army behind them. They had no place to go. God told them to stand still so He would evidence His power and open the sea by grace.