God told Israel to stand still because they were hopelessly trapped and could do nothing to save themselves — He alone would fight for them.
God told Israel to stand still because they were hopelessly trapped — the Red Sea in front, Pharaoh's army behind, mountains on one side and populated areas on the other — and there was no human solution. The command meant they had to stop trying to save themselves and wait for God's power to act. Les Feldick teaches that 'stand still' was God saying there was nothing Israel could do; they were at His mercy. Then God opened the sea, Israel walked through on dry ground, and the Egyptians were destroyed.
Exodus 14:13 — This is where Moses commands Israel to 'stand still' and see the salvation of the Lord — the key verse behind the question.
After Israel left Egypt, Pharaoh pursued them with his chariots and horsemen. The Israelites found themselves camped by the Red Sea with the Egyptian army coming up behind them. In their fear they cried out to the Lord, and Moses told them: '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' (Exodus 14:13). He added: 'The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace' (Exodus 14:14). The LORD then told Moses to stretch his hand over the sea, and caused the sea to go back so that the waters were divided, and 'the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left' (Exodus 14:21-22). When the Egyptians followed, the waters returned upon them so that 'there remained not so much as one of them' (Exodus 14:26-28). The children of Israel, however, 'walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea' (Exodus 14:29).
Les Feldick says you have to picture Israel's hopeless position: the Red Sea in front, forbidding mountains to the right, populated areas to the left, and Pharaoh's chariots coming from behind. Under those circumstances, Moses' command seemed startling — instead of building bridges or finding boats, God told them to stand still. Les explains that God's command was 'almost the ridiculous': it meant Israel was locked in with nothing they could do and at God's mercy. Then God's mercy opened the Red Sea at its deepest part and Israel walked across on dry ground. Les draws a direct spiritual parallel: before salvation, we too are without strength, without hope, and helpless. Just as Israel's rescue depended wholly on God's power, our salvation depends wholly on His grace — 'in due time Christ died for the ungodly' (Romans 5:6). He also notes the miracle's scale: three to seven million people plus livestock crossed on dry ground, and the crossing could not have been at the shallow, reedy top of the sea, because that would not be much of a miracle.
Les emphasizes the hopelessness of Israel's position — Red Sea ahead, army behind, mountains and populated areas on either side. Rather than telling them to build bridges or find anything that would float, God told them to stand still. Les explains the meaning: 'Hey there, Israel, there's nothing you can do. You're locked in. You're at my mercy.'
Les says Israel's position is 'exactly where we found ourselves before we had salvation — without strength, without hope, helpless.' God opened the Red Sea for Israel, and He opens the way for sinners through His grace. Just as Israel could do nothing, salvation requires no human effort — 'in due time Christ died for the ungodly' (Romans 5:6).
Les says the top end of the Red Sea is only about eighteen inches deep, full of reeds, and populated — that is not wilderness. The wilderness only approaches further down the sea, so he is convinced Israel crossed at the deeper portion. As he puts it, 'it wouldn't be much of a miracle to go through 18 inches of water.'
The Scripture records that Moses stretched out his hand and the sea returned, the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea, and the waters covered the chariots, horsemen, and all of Pharaoh's host — there remained not so much as one (Exodus 14:26-28). Les notes that Israel walked on dry land with the waters walled up on both sides (Exodus 14:29), and that the Scripture does not tell us whether Pharaoh himself drowned.
Israel Trapped at the Red Sea
Les sets the scene: Israel is camped with the Red Sea in front, the Egyptian chariots behind, mountains to the right and populated areas to the left — a hopeless situation that explains why 'stand still' was so startling.
Stand Still and Wait for God's Power
Les shows that instead of building bridges or finding boats, God told Israel to stand still and wait for His power — which opened the sea — and compares their helplessness to ours before salvation.
'There's Nothing You Can Do'
Les explains that 'stand still' was God's way of saying Israel was locked in, at His mercy, with nothing they could do; God's mercy then opened the Red Sea.
A Massive, Miraculous Crossing
Les highlights the scale of the event — three to seven million people plus livestock — to show the crossing was no ordinary experience.
God Overthrows the Egyptians
Les reads the account of the waters returning on the Egyptians, showing God completely destroyed Pharaoh's army — not so much as one remained.
The Power of God at the Deepest Point
Les ties the Red Sea miracle to redemption's third requirement — power — and insists the crossing was at the deepest part, not an easy ford.
Dry Land Between Walls of Water
Les confirms Israel walked on dry land with walls of water on both sides, and challenges the movie depiction since millions could not cross through a narrow channel.
The Deep, Wilderness Crossing
Les argues the shallow, reedy top of the Red Sea was populated and only about eighteen inches deep, so Israel must have crossed at the deeper portion where the miracle is beyond question.
Exodus 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.
The direct command to 'stand still' — the answer to why God gave that command, with the promise that the Lord would save.
Exodus 14:14: The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
The companion promise that the Lord Himself would fight for Israel while they held their peace.
Exodus 14:21-22: And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
The outcome of standing still: God divided the sea and Israel crossed on dry ground with walls of water.
Exodus 14:26-28: And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
God's judgment on the Egyptians who pursued — not one of Pharaoh's host remained.
Exodus 14:29: But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
Confirms Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea — the miracle of the crossing.
Romans 5:6: For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Les uses this verse to tie Israel's helplessness to our condition before salvation — Christ died for the ungodly 'in due time.'
Because Israel was completely trapped — the Red Sea ahead, the Egyptian army behind, mountains on one side and populated areas on the other. There was no human solution, so God told them to stand still and watch Him fight for them.
It meant they stopped trying to save themselves. Les Feldick emphasizes God didn't tell them to build bridges or find boats; He told them to stand still — they were at His mercy — and then God opened the sea.
Les teaches that Israel was 'without strength, without hope, helpless' — exactly our position before salvation. Just as God opened the Red Sea, God opens the way of salvation by grace; as Romans 5:6 says, 'in due time Christ died for the ungodly.'
Les believes they crossed at the deeper portion of the Red Sea. The shallow, reedy top was only about eighteen inches deep and populated, so crossing there 'wouldn't be much of a miracle.'
Watch the Teaching: The 3 Requirements for Redemption: Person, Blood, and Power