The LORD does HIS part. We CAN DO our part.
Over the weekend, we visited the Armed Forces Museum, a facility located near our daughter’s home. We parked and walked toward the entrance, passing memorial stones etched with words to remind us of those who came before us, who fought for our freedom, and whose work should not be forgotten.
As we walked toward the front entry, my husband began to look with interest, searching for the memorial that honored the Navy Seabees. Halfway around, we walked, reaching the front doorway, but then he walked on, going further, searching intently for the memorial marker he sought, while my daughter and I watched. We knew when he found that which he sought, for he paused, looking down at the stone, reading the words etched on top, honoring the work of the Navy Seabees.
“Would you like us to take your photo?” we called out, as we walked toward where he stood.
Since he remained still, we knew our answer was “Yes” he would like us to take a photo of him next to the memorial stone. So, we did.
Today, as I look closely at this photo of the memorial stone, I see the following IMAGES & WORDS:
Top Left—An image of a bumble bee, flying while holding a machine gun and while also holding tools necessary for building.
Top Center—The United States Navy Seal
Top Right—The Seal for the United States Civil Engineers
NAVY SEABEES
- We Build, We Fight,
- CAN DO!
Supporting all services since 1942
In the Bible, we see how the children of Israel were pursued by the Egyptians, all the way to the edge of the Red Sea. When they reached that sight, they were completely hemmed in on all sides and knew they must stand and fight the mighty Egyptians or they must trust in the salvation of the LORD.
“But Moses said to the people,
(Exodus 14: 13 & 19-22 NASB)
“Do not fear!
Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today,
for the Egyptians whom you have seen today,
you will never see them again forever.”
. . .
“The angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel,
moved and went behind them;
and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them.
So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel;
and there was the cloud along with the darkness,
yet it gave light at night.
Thus the one did not come near the other all night.
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea;
and the LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land,
so the waters were divided.
The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land,
and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.”
Consider the facts of what we just read—
- God moved His angel into position.
- God caused His pillar of cloud to move into a place of protection.
- God gave His children light all night and kept their enemy from attacking.
- God led His servant Moses to use the tool (the shepherd’s staff), to stretch his hand toward the Red Sea.
- God divided the waters, creating a wall of water to the left and a wall of water to the right.
GOD DID HIS PART!
- What if Moses had chosen to not obediently do his part?
- What if the children of Israel had chosen to not obediently walk across the dry seabed, faithfully doing their part?
THE CHILDREN of ISRAEL DID THEIR PART!
GOD is quite able to act without our assistance.
GOD could have supernaturally transported the children of Israel from one side of the Red Sea to the other side, but HE did not.
The LORD allowed HIS children to do their part.
Consider an athlete—
Does the athlete perform well on the field or on the court or on the track—without first preparing his body?
Can the athlete make the play, win the game, win the match, or win the race—without first disciplining and conditioning his body to perform?
NO, HE CANNOT!
However, as the athlete prepares and disciplines and conditions his body, he is does what he
CAN DO!
Consider the soldier—
Does the soldier perform well on the battlefield or in the war—without first training his body and mind to fight?
Can the soldier be prepared to fight—without first discipling and training his body to fight?
NO, HE CANNOT!
However, as the soldier prepares and disciplines, and trains his body, he does what he
CAN DO!
In the Bible, we see how the enemies mocked, ridiculed, and hindered the work of Nehemiah and the children of Israel as they rebuilt the Jerusalem wall. As they built the wall all the way around the city, the wall was connected but for the moment, the wall was only half-high the height it needed to be—to fully protect the city of Jerusalem & the people as it should. However, even though the wall was half its height, the enemies (of the people of Israel) were still angry and conspired to fight against them, so they could not continue to work—to build the wall. This is when Nehemiah led the people to pray.
“But we prayed to our God,
(The Book of Nehemiah 4: 9 & 11-15 NASB)
and
because of them we set up a guard against them day and night.”
. . .
“Our enemies said,
“They will not know or see until we come among them,
kill them and put a stop to the work.
When the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times,
“They will come up against us from every place where you may turn,”
then I [Nehemiah]
stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall,
the exposed places,
and
I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears and bows.
When I saw their fear,
I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people:
“Do not be afraid of them;
remember the Lord who is great and awesome,
and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”
When our enemies heard that it was known to us,
and that God had frustrated their plan,
then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.”
Consider the facts of what we just read—
- God led Nehemiah to encourage the people of Israel to pray.
- God calmed the fear of His servant Nehemiah & of the children of Israel.
- God led Nehemiah to station the men near the wall, to continue the work of building the wall.
- God then led Nehemiah to station the families near the working men, and God had them take up weapons to fight.
GOD DID HIS PART!
- What if Nehemiah had chosen to not obediently do his part?
- What if the children of Israel had chosen to not to obediently stand guard while the building of the wall continued?
- What if they had not faithfully done their part?
THE CHILDREN of ISRAEL DID THEIR PART!
Still today, GOD is quite able to act without our assistance, AND the LORD allows HIS children to do what they CAN DO.
What we accomplish is based on God’s grace and His help.
- Prayer is essential, all the time!
- Prayer is essential & Walking by faith is essential too!
When we trust God as we pray, this does not mean we sit down and stop working.
WE WORK, EVEN AS WE PRAY!
&
WE PRAY, EVEN AS WE WORK!
The US Navy Seabees motto has remained the same since 1942.
“We Build, We Fight,
CAN DO!”
Today, let us remember—
The LORD does HIS part!
We CAN (also) DO our part, walking by faith & working by faith.
“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith;
(The Letter of Paul to the Romans 1: 17 NASB)
as it is written,
“BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”