The Exodus

Exodus 14 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel...And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down.

Psalm 121 I lift my eyes unto the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not let you stumble; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold He who keeps Israel will neither slumber or sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

I have heard it said that when Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt and into the wilderness that it was to allow them to learn dependence on God, to teach them obedience to His will, to allow them to become "unEgyptianized".

Maybe.

For me, for today, it is a word of encouragement. It replicates our own walk through life for the believer.

Imagine, if you will, that Egypt represents a place of sin. A lifestyle. A forced bondage. Not only a dwelling place physically but a state of mind. And in that place we will remain until the God of all things sends a messenger to us, an ambassador who speaks into our hearts of a homeland far away. A land of freedom. A place of peace. A former land that we used to call home before a mighty empire conquered us and sentenced us to a land of slave labor and captivity. After a show of miraculous change this man leads us on a long journey to our promised land. Imagine that your life is represented with the children of Israel in the forty year journey through the wilderness to find the land of milk and honey. From Egypt up to Jerusalem.

Led by the Spirit of God. Protected by the angels of God. Kept by the power of God.

And, just like that great exodus, life is filled with difficulty. A pursuing army. Heat and cold. Thirst and hunger. Fatigue and sickness. Laughter and tears. Times of great miracles and lapses of faith. Celebrations and broken hearts. Births and funerals. All of the highs and lows of walking this life.

What is the one thing that remains constant in this journey? He never leaves. In forty years He never leaves them alone or unprotected. The Bible says that God went before them, walked among them and stood behind them. A cloud of protection from the dessert sun during the day. A could of fire to give them heat during the night. A pillar of fire between them and their enemies. A stream of water in the dessert when they were thirsty. A cake of manna that appeared every morning when they were hungry. And a promised law written on tablets of stone.

Matthew 7 Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Father. You are all things to me. My deliverer, protector, shield and sword. You have lead me and provided for me and loved me all of my life. You have given me life. Daily life. New life. Eternal life. Thank You for always being there.

He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold He who keeps Israel will neither slumber or sleep.