Moments With God

Exodus 13:17-22

Praise the Lord that we as believers can depend on the Lord God’s directing hand and guiding light in our lives. Praise the Lord that He is in control of all the events of our lives.

When the Lord God led His Old Testament people out of slavery in Egypt, it must have been an exciting time for them. After ten plagues or judgments on Egypt Pharaoh, ancient king of Egypt, had decided to let God’s people leave Egypt and slavery. God’s Old Testament people had been slaves in Egypt for many years, and now they were free from slavery. In addition to it being an exciting time for them it also must have been a bit frightening. God’s people were leaving behind all that they had known and experienced for many years. They did not know what their new lives as free people would entail, and they were not sure what obstacles lay ahead of them. They would truly have to learn to trust in the Lord in this newly uncharted territory in their lives. The Lord understood His Old Testament people’s fears and spiritual frailty. Hence when the Lord God led His Old Testament people out of slavery in Egypt; He "did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter," (Exodus 13:17) The Lord God did not lead His people on the shorter route, because He knew that if they had to face war at this point in their history they would in fear return to Egypt and slavery. Instead the Lord lead them on a longer road toward the Red Sea.

In the same way the Lord leads and spiritually protects His children today also. The Lord always knows what is best for us, and His timing is perfect. Further the Lord God never gives us more burdens than we can handle by His grace. He never allows a challenge or trial in our lives for which He has not first spiritually prepared us.

Concerning God’s Old Testament people Exodus 13:21-22 says, "By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people." The pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire were visual reminders to God’s people of old that He would always be with them.

So the Lord God goes ahead of His children today also. The Lord God always has and always will lead His people of all ages "on their way" through life. There is never a time be it night or day that the Lord is not with us. God says to us, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 135b) God’s children need not fear, for they know the Lord is with them each step of the way on life’s path. In the darkness of night God’s Old Testament people were led by a pillar of fire. The light from this pillar of fire kept them from stumbling in the dark. So also the Lord gives His children today His special light in the darkness of times of trial and difficulty in their lives. The Psalmist in Psalm 18:28b says, "My God turns my darkness into light." Therefore as His children "let us walk in the light of the Lord." (Isaiah 2:5b) In times of trial and trouble walking "in the light of the Lord" can sometimes be very difficult especially when we do not know what God would have us to do next in what we as weak humans view as an impossible and hopeless situation. At such times the book of James in the New Testament advises us to pray for wisdom. James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." We also at such times need to study God’s Word. Psalm 119:105 says, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Finally we need to rest in the Lord and trust that He will give us just enough light for the step we are on today. We need to trust that the Lord will continue to direct our way through this life step by step. Praise God for the Lord’s light and direction!