How many times have you needed a warrior to help you get through something? And how many times has God provided one in the form of a friend, a pastor, or even a stranger – at just the right time?
I’m continuing to read in Exodus, today in chapter 23. It’s here near the end of the chapter that God tells Moses again that He is going to send the Israelites into the promised land, but before He gives that reminder, He tells them, “Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Be on your guard before him and obey his voice, do not be rebellious toward him, for he will not pardon your transgressions, since My name is in him. But if you truly obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.” Exodus 23:20-22
“My name is in him.” God manifested Himself in that angel he sent to the Israelites. This is so beautiful to me, He knew they would be afraid and would need a warrior, and so He gave them Himself! Think about that for just a moment. God Himself was going to fight for and with the Israelites. All they needed to do was hear the angel’s voice and obey it.
Jesus told the Apostles something very similar before he went to the cross. ”If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17 Jesus asked God to send the Holy Spirit to live within our hearts, on the condition that we keep His commandments. And if we do that, the Holy Spirit will guide us through our battles from within our very souls!
Consider again the questions I asked earlier. Have you ever needed a warrior to guide you through a personal battle? Have you ever needed an angel to show you the way? Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit telling you to reach out to a friend who is struggling? Or to approach that stranger who looks so lost?
God has given us a wonderful gift, and He wants us to share that gift with others. Maybe you need an angel. Maybe you are the angel. Are you listening to His voice?
O Lord, send your angel to help us when we are struggling. Help us to hear Your voice speaking through the one You send, be it friend or stranger. Help us to answer the call to be the angel someone else may need. Help us to obey Your voice. Help us to obey your commandments. Abide is us, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
From Suffering to Praise 