Behold, I Send an Angel.

Sometimes while reading the Old Testament, I like to place myself with the people back then and imagine with God’s help, what they felt and what choices I would have made. The one danger for me in doing this is, I must be careful of the timing of God’s Word to a people BEFORE Christ’s death, burial and resurrection and the leaving of His Holy Spirit to us as believers. Reading and studying God’s Word of course keeps everything in perspective and helps me as I “rightly divide the Word of God.” Does that make sense?  

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth 

In Exodus 22 I found Sharon (myself) in such a time as this as I wandered around again with God’s people, feeling their hurt but listening to the promises of His upcoming blessings. You see, we are so blessed, friend. We already know the end!! Hallelujah! The people in Exodus 22 even though Christ had not yet come, were also blessed because in verse 20 it says:

Ex 23:20-22 ¶ Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

Did you notice the capitalization of Angel? Hmnnnn…..who is that Sharon? (or put your name)? God gives us enough to know that His name was IN HIM. He was appointed by God for this particular task. This Angel’s mission was to keep them in the way and to take them to the place designated by God. But there came some specific conditions of such a blessing. They were to obey his voice, not provoke him and to remember that he was not to pardon their transgressions. A continued blessing followed and that being he would be an enemy to their enemies and an adversary to their adversaries. My goodness, isn’t it wonderful to walk with Jesus knowing that every step is directed by God even in the presence of the enemies of God? 

We have the same promises of God because of Jesus and what He did on the cross. We have the same promises as we pick up the Book and read them daily! They are ours to share if only we obey every Word as it is written. Sheri and I are praying that more women will have made a decision this year to pick up the Bible to read, to study, to obey and “get to know HIM better." As December ends, so will our blog, “Let’s Get to Know Him” but the beginning of so much more is right at our front door wouldn’t you agree?

Consider the following as you walk with Him today, struggling as you may with questions that have no immediate answer, with sickness that seems to have no quick cure, with relationships that seem to sour the longer you leave it sitting:

1.       He cares, He really cares. 1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Claim that promise today!
  
2.      Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Pray, ask, thank…..and remember His watch care over the children of Israel. It will strengthen you.

3.      Lu 12:29-30 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. Don’t doubt the Word of God because as you doubt, you may step away from faith which leads in another direction. In order to stay on a clear path, you must obey the Lord 100%. The enemy doesn’t wink at our unbelief….oh no! He sets his eyes on us and uses us, especially those of us in leadership, to cause others to stumble and fall. To God that we would grab this simple truth of obeying and trusting!

      Terry and I left the nursing home this morning encouraged as we visited one of our friends recuperating from a fall. Do you know what his strongest desire is as he leaves the nursing home? To get back in church and stand in front of the congregation and say, “Are you stupid? Don’t you know that our Preacher is preaching the truth? Don’t you want to go to heaven and stay out of hell?” Terry and I just chuckled at his bluntness.  When trouble comes we look at things differently, don’t we? The Angel was offering the people a way to keep trouble from taking over their lives, but eventually they turned their noses up to God.

We do the same thing, don't we? Like always, here comes more TROUBLE….. and God had to remind them of who they were and what must be done to continue the journey. I feel like my friend this morning as I ask the question, “Are you stupid, Sharon?"

Until next time, Lord willing…

Sharon