Exodus 13:20-22. 1-19-15. Trust The Lord To Guide You In The Best Path-my devotional
Exodus 13:20-22. 1-19-15. Trust The Lord To Guide You In The Best Path
Exodus 13:20-22 Kevin E. Jesmer 1-19-15
Key verse 13:21, “ 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.”
God guided his people in the best way and along the best path. Exodus 13:20-22 reads, “20 After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. 21 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. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.” (NIV)
The three million Israelites were heading out on their journey in the desert. They were very vulnerable. They were in real danger, from the Egyptians, the surrounding nations and from the elements. Satan could have torn the fledgling nation apart. Anything could have happened to them, trying to thwart God from keeping his promises. Indeed, they were like sheep without a shepherd, so God came to their aid.
God not only delivered them by the many plagues and gave them direction in how to proceed, he showed that he was with them in a very tangible way. God led them all along the way, through the wilderness with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
God is always shepherding and leading his people. When we entrust our lives to Jesus, it is not some haphazard entrusting. No. God is with us. Jesus is our Good Shepherd who goes on ahead of us and calls us out by name. He will surely lead us in the best possible way. God led the ancient Israelites along the longer route. Many might have thought, “Why is God leading us this way? Isn’t it quicker and easier to lead us that way?” But the long way with God’s sure leading is shorter than any shortcut we can try to take in life. We need to simply follow the way that God has provided us and trust God, that he is leading us to green pastures and quiet waters.
Jesus promised his disciples that he would be with them to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20 reads, “18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”(NIV) Jesus will go with us, as we journey through this world, all the way to the Kingdom of God. This is his very real promise. Jesus died and rose again. He dwells in believers by the Holy Spirit. He is the Good Shepherd who goes on ahead of the sheep to lead them. He is like the cloud and pillar of fire. Ebenezer! (Thus far the Lord has helped us).
We don’t have a pillar or a cloud leading us today, but there is definitely the equivalent. There is the word of God. There is the urgings and the prompting of the Holy Spirit. There are people that God sends into our lives. There are wise and mature Christians who give us words of wisdom at exactly the right moment. There are life circumstances that seem to be shouting at us, “Take this way!” These are all from God. God provides what people need to follow him. He leads us 24/7, all of the time. We just need to turn our radio on and tune into God. Jesus is our pillar of cloud and fire. He is our good shepherd.
God’s leading is the best leading. I have discovered this time and again. I could have immediately went into nursing school at 18 years old, married and tried to raise a family in Manitoba. Then, as I raised my family I could have met Jesus and become a Christian and lived securely until death and I would go to heaven. That would have been the straight path. But Jesus led me along another, longer and more difficult route. There was failure and restoration. There was persecution and struggle upon struggle and decades of sacrifice. I was led to DeKalb Illinois. And here I am, just where Jesus wanted me. It seems like a long and winding path. But through it all Jesus led my family and I along the best path. I am who I am and we are who we are as a family because of God’s leading. I thank God for leading me along the long and hard path. I have learned faith and experienced God’s love and deliverance. I have grown to love and trust the Lord. Now we are poised to make Christ know in Illinois and in Northern Canada. Thank you Lord Jesus my guiding pillar of cloud and fire.
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