Exo 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
Israel needed a GUIDE in their journey from the wilderness to the promised land.They had a long journey before them, which would take them forty years.
They had to travel by a strange path, on which they had never trodden before. Numerous foes would endeavor to obstruct their progress. Many dangers lined the way. And they had evil and deceitful hearts!
Fellow-Christians is it not even so with us? We are going on a journey to a country of which the Lord our God has told us.
The journey is long and trying. It takes some twenty, some forty, and some sixty years to travel from earth to Heaven.
It is a strange path. A path which no one knows a path we have never trodden before. A path which by nature we could never find, and from which we are prone to turn aside.
We are surrounded by numerous foes, visible and invisible:
The WORLD frowning as a determined persecutor, or fawning as a base deceiver is our foe. Now by its sneers, sarcasms, or sword and then, by its gilded vanities, flesh-pleasing baits, and blandishments it endeavors to turn us aside from the right ways of the Lord.
SATAN and his hosts — crafty, cunning, cruel, united, persevering and determined set themselves to terrify and drive us back, or to allure us from the way.
And worst of all, in our own natures, we have a determined foe who is ever present, ever vigilant, ever powerful.
Yes, the FLESH lusts against the Spirit. We find a law in our members warring against the law of our minds.
The world, the flesh, and the devil all combine to oppose our progress,hinder us in our march, and,if possible, to destroy us in the wilderness!
Then, there are so many dangers:the towering rocks of presumption, the quagmires of doubt and fear, the pitfalls of error, the ravines of willful sin, the fiery flying serpents of temptation, the scorpions of indulged lust, the sunshine and the shade; the barren sands and the verdant valleys; the granite rocks and the flowing streams-all of them have dangers concealed in them!
Nor can we be trusted alone for one moment if we are to be safe. Worst of all, there are our distrustful and deceitful hearts!
With so long a journey, so strange a path, such numerous foes, so many dangers, and such unbelieving hearts—can we ever reach the promised land? Can we?
Not if left to ourselves! Not if led only by Moses. We must have a guide who well knows the road; who can conquer our many foes; who can lead us safely through all our dangers, who can bear with our stubborn hearts and lives!
We need a guide whose wisdom is perfect, whose power is almighty, whose care is constant, whose patience is immutable, whose mercy endures forever!
God provided just what the Israelites needed in the wilderness a guide to lead them by day and night. He went before them pointing out the road, clearing it of insurmountable difficulties, and conducting them in it.
This is just what our good and gracious God does for us! He is really present with us though unseen by us. He is never far from any one of us. He marks out our road, He removes every real impediment out of our way, and conducts us step by step in the path to the promised land!
Naturally we do not know the right path; left to ourselves, we would choose the short-cut, the smooth path, and well-frequented road.
But He leads us in a zig-zag way, by a rough and uneven road where there are but few fellow travelers.
His choice is best. The way He points out is the only right one. It is to humble us, and test us, and show what is in our hearts.
It is that we may walk by faith and not by sight. It is to teach us our need of Himself and to lead us to cleave unto Him. "For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even unto death", through death, and beyond it!
Psa 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
~James Smith~