Do you ever wonder if you have something good in store for you when you get through the hardships you are experiencing? I mean, when you are having are very hard time keeping up with all of the responsibilities of daily life, you are just struggling to hold it all together, and you think “Can I just catch a break?”? I can tell you right now that I have definitely experienced this feeling many times. However, I run back to God’s Word, and I find God’s promises to be with me. And I hold tightly to them. One of those promises that pertains to the Israelites in Exodus can also be applied to our lives today.
"Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him (Exodus 23:20-21, ESV)."
The Israelites were freed from Egypt. They made it through the Red Sea. And then fast forward to The 10 commandments that were given to Moses from God to give to the people. The Israelites had just listened to Moses explain the laws more in detail pertain to the 10 commandments he was given from God to share with the people. Then, the Israelites are told to “Pay careful attention… and obey his voice; do not rebel… (Ex. 23:21)”. They are told to listen to what God has told them to obey as part of the covenant that they have with God. God will “bless your bread and your water… (Ex. 23:25)”.
The scripture in these two verses is the binder, the glue if you will, holding the description of the commandments which guide the Israelites in their daily lives and heart postures TO the covenant that they have with Jehovah God, their protector and provider. Right here in the center of all of that are these two verses. So to hold the covenant to the commandments, focus on these two verses.
A word to the wise, “do not rebel against him.” There are many scholars that believe this “angel” to be a Christophany. That means that this is Jesus Christ pre-incarnate. If one were to follow the rest of the Scriptures, it makes sense to look at this “angel” in that way and to follow this command to “pay careful attention to him and obey his voice.” This reminds me of the transfiguration of Jesus is Matthew where Jesus, Peter, James, and John go up the mount, and Jesus meets Moses and Elijah there. Then comes the voice of God (the Father) saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him (Matthew 17:5b, ESV).” See the similarity with me: “Pay careful attention”; “obey his voice”; “listen to him.” Jesus tells His disciples to “Follow me” many times as recorded in the Gospels.
As we follow Jesus, as we listen to Jesus, as we are lead by Jesus, we can be assured that The Father is seeing His Son, and He is very pleased in the faith of us. If we abide in Jesus, we can be sure that we will be in God’s presence eternally.
Gotta go fill up my cup…..
Coffee with Candee 