Today’s Reading, Exodus 13-15
Focal Scripture: Exodus 14:19 “Then the angel of God, who was going in front of the Israelite forces, moved and went behind them. The pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and stood behind them.”
When life gets difficult we all need to have support to sustain us on our journey. When life becomes overwhelming and we are surrounded by enemies, the only hope we have is the presence of the Lord. I have had a few instances in my life where I have been overwhelmed to the point of despair. Each and every time when there seemed to be no hope, the Lord showed up in an overwhelming way to surround me with his presence. The Lord reminded me that he lives in me through the Holy Spirit. He also reminded me of his eternal and powerful presence.
In today’s reading the Israelites have been let go by Pharaoh. However, now he regrets his decision and is pursuing them to bring them back. As the Israelites are traveling the Lord took them a different route and it pinned them against the Red Sea and the Egyptian army. They were surrounded and defeated in their own minds. Thankfully, at just the right time the Angel of God surrounded them with his presence. Their enemies could not find them as the Red Sea began to part for safe travel. The Lord not only provided a way out he will also provide his presence to sustain his people.
I am not sure where you are spiritually today but know this truth, you are right where the Lord needs you to be at this time in your life. Often when we feel surrounded by our enemies or the trials of life, God will show up at just the right time. I want you to think about what you are going through in your life at this moment. Are you overwhelmed? Do you believe that your enemies are going to overtake you and defeat you? Maybe you have traveled a road that the Lord told you to go down but nothing is working out as you thought it would.
My challenge to you today is to pray for the Lord of Hosts to surround you with his presence. It doesn’t matter how the story ends as long as you have the presence of the Lord with you in your life. In this story the people were delivered. In this story, God defeated their enemies. However, if he chose not to would God still be enough? In other words if we don’t get our way will we still worship the Lord and be content with his presence.
I know we all want to have our prayers answered a certain way and have our enemies defeated. Our goal however, can’t be that shallow. We must learn to be content in all things. We must learn to rest in the power of God. We must learn that having his presence is enough.
I pray today that our hearts will long to be surrounded by the presence of God more than anything else in the world.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Exodus 16-18
