protection

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Every Hour I Need Thee…

I took a deep breath and asked my husband to pray. I started to climb the ladder to a second story window that needed painting. Rain was coming in a couple days and the bare wood of the newly replaced window needed to be protected. I shook as I climbed the ladder while the wind whipped around the corner.

I was feeling fragile. Two days earlier as I was driving home in the dark a deer jumped in front of my car. I slammed on the brakes and waited for the thud. I must have missed it by an inch or two. I arrived home safe, but shaken.

Later in the day I pondered these two events while I drove home from the library. “Thank you, God for keeping me safe.” I see my need in crisis, but often fail to thank him for the calm, easy days when I don’t cry out in desperation. Each breath is from Him. Because of Him all things hold together. I take it for granted. Forgive me Father for my failure to look moment by moment to you.

As I drove I noticed the trees were swaying rather violently ahead. Suddenly one came crashing down as I swerved my car to miss most of it. The car behind me did the same. It was as if God was making His point again. I thought of the hymn. “I need Thee, O I need Thee. Every hour I need Thee…”

We are such foolish creatures. We think we are self-sufficient and in need of nothing. It is good we are reminded of how frail we are. For, even on the good days, it is God who is by our side while we merrily and obliviously go on our way.

Thank you, Father for the not so subtle reminder of your care.

“The Lord your God is in your midst. A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Zephaniah 3:17

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Unexpected Path (Wilderness Journey #7)

waves behind cruise ship sailing on sea

Photo by alleksana on Pexels.com

Israel was free. Pharaoh had sent them away. (Exodus 12:31)

God went with them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night until they reached a spot near the Red Sea. There they set up camp.

Pharaoh, regretting that he had lost all his slave labor, decided to bring them back. His chariots caught up to Israel where they were camped by the sea.

Israel panicked. First they cried out to God, and then quickly complained to Moses for taking them out of Egypt. “We would rather have been slaves forever than to die in the wilderness.” (my paraphrase)

Moses responded with…”Do not fear, stand by and see the salvation of the LORD…The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.” (Exodus 14:13-14)

Next God tells the people to move forward. God tells Moses that a dry path will open through the Red Sea when he lifts up his staff.

While they move forward God moves behind them with his pillar of cloud along with his angel. They were a barrier, a protection from the Egyptian army.

All night the wind blew a dry path with walls of water on each side. Israel moved through to the other shore.

In the early morning Pharaoh follows this strange new path, but he doesn’t have the success the Israelites had. God causes confusion, their chariot wheels swerve and they drive with difficulty. Too late they realize God is fighting for Israel and at daybreak God “overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.”

An unexpected path led to Israel’s deliverance. It is not a path they could have imagined, or contrived. It was all of God. The incident shows God’s loving care for His people. Even in the midst of their complaining he took care of them.

What kind of trouble are you facing today? Are you in a difficult situation without any obvious means of escape? I know a God who does His best work in impossible circumstances. Believe that He is there with you. Turn to Him for help. He loves you like no other.

For further study: 

Exodus 14; Jeremiah 31:3; Psalm 9:9