Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Exodus 13:21-22 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. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
THINGS YOU MIGHT SAY WHEN YOU GO CAMPING:
"I'M SCARED OF THE DARK!"
It's dark out in the woods, and sometimes you can hear creepy noises as you lie in your sleeping bag. So here's something you might hear from campers of a more tender age: "I'M SCARED OF THE DARK!"
Imagine how frightened you may have been if you had been there the day God's people were trapped by their enemies on the banks of the Red Sea. Inexperienced in war, and with so many women and children in tow, the Israelites were no match for Pharaoh's crack commandos. Disaster seemed certain.
How often don't we feel trapped by life's pressing problems. Perhaps, as you read this, you're out of a job. Maybe your health hasn't been good. Maybe you're struggling through some family crisis. You don't have to be a little child in a tent out in the middle of the dark woods to be scared.
In the face of our fears let's remember that we have an Almighty Father who loves us. He doesn't want us to go through life cowering in the dark. He wants us to know that day or night, He's there for us. The LORD led Israel with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Whether it was a military threat, a lack of food or water, or whatever, the LORD was there for His people 24-7.
That same LORD is there for us day and after day, night after night. How do we know? He says so: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God" (Isaiah 41:10).
Fear not, a Father who sent His Only Son to ransom us with His blood will be there for His children all way to life everlasting!
