“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.”
As a kid, mom and dad said to get in the car we are going on trip. We obeyed and we set off. Most of the time I just looked out the window wondering how long we would be in the car to which my parents would say, “Three Gilligan’s Islands.” Than meant one hour and thirty minutes. For me and my brother, it was a time span we could relate to. My parents knew where they were going. They had prepared what we needed, plotted the path, and were leading us to the place we were going. They had been there before, knew the way, and how long it took to get there. My brother and I, did not know the way or how long it would take to get there and thus we required a little help to calm us for the trip.
As the Israelites were in the desert of Sinai, God downloaded to Moses the law which was essentially a road map for the people to use to deal with the every day things life threw at them. The passage in chapter 23 explains after the download. God tells Moses in verse 20, “I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring to the place I have prepared for you.” In the following verses, God lays out how He will be an enemy to their enemies. He also promises to drive out the “ites” little by little so in time Israel would be strong enough to take possession of the land.
Even in the desert, God gave his people a direction and provided an angel preparing the way ahead. I reflect on how many times I found myself in the desert, lost and confused. Dissect the Bible and you will find many times where God knows the future and responds to prayer. In Luke 22, we find that Jesus tells his disciples to go into the city and find a man carrying a water pot and he will show them the upper room. This is just one of many such cases where Jesus knew what was to come and prepared his disciples.
You may feel like you are wondering around in your own desert without direction. God has provided the Holy Spirit as our guide just like the angel in Exodus 23. His direction will lead you to the place God has prepared for you. You may think that your way is much easier or seems better, but please consider this foolish notion. Proverbs 12:15 says “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” This counsel is the Holy Spirit. He never stops guiding you, it is you who stop following. Today the Holy Spirit is guiding you if you listen to Him. Do you know his voice well enough to follow, or will foolish ears be tickled and led astray?
Father, today let us hear the words of you Holy Spirit loud and clear. You know the future and go before us to prepare the place you are leading us. Let us not choose to be led astray by our own understanding but let us walk by faith. Amen
Let It Go 
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