Exodus 23:20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of him, and obey his voice" ...... 'for my name is in him. 22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
This passage of scripture teaches us that God protects those who walk in obedience to His voice in so much that the adversaries of His people will have to flee before his omnipotent power. There is protection, and then there is "Protection". In our society there is that form of protection offered by ordinary police who patrol our streets and deter as much as possible the evil deeds of those who would do us harm. But then there is a higher form of protection given by the secret service to those in high-ranking office and who are considered of high value. However the protection that God grants to us trumps our forms of security, for the Lord not only protects us from mortal man, but also from the more dangerous unseen foes in the form of evil angels and satan himself.
In the history of the Jewish people God often came through for them when they were threatened with annihilation by nations who were bent on wiping them off the face of the earth. One such occasion occurred when the Philistines encamped against David and threatened all out war when they heard that he was exalted to the throne. These warlike nations were actually emissaries of satan and were often used by him to to torment and destroy God's people when they walked contrary to His commands. But on this occasion their threats against David were entirely unprovoked, and God therefore took the matter very personally and went out before David to wreak havoc on the Philistine army, after David had sought His will through prayer. Let's read:
1st Chronicles 14:13 And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. 14 Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 15 And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. 16 David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer. 17 And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.
These experiences were chronicled in the scriptures for the benefit of God's people in all generations, but they will have particular meaning during the final days of earth's history, when the much more deadly unseen foes will again try to extinguish all true Christians from the planet. At that time when the devil is mustering his forces for a final conflict between good and evil, truth and error, God will again stand up for His people who are walking in obedience to all of His commandments. Obeying God is the key that unlocks the armory of heaven, and unleashes the omnipotent power of God in our behalf. As a matter of fact the 91st Psalm was specifically written to address the issue of God's protection over His people during the closing scenes of earth's history. Let's read:
Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
With the threat of terror looming over our heads each day and with the instability that the deadly Ebola virus can bring, it is assuring to know that the same God who destroyed the enemies of His people in ages past, will again stand up for their protection when human and satanic agencies join forces to compass our destruction. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which reiterates the promise of God's protection as we approach the most dangerous period of earth's history. Let's read:
Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
As we observe the final chapter in the history of our world, let's make certain that the conditions for the fulfillment of the promise are materialized in our lives by keeping all of God's commandments. "Good night" and God bless!