Warrior Encouragementமாதிரி

In combat training, I had to learn how to “clear a room.” You’ve probably watched movies where the police SWAT team, the Navy SEALS, or the Army Green Berets are in some town searching for bad guys hiding inside a house. So, this was training on how to bust into that house. We stacked up like sardines near a doorway, and the person at the end of our group faced the opposite way to cover our backs. As the front person kicked in the door, we started to move inside. I knew that my “six” or back wasn't exposed because someone was looking out for me.

In today’s passage in Exodus, the children of Israel were on the run. They fled Egypt, where they had been held as slaves for more than 400 years. But in a stark change of events, Pharaoh decided to pursue them with his army of 600 chariots to make them go back to being slaves in Egypt.

Needless to say, the Israelites were freaked out and said to their leader Moses in Exodus 14:12, “It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” Moses tried to calm their fears by reminding them that the Lord would fight for them. But here’s where God demonstrated that He had their backs.

“Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel.”

Exodus 14:19–20

God used His angel to literally guard the backs of the Israelites. No Egyptian army was going to come between the angel and that large group of people. And with an even bigger display of power, God then parted the Red Sea in front of them so that His people would have a way to escape.

Just like the Israelites, our Heavenly Father always has our backs. He cares deeply about what we care about. He knows what dangers lurk behind us and how to protect us. He hears our cries and loves us with a love that we simply can’t imagine. He’s our Abba Daddy, our Defender, our Fortress, our Shield, and our Six.

Questions:

1. Have you ever had a time where you cried out for help from a parent, friend, or spouse? Did they have your back?

2. Have you ever cried out to God? What happened as a result?

3. Do you believe that God has your back?