A Promise To The Pilgrim

“Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.” (Ex 15:13 AV)

 

This is part of the song of Moses upon crossing the Red sea.  They have seen the Egyptian army completely conquered in the returning waters of the Red sea.  The statement above is partly prophetic in the fact they are in the wilderness and not in their holy habitation.  At least not as yet.  Moses utters inspirited words here not just as from a grateful heart for the deliverance just wrought, but also for what he sees as Israel’s future.  This crossing did not come easy.  There were ten plagues to endure.  There was increased persecution from their taskmasters.  There was a confrontation that necessitated a big step of faith.  No doubt Israel suffered great stress on the way to God’s deliverance.  Yet, each step of the way there was God’s mercy to carry them along.  The majority of the plagues had little to no effect on Israel.  God punished the taskmasters for their cruelty.  Greatest of all was the destruction of the enemy in a watery grave.  The verse above is one we can cling to.  Especially in these trying times and those which lie ahead.

There is so much truth in the verse above, I hardly know which one the Spirit would like to emphasize.  Is it the fact that God is merciful?  This suggests a condition upon which mercy must be shown.  No walk in the park.  Is it the fact God redeemed His people and that which He redeemed He will not lose?  Like a precious keepsake bought with one’s life savings, the precious value He places on the souls of men compel Him to care for and provide for that which He loves so dearly.  We can take comfort in that fact alone.  Since Jesus redeemed us with His own blood, He will not see that which cost Him so dearly come to waste or be lost.  Or, should we consider that God guides us.  Again, this would suggest less than perfect experiences where nothing goes wrong.  If everything were rainbows and unicorns, we wouldn’t need a guide.  A guide steers us through the rough waters.  He doesn’t calm the sea.  Or, shall we contemplate the strength of God.  That which He exercises in the work of guiding?  The strength of God also suggests we will endure things that require His strength.  There will be rough days.  There will be plagues.  There will be persecutions.  But His strength will empower us to endure.  Or, how about the holy habitation?  Heaven!  The dwelling place of God.  Shall we contemplate the glories of eternity and dwell upon our great and abiding hope? 

No.  I think what the Spirit wants to leave us with this morning and that upon which we must meditate is the verse as a whole.  All of it, compact yet complex, edifying the saint both in the beginning of his journey through the wilderness all the way to the end of it that God, in His mercy will guide us by His strength unto the perfect and abiding place of heaven.  What a promise.  It is something we often forget.  When the fires of persecution roll or the plagues of judgment fall upon a wicked world, we often forget the faithfulness of God.  He has not abandoned us.  If we trust Him by faith, then He will guide us with His strength right up to the twinkling of an eye when our souls depart this sin-sick world to a better hope.  And eternal hope!  An inheritance that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for us.  What was promised to Israel is also promised to all whom He has redeemed!  He will guide me.  He will keep me.  He will exercise that strong arm on my behalf.  The enemies who constantly attack will be defeated and there awaits the child of God and eternal peace which the world can never take away!  Praise be to God!