Exodus 14:19-20 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them… This passage leads me to speak of God our Rearward. It is God alone who can make the past a source of peace and comfort. We think much of the future; we desire greatly to have an assurance that all will be well with us in time to come. We accept with gratitude the promise, "The Lord shall go before thee"; but do we fully consider how important the concluding part of that passage is — "and be thy rearward"? I. WE OFTEN NEED TO BE DEEPLY IMPRESSED WITH THE MEMORY OF PAST BLESSINGS. II. WE NEED THE PILLAR OF CLOUD BEHIND US FOR OUR PROTECTION FROM THE EVIL CONSEQUENCES OF THE PAST. Wonderful sight! the angel of the Lord breaking camp and going to their rear! that beautiful meteor, the guiding cloud, sailing back over their six hundred thousand fighting men, powerless as their infants, while Egypt was pouring out its swarming myriads to swallow them up. So, my soul! thy sins and the hosts of hell are ready this day to destroy thee; but the angel of the covenant has not forsaken thee; faith can see Him, as plainly as Israel beheld Him going to their rear to stand between them and danger; are not His promises a pillar of cloud to you, and do they not stand between you and the past, saying, "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins"? III. THIS REARWARD ANGEL AND THIS PILLAR OF CLOUD SEEM TO BID ME TO SAY TO BELIEVERS, IT SHALL BE WELL WITH YOU. For these two things are true concerning all who believe in Jesus. First, you have not seen your best days; and, secondly, you never will. Never through eternity, will you arrive at that summit of bliss from which you will anticipate declension. Onward and upward is to be your way. (N. Adams, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: |
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