March 15, 2020
What does it say?
God promised to go ahead of the Israelites and clear a path for them to inhabit the Promised Land. The Israelites agreed to the laws and offered sacrifices to seal the deal.
What does it mean?
God made a conditional promise to the people of Israel that if they walked in His ways, He would send an angel ahead of them into the Promised Land to defeat their wicked enemies as they gradually moved into the land. ‘With one voice’ the people agreed to walk in God’s ways. Moses built an altar to commemorate the promises of God and the people of Israel on that day. The people of Israel offered sacrifices to God to honor Him and give a tangible sign of their sincerity. God and His people would often make promises to each other in the form of a covenant, or legal agreement.
How should I respond?
God gave Moses the law and made promises to His people as they entered the land. Today, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, gives us a new law: to tell people the good news of God’s forgiveness of sin and to help them become followers of God (Matthew 28:19-20). When we obey Jesus and help people become followers of God, Jesus promises that He goes with us everywhere and every time. This is His new promise for those who choose to follow Him. Will you join others ‘with one voice’ who choose to follow Him, and will you help others to follow Him? He will go with you always and everywhere!