Exodus 14:19-22

¹⁹ Then the angel of God who had been going before the army of Israel repositioned and went behind them, so the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, ²⁰ coming between the army of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night. ²¹ Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the water was divided. ²² And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the water having become a wall for them on their right hand and on their left.

barriers

The presence of God, seen as a pillar of cloud/fire, repositioned so that it stood as a barrier, protecting the Israelites from the advancing army of Egypt. The sea, which had just been nothing but a hindrance to the Israelites’ escape, now also became a barrier as the east wind pushed it into the form of a wall. This was not a measly hedge, but a barrier the size of a city wall, prohibiting entrance into the Israelite caravan.

Oh, pilgrim, on your way to the promised land! You may not see them, but your LORD has placed barriers between you and the enemy. You must trust him to keep you safe, and protect you from invasion, as you press on. As the apostle put it, “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”[1]

LORD, thank you for the barriers you have installed between us and those who seek our harm. We trust you to protect us as we seek your will, and to give us courage to walk where there has never been a path before, so that we can reach the promised destination.

[1] Philippians 3:13-14 ESV.