“Behold, I send an Angel before thee” …. To keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place, which I have prepared. These are the words, that God spoke to Moses and His people (Exodus 23:20).

We might have declared in times past, that the God of the Old Testament is also the God of the New one. The same Spirit who spoke in the one, can also speak in the other. Many of us were once taught that God’s Word, is alive. When the Spirit speaks through messengers today, the voice of the Lord, is just as alive, as it was in the written Word. Many of us have felt that; it is alive; it agrees together.

Those who have never desired and been deeper in the Spirit, do not even understand what you’re talking about here. They’ve likely, never had that kind of experience; they could have, but they chose to remain surface folk.

I don’t think I am being too bold to say this; the Spirit can speak to you any place in the Word of God. You’re reading along and suddenly, something leaps into your spirit; it captivates you mind and soul; it’s as though the very Spirit of God, is speaking directly to you. And it is. There is no real comparison, as to how that feels; the more you seek Him, the more you find Him. Whatever is spoken, is planted forever in you heart; for good.

God’s people went through a lot of things before they ever got to the land that had been promised to them. Little by little, places were conquered, and more and more parts, became theirs. It’s no different, with the people of God today; especially, to those who were adopted into His kingdom. I have a feeling I would have completely perished along the way, if He had not given that scripture to me. I carried it in my heart; almost thirty years. I gave up on it, more than once; but I’ve come to tell someone, it did not give up on me. No matter how often I fell, or how low my estate became, as soon as I lifted up my head again, it spoke, all over again; it always did.

He sent an Angel, to many of us. Notice those words, “to keep thee in the way.” If some of us look back down the road, our path is as crooked, as any road might ever be. The way to what God has prepared, is not always in a straight line; you may never truly appreciate finding your way, until you have been totally lost.

God knew what our path was going to be; He even knew we were going to take some wrong turns, here and there. Most of our upbringing groups, could never handle, that we were predestined. That is why, even now, many cannot accept that Paul was called, when he was. I knew that the steps of a good man, were ordered of the Lord; or did I.

It was all, about bringing us into the place, where He wanted us to be. I do believe, some of us, are close to it. One might make this verse, a parallel to us going to heaven; that’s also possible; it would be a good one. Yet, I think for many of us, it’s much more than that.

God’s people arrived in the promised land, but their lives were not over; they weren’t in heaven yet. I’ll confess, I’m not sure I know at this moment, just exactly where that place is, He has been preparing me for, all these years. If it’s to go to heaven, I am so ready; but, something tells me, there is a work He’s been leading me to, all of this time. And, it was necessary, for me to go through every thing I had to go through, in order to qualify me for this place. How do I know. Because this word still speaks; and the Angel, keeps me, in the way.

Robert Blackburn