Go before us. Be among us.

I love the words of Moses as they set out from Sinai.  He said,

Rise up, O LORD! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you. (Numbers 10:35)

In other words, Moses was saying, “Lord, please go before us.  You’re the one leading us, and we will follow you.  But be the one that smooths our paths for us.  Scatter all your enemies that would attack your people.”

And every time the Israelites set out from then on, he would pray that same prayer.

It’s a prayer that we should pray as well.  The Bible says,

Be self-controlled and alert. 

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  (1 Peter 5:8).

In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus also taught us to pray that God would deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:13) 

Satan fights against God every day.  And as God’s people, we are his targets as well. 

I’m not saying that there’s a demon behind every rock.  But Satan and his demons are out there and they are working to prevent us from doing God’s will in this world. 

So we should be praying as Moses did. 

Rise up O Lord.  May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you.

When the cloud of pillar of cloud came to rest, then Moses would say,

Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel. (36)

In other words, he was saying, “You have blessed us by making us this great people.  But now as we are in this place at your leading, please be among us.  Let your presence never be far from us.”

That too, is a prayer we should be praying. 

“God, you’ve led us this far.  You’ve called us and made us your people.  So don’t be a God that’s far away.  But be in our midst.  Let us know your presence in our lives.”

Lord, as you called the people of Israel out of Egypt to be your people, and led them through the desert, so you have called me out of bondage to sin and are leading me through this life on earth until I reach the Promised Land. 

So Lord, constantly go before me.  Protect me from the enemy that would attack me and try to destroy me. 

In each place that you lead me to along this path of life, I pray that you would ever be with me.  Stand by me.  Be here to meet my needs. 

And be here to give me the guidance and protection that I need.  In Jesus’ name, amen.