By Stuart Powell
When God brought Israel out of slavery, he promised their journey would take them to a wonderful place. During those first few weeks of travel after leaving Egypt, he demonstrated to them that he would provide for their every need during the journey. When establishing a new covenant with them, the Law of Moses, God added another promise to the people: “I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared” (Exodus 23:20).
God promised to send a representative of Heaven’s throne to them—an ambassador of God’s promises and one who spoke of his provisions. God worked through that angel to bring the former slaves to their inheritance.
As Christians we’ve joined with God in his new covenant based on the grace of the cross. Like ancient Israel, we are on a journey through the wilderness of sin in this world. We are heading to an inheritance more wondrous than any place on earth. However, for our journey, God did not send a representative of Heaven’s throne to accompany the covenant people. Instead, God himself dwells with and in us. This presence is more personal than the angel who traveled with ancient Israel. God’s Holy Spirit is with us to meet all our needs and guide us on the journey.
We set aside time for this meal to thank God for his promises, provisions, and most of all, his presence. The bread and the cup remind us that the foundation of God’s presence is because of Jesus’ actions on the cross. Jesus walked the lonely path to Calvary so we could walk through life in the presence of God’s Holy Spirit.
Stuart Powell lives outside of Terre Haute, Indiana, where he serves with the North Side Christian Church.
I use these devotions often.