Is God Your Guide?

Learn a lesson from how the Lord painstakingly guided the Children of Israel.

From a sermon by Darrel Lee

My son and I went once went on a father/son camping trip in an area between Grants Pass, Oregon, and Eureka, California. The plan was to hike to a little lake located in the middle of the wilderness, called Baby Foot Lake. We packed our things from Eureka, met up with a few other men and their sons from Eureka, Grants Pass, and Medford, and followed directions to converge on a designated gravel parking lot. We drove approximately twenty miles on a dirt road that led way back into the wilderness. There, we set up camp and proceeded to have a good time.

The morning of the second day, some of the guys, who had been there before, decided they wanted to show us an old miner’s shack a little further into the woods. We got some water for the hike and headed out. We hiked along a well-marked trail for a couple of hours, and sure enough, we found the old miner’s shack. It was quite a sight to behold; it must have been a hundred years old or more. After exploring for a while, it was time to head back to camp.

Obviously, a two-hour hike one way meant a two-hour hike going back. Some of the guys decided they would take a shortcut. Experience had taught me, however, that shortcuts usually end up not so short after all. I knew the way I came and decided I would just as soon go back the same way. While they headed off on their shortcut, my son and I, and a few others, headed back the way we had come.

A little while into our return journey, one of the guys in our group figured that the hike was going to take too long, and he suggested we take a different shortcut. Although he assured me it was not like the other shortcut, a few minutes’ hike told the story. Instead of scaling up the side of a hill, we found ourselves on the side of an unfamiliar mountain. We spent a couple of hours hiking up that mountain, hoping we could somehow meet up with the other guys. Since I had no idea where we were, I could picture the search planes coming the next morning looking for us. Thankfully, our friend knew where we were and was finally able to guide us back to camp.

In the Book of Joshua, we read how God guided the Children of Israel. As they camped beside the Jordan River, God outlined how they were to proceed. The people were told, “When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore” (Joshua 3:3,4).

You have probably heard the saying, “Been there, done that.” The truth is, there are a lot of places we haven’t been and a lot of things we haven’t done, especially in the spiritual realm. When I was asked to move to Portland, I first thought, “Ye have not passed this way heretofore.” Well, it was true, I had not lived here before. When I thought about it further, though, I recognized that the other people in the Portland congregation had not lived the remainder of the year here either.

Venturing into new territory

I think I am correct to suggest that most of us prefer familiar territory. Oh, there are those who love adventure, but the majority, I believe, like to be where they have been before. Personally, I like to do things I have done before. There is comfort and reassurance in knowing how things worked out the last time I tried them. In this passage, Israel was again venturing into new territory. Up to this point, God had been their Leader and Guide as He brought them out of Egyptian captivity.

Some may argue that the Children of Israel were taking ways of their own, but there was visible evidence that God was leading them. In Numbers 9:15 through 10:10, we find a detailed description of how God used a cloud and fire to guide them. During the day, He provided a pillar of cloud to follow, and during the night the pillar became fire. When God had led them to an appropriate place, the cloud would settle and the Children of Israel would make camp. They would remain there until the cloud moved again. As they approached the Red Sea, the question arose of how they would get across. They had not been this way before, but the Lord spoke to Moses and Moses declared to the people, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD” (Exodus 14:13).

Sure enough, the pillar of cloud that was leading the way suddenly moved behind them. (See Exodus 14:19.) This hindered and brought darkness upon the pursuing Egyptian army, who hoped to overtake and destroy the Children of Israel. However, the cloud remained as light to the Children of Israel. The next morning, Moses stretched his rod over the waters, they divided, and the people crossed over on dry land. You would think that by now they would trust God for everything. Well, they weren’t quite done learning their lessons.

More lessons to learn

Having just walked through the Red Sea, they followed the cloud for three days as God led them to the waters of Marah. Even though they were thirsty, they couldn’t drink because the water was bitter. No problem. The Lord directed Moses to throw a tree into the water, after which, the water became sweet and drinkable.

From there they followed the cloud to a place called Elim, which was a wilderness. I picture nothing but dry shrubbery and sand. How could they ever find their own way through anything like this? The answer: they didn’t! Following the Lord, they were led to twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees—an oasis. At times we hear Israel’s wilderness journey referred to as aimless wandering, but a closer look reveals a tour that was painstakingly guided. We, too, have the option of following God, and if we let Him lead, He will guide us to a blessing.

After spending forty years in the wilderness, the Children of Israel approached the flooded Jordan River. The Promised Land was in sight! All they had to do was get across that river. You may wonder how in the world such a large number of people could cross a body of water without a boat. Simple! They were going to follow God. The Children of Israel were instructed to keep their eyes on the ark of the covenant, and when it moved, they were to follow it. There were many people getting ready to cross, and you can be sure they were anxious to know how they were going to do it.

God will guide us

In like manner, we must fix our eyes upon the Lord and not be distracted by surrounding elements or circumstances. We must look His way and know He will guide us, even though we are sometimes forced into circumstances beyond our control. I was reminded recently, at Youth Camp, of a trip my wife and I made to the Oregon Health and Sciences University hospital about ten years ago. A young mother from the church in Dallas, where I was a minister at the time, had gone into premature labor and given birth to a two pound four ounce baby girl. As we visited with the parents, I thought, These parents haven’t been this way before. The baby was hooked up to all kinds of equipment, and I wondered, Will she ever live? The prayer of faith was prayed, and God answered. Ten years later, you would have to run to keep up with this healthy girl. Even though the parents had not been that way before, they were following a God who had been, and He knew exactly how to lead.

When the priests began to move toward the river, there was still no evidence of how they were going to get across. I don’t know how you would have felt, but if I were one of those priests approaching the water, I would probably be thinking, Okay, Lord, it’s time! Let them divide. But those priests had learned, through forty years of being guided through the wilderness, to continue to let God lead them. As they stepped into the river, the water stopped flowing and the people walked across on dry ground. (See Joshua 3:14-17.) The Lord came through once more.

How will you cross the “angry rivers” that will come into your life? You won’t ask for them and might feel like you do not deserve some of them, but they will be there just the same. How will you get through them? Do you have a Guide? Scripture tells us in Isaiah 43:1-2, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” The Lord wants to be your Guide. If you look to Him and let Him lead you, He will lead you in victory.

Darrel Lee is Superintendent General of the Apostolic Faith Church and pastor of the headquarters church in Portland, Oregon.