WEEK 7
GOD’S CARE FOR HIS PEOPLE
GUIDANCE
i. God guided his people, the Israelites – Exodus 13:17-22, Joshua 8:1 – 22
Exodus13:17-22
Guidance is a act of directing the ways of a person especially for the purpose of ensuring the safety and proper development and well being of that person. God acts as a guide for His children especially those who believe and serve Him. In Exodus 13: 17 – 22, the Bible records that after Israel left Egypt, God led all through until they came to the Red Sea and beyond. In verse 21 – 22, the Bible records that, “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night; 22 the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.
In Joshua 8: 1 – 22, the Bible records that after the death of Moses, God was still with the Israel, while Joshua was leading the people. God led them to battle and they conquered the king of Ai with thirty thousand soldiers. Joshua divided his men into groups. While the others were hiding, about five thousand men pretended to attack Ai. Once the Ai soldiers advanced against them, they ran. As the Ai soldiers were pursuing them, the others hiding came out and destroyed the nation by fire. When the men of Ai looked back and saw their city destroyed, they lost courage deeply depressed. Then the army of Israel turned back and attacked them. Since they were left confused at the middle, they lost the battle and they were all killed.
ii. God guides His people today – (Hebrew 1:1, Matthew 11:27 – 30)
God still guide His people today. In Hebrew 1:1-2, the Bible records that, “In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” Today, God guides us by His words, the words of Christ and by the Holy Spirit.
Also in Matthew 11:27-30, Jesus encouraging the people said, “All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” This shows that we cannot achieve anything tangible outside God.
Those who believe, follow and trust God will be guided by Him all the time.
Unprecedented 