Exodus 23:20 Behold, I send an Angel before you, to keep you in the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. I. HIS NATURE WAS DIVINE. 1. Equal with God. (1) Bearing the Divine name; "My name is in Him." The incommunicable covenant name of Jehovah. (2) Performing Divine actions; "Mine angel shall go," etc., "I will cut them off." So New Testament, "I and My father are one." 2. Distinct from the personality of the speaker, "I send," so New Testament, "The Father which sent Me." II. HIS OFFICE WAS TO CONDUCT THE COVENANT PEOPLE TO THE FULFILMENT OF GOD'S COVENANT ENGAGEMENT. 1. Providence. "To keep thee in the way." So Christ "upholds all things by the word of His power." "In Him all things consist." Generally and particularly He preserves those who trust in Him (John 10:28). 2. Redemption. "To bring thee into the place which I have prepared." Israel's redemption is only half accomplished as yet. So Christ's eternal redemption is not complete till the last enemy is destroyed (John 14:2, 3). III. THE PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARDS HIM. 1. Fear. Carefulness not to displease Him. Christ is the Saviour of those only who believe in Him. To others He is a "savour of death unto death." 2. Obedience. "Obey His voice." So says the Father in the New Testament (Matthew 17:5); and Himself (Matthew 28:20). This implies (1) Trust in His person. (2) Subjection to His authority. (3) The prosecution of His commands. IV. THE REWARD OF OBEDIENCE TO HIM (vers. 22, 23). 1. Identification and sympathy with us in our cause. "I will be an enemy," etc. 2. Victory over our foes (1 Corinthians 15:57), world, flesh, devil, death, etc. 3. Inheritance in the promised land.Learn — 1. (2 Timothy 1:9), That God's grace has been manifested in Jesus Christ from the beginning of the world. 2. That God's grace has been, through Jesus Christ, with His people up to the present moment. 3. And will be till the end of the world. (J. W. Burn.) Parallel Verses KJV: Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. |
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