Our Guiding Defender

I just love how God sticks up for us!
It makes me think of my oldest brother, who used to call me, "the apple of his eye." He took my side in every argument, helped me win a bet against another sibling, and made me feel safe after a bully chased me home in the neighborhood.

But this angel God sent before the Israelites was actually Jesus of the Old Testament. Be attentive to him and listen to his voice.... for My name is in him. Exodus 23:21

He is Jehovah, our Guide and Defender.
And just as we, like parents will do much to protect our own children, He will go ahead of us and rid our way of bullies and foes that may cause us harm. But protection comes with a caution... obedience. Carefully obey everything God said. The first being... not to bow to other gods.

It's easy to look back upon these people and point fingers knowing that they will break this rule. It's easy to stand back and say, I don't worship any foreign gods, because we don't have statues in our home, which we call idols, that we literally bow to.

Or do we?
What about the car in the garage? The bed I can't get out of in the morning? What about the craving or addiction? The social media feed that calls to me every quiet moment? What about the need for more likes or retweets? Or the selfie I must take 12 times, then add a filter before posting?

Just because they aren't statues, doesn't make them any less gods. And consider what guidance and defense are we give up from God each time we bow to them? For then we are no longer carefully obeying the ONE... Jesus, our Guiding Defender.

Just a thought.
One I'm contemplating today.