The Angel - Exodus 23:20-26

23:20-26 - Starting in verse 20 there is a complete switch of the narrative from God giving laws to Him making promises. He promises to “send an agnel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.” He is to be obeyed because he will have the full authority of God and if he is obeyed “I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversary.” Additionally, it’s not just victory in combative situations, it’s blessings on “thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.”

It’s a general protection from those who intend to do harm but also blessings of health and having enough physically. I think it’s a scary thing for me because I grew up poor, so I know what being hungry is like and I’ve worked so hard so that I don’t have to live in that situation again and so that my kids don’t have to experience that again. It’s terrifying to consider going back to that again. But I think it’s one of those things where I have to look up, and not down.

This is such an interesting concept to consider while trying to figure out how to move forward in this uncertain political climate. I keep reading about all these people fearing the worst and the doom-spiraling, and I’m not saying that that’s not going to happen, because it probably will, but deciding how to move forward, like what’s my role here. And if I consider these promises, really it doesn’t matter what laws are passed or what the economy does, even though it will cause suffering for many, we have to trust that God will work things out for our good.

This is a tough concept because “it will all be ok” or “it will all work out for your good” is such a dismissive and condescending statement that hand waves all the suffering that is endured in the meantime. It really makes me mad actually, but I have recently been working with accepting what that statement means. Because while it is true that it all will work out how am I supposed to apply it. To me what it sounds like is “I don’t care enough to listen to your problems, so can you please suffer in silence?” which is the opposite of what Christ teaches, so I’ve been reconciling those two positions the last couple of days and it’s hard, it definitely takes an eternal perspective and the understanding that my power to alleviate suffering is limited, even if I do everything that I can.

But it’s interesting to consider the power of God in working for the good of his people in situations like the Israelites and even in our modern day. There’s an end of the world book, I don’t remember what it’s called and I don’t hold any belief that it is what will happen, but in the book, the guy foretells different scenarios he’s “dreamed” or whatever and there are multiple instances where God does exactly what He describe here in scenarios in the future, raising people from the dead, miraculously providing enough food for his people only, his people not getting sick while everyone else does. It’s really interesting to consider, especially when remember that President Nelson recently said something to the effect of “in coming days God’s power will be displayed more than ever before” and I can’t help but wonder, if we compare the display of God’s power in parting the red sea or in the ten plagues, etc. are we going to see even great displays than these? Interesting to thing about.