The Defender

Thank you Jesus for this new day that we have together with You. Thank you for the gift of life and thank you for the gift of reading the Word of God that helps us to know about You. Thank you Jesus for the gift of prayer and worship that enables us to spend time with You singing praises to You and Father God in the name of Jesus, Amen.

In the previous devotionals, we have looked at Jesus as the High Priest who prays for us and on our behalf, we have looked at Jesus as our Friend who sticks around both in good and bad times, we have looked at Jesus as our Helper, we have looked at Jesus as our Peace, we have also looked at Jesus as the Word of God that we read in our Bibles, we have looked at Jesus as our Good Shepherd and we have also seen Jesus as our Light that shines so bright on the inside and around us keeping away every darkness (John 1:5).

Today, we are looking at Jesus as our Defender. Today's lead Word is found in:

Exodus 14:14 (NKJV)

"The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."

Amen, thank you LORD.

In this story, we see God's people the children of Israel who were on their way to the promised land that God had given to them. However, during their journey, their enemies who did not want them to go were running behind them in an attempt to stop God's plans and purposes from coming to pass. Now, the children of Israel walked as far as they could walk under the guidance of their leader Moses until they reached the Red Sea. Behind them were their enemies and infront of them was the Red Sea that they could not cross because the waters were too deep and too big. The children of Israel were afraid and they lost hope in that moment because they could not see a way out.

However, the LORD God speaks to Moses their leader and tells him to say to the people, "...Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever." (Exodus 14:13). It was then that the LORD God told them that He would fight for them and they would keep their peace. Now God instructed Moses to hold up a rod/stick he was using and point it to the Red Sea. When he did this, God with His mighty power split the sea open by separating the waters and the children of Israel were able to walk on dry ground.

I want you to look at a picture of a Red Sea and then imagine God making a way through for all of His people to cross through with their families and animals.

On the other hand, while their enemies tried to cross through on dry ground, the Red sea closed up and all of their enemies who wanted to kill them were swallowed up by the water.

This is what it means for the LORD God to be your Defender. When the people did not see a way out with their enemies chasing them from behind with strong and mighty weapons, God performed a miracle through Moses, their leader by parting the Red Sea so that His people would walk on dry ground and be protected from their enemies. God fought on behalf of His people and defended them without a physical fight against their enemies. The lesson we learn is whenever faced with a difficult situation, it is always best to first bring it to your parents and to God in prayer. Ask for the LORD's wisdom and for Him to be your Defender just like He was with the children of Israel. Not only does God promise to be our Defender but He also promises to be our peace in every situation, AMEN.

Let us pray: LORD God, thank you that we can count on You to be our Defender. When the children of Israel were faced with an impossible situation where there could not see any way out with their enemies chasing them from behind, LORD God You created a way for them in the middle of the Red Sea by Your power. Thank you LORD that You are doing the same for us today by moving and defending us from every plan of the enemy by Your miraculous power as we choose to stand still and to hold our peace that we have received from You LORD in the name of Jesus. Thank you LORD God that every enemy we see today we shall never see again and forever in our lives in the name of Jesus, Amen. Glory to God.

Invitation to salvation: The best gift that Jesus gave is by laying down His life for us to receive salvation and eternal life which is a personal relationship knowing God as our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. 

If you would like to receive this free gift of God's salvation, please say this prayer with me:

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that God sent His One and only Son who died for my sins and was raised from the dead so that I could have eternal life." - AMEN. 

Prayer: Father God, thank you for salvation and redemption that we have freely received from Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives. Thank you LORD for each child and family member that just said this prayer and received Jesus into their hearts. Thank you LORD God that You are keeping them this day and forever and nothing will snatch them out of Your loving hands in the name of Jesus, Amen.