February 25th, 1959                                “My Angel Will Go Before Thee”                                       Late Mr. N. Daniel

 

Exodus 23:23-25

            “My angel will go before thee.” The history of true religion is the history of separation of God's people from idolatrous people. From the beginning we see how God separated His people from idols. The first Commandment says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me”; and the second, “Thou shalt not worship any idols." These are the first two commandments. The wisdom of God decided to give first place to these commandments. But man holds on to those forbidden things. Man lives in the lowest level of animals when he worships idols. In the creation of God man is the highest being. Man can express God and can become like Him. There is no other creation in this Universe that can show God like this. So God gave man commandments which will ultimately bring him to that higher conscience that can live with angels and God. They bring him to the consciousness of God; we lost it in Adam. We belong to the highest being, God. The story of the Prodigal is the history of man. Where was he? Where was man? He was amongst swine and seeking to make himself abhorable there. The only way to change man is by new birth and not any other way like baptism etc. When he realizes, 'Oh, I am a sinner I want salvation, I need a Saviour,' then the Holy Spirit brings Christ in front of him. What is idolatry? It is something that deadens the need for a Saviour. If you yourself can make an idol and ascribe everything to it, then where is the need for salvation? Only when you know there is no other way and you desperately need help to lift you, then only a Saviour is needed. No country with idolatry prospers. You see it in the Bible. Idolatry destroys character. The human conscience can never be roused by an idol. When a man worships an idol his understanding is darkened. He imagines he has worshipped God. His conscience is not stirred a bit. No sin consciousness enters him and the cry, “I am a sinner and need a Saviour” never rises out of his heart. Never can idols lead you to eternal life. So God in the beginning of the history of His people gave these two as the first and second of the ten commandments. When Moses was in the mountain, the devil knew that commandment forbidding idolatry was coming and quietly worked in the hearts of Israel to revive idolatry and lead them into confusion and destruction.

Exodus 32:1 At the mountain top, great commandments were revealed. At the foot of the mountain amidst the Israelites an idol was made. One great principle is seen here. When you want to serve God, the devil prepares his trap to defeat you. Therefore watch and pray. Obey your husbands and parents in the Lord. Remember God first! Israelites who made idols came under a curse and never entered into the promised land. What wonders God did amidst them! How He fed thousands of people, divided the sea, in an uninhabited land! He defeated great kings. People gave them gold and silver. They followed them and praised them. Now they were betraying God. But Moses showed them the spirit of God here. V.32. Moses lived on the highest plane. Christ lived there. It was on this plane He prayed in Gethsamane 'Not my will O God.' Here we see Moses also on the highest plane. Moses' people were on a very low level. When we meditate and study the Word in the morning, we rise and we come to a place where we touch the fringes of Heaven. The Spirit of God lifts us to that height, when we read God's Word. Then you too like Peter will say, 'It is better we stay here.'

"Behold I send my angel before thee. Listen to his voice. Then I will be an enemy to your enemies and remove sickness from you." Exo 23:20-33. V.2l. It is difficult. You can't eat and sleep or play as you want. "My angel is with you, Obey him," God says. V.26 When you begin to live on this plane, the angel of God is with you. Nations around you will be afraid or you. V.25 Are you ready to live on that plane? God brought out the best in Moses. He reached the level of Calvary and showed the nature of Christ. Anything connected with Calvary is beautiful and challenges everything that savours of self. When you are transformed you transform every evil to good.

John 15: 1&2 The Father is at work. John 14:8&9 Did you not see God's greatness and great holiness in me? Did you not see the Father in me? He that seeth me seeth the Father. If not you are seeing only the surface. John 15:3 The chief ingredient of the Word of God is the blood of Christ. The Bible gets its value from the Word of Christ. The Cross is the central thing in the Word of God. Psalm 1:2 God-consciousness is the height of purity. The Word of God every morning lifts you up there. One day you will be established there and will not come down. Jealousy and hatred will leave you. The love of God will surround you there. God's love cannot create destruction. Chronic diseases come only to those who live in the low level and not in the high levels. The Word of God will lift you up until there is no negative thought in you. V.4. Let my Words abide in you. It the Word of God dwells in you richly - what a blessing! Then you will be really powerful and a blessing to all. Col 2:9. The God-head is fully in Jesus and He speaks these words. Col 2.3 Abide in Him.

John 14:24 Command your rights. Why do you take a slave's or a servant's place? You are not abiding in Him that is why you are sick and unsatisfied. Abiding is described in I John 2:3. Thought circulates from generation to generation as water flows from a higher to lower level. Do not stay on the lower levels where the negative thoughts of your ancestors freely flow through you.