An Enemy to Your Enemies

 

Exodus 23:20-22(NLT)
“See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you. 21 Pay close attention to him, and obey his instructions. Do not rebel against him, for he is my representative, and he will not forgive your rebellion. 22 But if you are careful to obey him, following all my instructions, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will oppose those who oppose you.”

At first glance, the title An Enemy to Your Enemies might feel a little unsettling, even a little unfair. However, when you truly grasp who God is, the totality of His sovereign, omnipotent, and omniscient being, the heft of His promise in Exodus 23 is overwhelming. It transforms from something harsh to a declaration of our Heavenly Father’s love and protection. Not only does God offer the Israelites a promise of protection but also a partnership. He assures them that He will send an angel to guide and guard them on their journey, and this is tremendously generous, but they have a part to play as well: they must listen carefully and obey.

When it comes to obedience, there's no secret that the Israelites in the Old Testament struggled with their commitment to God. Repeatedly, they rebelled, grumbled, and failed to trust in His promises. After being freed from slavery in Egypt, they wandered in the desert for forty years, often complaining about their hardships and doubting God’s faithfulness. Our Heavenly Father sent an angel to guide and protect them, and He commanded them to trust in this messenger. His expectation for them was the same as it is for us today: that we will trust and obey, being fully persuaded that what He has promised, He is fully able and committed to perform.  This means that we must follow His instructions even when we don’t see the big picture. 

In Romans 4:21 (NLT), it says, “And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” The Apostle Paul talks about Abraham’s unwavering faith, despite the seemingly impossible situation of being 100 years old and having a wife, Sarah, who was also past childbearing age. Abraham was fully convinced that God could and would fulfill His promise to give him a son, even though his situation suggested otherwise. Abraham's example teaches us to rely on God’s power and faithfulness, no matter how impossible things may seem.

Jesus Christ reminds us in Matthew 19:26 that with our Heavenly Father, all things are possible. Our faith must not be rooted in our circumstances or our own abilities; our faith must be anchored in God, who makes the promises and is fully capable of performing them. 

Jesus Christ reminds us in Matthew 19:26 that with our Heavenly Father, all things are possible. Our blessed Lord shed light on the contrast between human limitations and God's limitless power. Our faith must not be rooted in our circumstances, and it shouldn’t be rooted in our own limited abilities, because we mess up big time. Instead, our faith must be anchored in God, the One who makes the promises and is fully capable of performing them. When we place our trust in His power, rather than in what we can see or accomplish on our own, we open ourselves to the infinite possibilities that come from relying on His unlimited strength and power. 

In Exodus 23:20, God promises to send an angel ahead of us to protect and guide us on the path He has prepared. While God has a specific path for us, He does not force us to follow it. He has given us free will, and the choices we make determine the direction of our journey. Just as the Israelites had to choose to obey God's instructions, we too are called to listen to His guidance and follow His lead. Though we may not know every detail of where we’re headed, we can trust that God is with us, directing and guiding us along the way, as long as we choose to follow His direction.

Exodus 23:22 records that God told His people He’d be an enemy to their enemies. This means that His full provision and power would be right there with them. He would be so aligned with their cause that anyone who opposed them would be directly opposing Him. And we can be confident that going up against God guarantees victory for His people and defeat for their enemies. 

This was His promise to the Israelites, and we can rest assured that He is always faithful to His promises. From the Old Testament to today, our Heavenly Father has consistently shown His willingness and ability to bless us and keep us safe. Our part in this is just as it was for His people in the Old Testament: trust and obey. When we choose to do this, we align with God's plans and invite His protection, provision, and victory into our lives. No matter what challenges we face, when we trust Him and follow His lead, He will be with us every step of the way.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“An Enemy to Your Enemies” written by Kim for https://rescuefromdomesticviolence.blogspot.com© 2025. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.