Rear Guard

But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard. 

Isaiah 52:12

 

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. 

Isaiah 58:8

For Fatuma and I, the village was a two-day journey on foot. Women were traveling to the retreat from much farther than I, so I felt I could not complain or speak aloud my Western fears about sleeping on the ground and drinking water I hadn’t personally filtered. Not to mention animals we might encounter along the way. I was on a steep learning curve, or rather un-learning curve, unlearning all that I once believed I needed.

I stayed quiet and followed the lead of my faithful friend. Tying her baby on my back and hoisting our basket of food atop her head, we took off. Over the next 36 hours, we made our way over grassy hills and alongside winding rivers. At one point, we climbed straight down a ravine and hand-over-foot up the other rocky side. At night, we took off our wraps, laid them out on the ground, built a fire, and made sweet tea to wash down our bread.

Early the next morning, we entered a small clearing. Amidst the cluster of mud and thatch houses stood an open-walled banda, the heart of the village and the site of our weekend gathering of women. Imagine my surprise, as I unwrapped the cloth holding my little Mupa, to see a boy from my village standing shyly just behind us, leaning nonchalantly against a tree. His name was Nobody, but he had become a very important Somebody to me and my husband. You can read his story here.

Kakuna, what are you doing here? 

I followed behind you to protect you. You don’t know the snakes, but I do.

Kakuna was a shepherd. And indeed, he was wise in the way of the African savannah and all its dangers.

I had no idea he was following us.

Why didn’t you tell me you were with us? We could have fed you.

I did not come to eat. I came to watch out for you, Mama.

My little rear guard was mighty big in spirit and courage. He finally accepted some food and chai, but kept to himself until we were ready to return. And all along the way home he followed, watching out for us.

How much more does our Lord follow behind us, watchful and protective, quietly making sure we make it to our destination? We often think more about His leading of us and pray earnestly that He will go before us. And He does. God is no boy; He is God.

God goes before us, He is the Rock beneath us, He encircles us with His love, and follows behind us as our #faithful, loyal Rear Guard. Share on X

As we walk forward into a new year, He goes behind us. Watching out for us, protecting us from unseen dangers, putting out fires we may have left smoldering. We can walk forward confidently, knowing that the One who leads is also the one who follows behind. 

Lord, thank You for being my rear guard. I will trust you as I walk an unknown way in 2024. Amen.

@audreycfrank

Image by DKunert from Pixabay