Exodus 23:20

ยถ Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.

Behold, I send {H7971} an Angel {H4397} before {H6440} thee, to keep {H8104} thee in the way {H1870}, and to bring {H935} thee into the place {H4725} which I have prepared {H3559}.

"I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared.

Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.

Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee by the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.

Commentary

Exodus 23:20 is a powerful promise from God to the Israelites as they stood on the cusp of entering the Promised Land. It encapsulates divine commitment to guide and protect His people.

Context

This verse is part of the "Book of the Covenant" (Exodus 20:22-23:33), which immediately follows the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. After laying down fundamental moral and civil laws, God transitions to promises of blessing and warnings against disobedience. Exodus 23, in particular, outlines various social and religious ordinances, culminating in assurances of divine assistance for Israel's conquest and settlement of Canaan, provided they obey His voice. This promise of sending an Angel is a direct assurance of God's active presence and leadership in their challenging journey ahead.

Key Themes

  • Divine Guidance: God explicitly states He will "send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way." This highlights His active role in directing Israel's path, ensuring they do not stray from His intended course. It's a promise of supernatural navigation through unknown territory.
  • Divine Protection: The Angel's role is not just to show the way but also "to keep thee in the way," implying safeguarding against dangers, enemies, and obstacles encountered during their wilderness travels and conquest. This speaks to God's steadfast care for His people.
  • Fulfillment of Promise: The ultimate goal is "to bring thee into the place which I have prepared." This refers directly to the Promised Land of Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey, which God had sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It underscores God's faithfulness to His covenant promises.
  • The Identity of the Angel: While the Hebrew word for Angel, mal'akh (ืžึทืœึฐืึธืšึฐ), simply means "messenger," the context here suggests no ordinary being. This "Angel" possesses divine authority, as seen in subsequent verses (Exodus 23:21-22), where God warns that His name is in the Angel and that the Angel will not pardon transgressions. Many theologians interpret this as a manifestation of God Himself, possibly a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ, or a unique divine messenger embodying God's presence and power, similar to the Angel of God who led Israel through the wilderness in a pillar of cloud and fire.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "keep thee in the way" uses the Hebrew verb shamar (ืฉึธืืžึทืจ), meaning "to guard," "to watch over," or "to preserve." It conveys a sense of active vigilance and protective custody. The "place which I have prepared" emphasizes God's sovereign planning and provision; this destination was not accidental but divinely ordained and set apart for them.

Practical Application

Exodus 23:20 offers profound encouragement for believers today. Just as God promised to guide and protect Israel, He continues to offer divine guidance and protection to His followers. We are not left to navigate life's challenges alone. The Holy Spirit acts as our guide, leading us in truth and righteousness, and God's providence surrounds us. This verse reminds us that God has a prepared "place" or purpose for us, and He is faithful to bring us into it, even through difficult circumstances. We are called to trust His leadership and obey His voice, knowing He is leading us to our ultimate spiritual inheritance.

This assurance encourages us to:

  • Trust God's Leading: Believe that God has a plan and will direct our steps (Proverbs 3:6).
  • Rely on His Protection: Find peace in knowing that God is our guardian against spiritual and physical dangers.
  • Anticipate His Promises: Look forward to the fulfillment of God's promises in our lives, both temporal and eternal.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 33:14 (36 votes)

    And he said, My presence shall go [with thee], and I will give thee rest.

  • Psalms 91:11 (31 votes)

    For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

  • Exodus 32:34 (26 votes)

    Therefore now go, lead the people unto [the place] of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.

  • Exodus 14:19 (24 votes)

    And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:

  • Exodus 33:2 (22 votes)

    And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:

  • Isaiah 63:9 (22 votes)

    In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

  • Matthew 25:34 (19 votes)

    Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: