Do you ever feel tempted to look over your shoulder, back at that thing in your past that God restored, rescued, delivered and healed for you in fear that it will come back?

That relationship, that person, that sickness, that depression, that season of life that tried to take you out?

The Oxford Dictionary defines Rear-Guard as follows: “the soldiers positioned at the rear of a body of troops, especially those protecting an army when it is in retreat; a military detachment detailed to bring up and protect the rear of a main body or force.”

The Bible also gives a powerful story of God as Rearguard to His people in Exodus 14.

In this passage, Moses is leading Israel out of Egypt, as pharaoh, by God’s power had agreed to let them go.

But as they are on their way, Pharaoh changes his mind and begins to pursue the Israelites with his horses and chariots to overtake them.

And Moses said 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. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.””
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/exo.14.13-14.NKJV(emphasis mine)

One part of this verse that Moses says here JUMPED into my Spirit and exploded… For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.

Also just a few verses down in this same passage…

“And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/exo.14.19-20.NKJV (emphasis mine)

Then, twice in Isaiah…

“For you shall not go out with haste, Nor go by flight; For the Lord will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭52‬:‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/isa.52.12.NKJV

“Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/isa.58.8.NKJV

God is your RearGuard.

Our God is NOT a God of halfway…He is NOT a God of unfinished.

He leaves nothing undone.

Let me encourage you friend, when God delivered you from that thing, whatever it was… those metaphorical “Egyptians” you were enslaved to, they completely lost their power over you— unless you choose to turn back.

What God did for the Israelites, He does for us, too.

He is no respecter of persons, God has no favorites. (Romans 2:11, Acts 10:34)

He is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 3:18) The God of the Old Testament, is the same God who wrote the New Covenant.

When God restores something, it’s done.

It’s perfectly settled by Him.

He finished that thing for you on Calvary by the powerful blood of His only son, Jesus.

It’s not coming back for you.

We must know this, believe this, walk it out, and walk away.

We cannot focus on what God has purposed ahead for us, when we continue to examine what has tried to overtake us in the past.

We must continue to look to that next thing of God, looking forward to the high calling…

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/php.3.13-14.NKJV

What was beyond the Red Sea for the Israelites?

Their previous everything except what they carried was now gone.

Life as they know it was no longer going to be… everything about their life would have to be rebuilt.

Their enemy, oppressor and dictator was completely destroyed and they were completely and forever free.

God’s heart for them, His plan for their abundance was taking them to His Promised Land, flowing with honey, with milk.

And you know what?

We, under the New Covenant, have that same promise.

Our Promised Land is stepping into the bought and paid for life Jesus died for you to have, a life to be lived by being Guided, Taught, Comforted, Loved, by a Holy God who reunited Himself to you.

Freedom is here, it’s now.

Eternal life is NOW.

It’s time now to press on to what God has ahead for you.

Let’s boldly, confidently, in His Righteousness alone, simply step in.