“For the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard” (Isa. 52:12).
Every group of travelers has two kinds of people: fast movers and slow movers.
Fast movers are aggressive, ambitious, alert, and highly motivated to move out and get on with the journey. Slow movers tend to dawdle, waver, hesitate, be unsure, reticent, or indecisive. It is very difficult to lead any group of people when some of them are forever rushing ahead while others always lagging behind.
This verse says that the Lord is out in front of the self-motivated marchers, and He is also following up at the rear of the stragglers. David calls attention to the fact that the Lord both goes ahead and follows up when he says of Him, “You have hedged me behind and before” (Ps. 139:5).
It is a comfort to know that our God is present in both areas of our lives. He is “proceeding” out in front of us leading the way, and He is our rear guard protecting us from being picked off by the enemy.
The King James Version used an archaic word for rear guard. Rereward, a holdover from antiquity, is derived from a word meaning “to gather together.” No matter where we are positioned in the army of the Lord – front line or rear echelon – we are safe. The Lord is in both areas watching over us!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.