When God Stands Between

Exodus 14:19–20 (NKJV)

“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.”

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

— Corrie ten Boom

During World War II, (1944, Netherlands) Corrie ten Boom and her family hid Jewish refugees in their home in Haarlem, Netherlands. When the Nazis discovered their secret, Corrie and her sister Betsie were arrested and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp.

The Israelites had just escaped from Egypt after centuries of slavery. They followed Moses toward the Red Sea, but soon found themselves trapped — the sea before them and Pharaoh’s powerful army behind them.

Fear gripped their hearts. But at that very moment, the Angel of God who had been leading them in a pillar of cloud moved behind them — standing between Israel and the Egyptians.

To the Egyptians, it appeared as deep darkness, but to the Israelites, it shone like light through the night.

While they couldn’t yet see the miracle ahead, God was already working behind the scenes — blocking the enemy, guarding His people, and preparing a path through the impossible.

God not only leads His people — He protects them in the unseen places. When you cannot see the way forward, He may be standing behind you, shielding you from what could destroy you. The same presence that seems like darkness to those who oppose God becomes light and safety to those who trust Him.

End of story:

One night, Betsie whispered to Corrie, “Even here, God is our hiding place.” Later, Corrie realized that their barracks were never inspected by the guards because of the lice infestation — something that seemed like a curse turned out to be God’s protection.

The very thing others despised (darkness and filth) became the means through which God kept His children safe.

Just as the cloud was darkness to the Egyptians but light to Israel, God’s protection often hides in what we least expect.

When I face a situation that feels like I’m cornered — when I cannot see how to move forward or how to defend myself — I will remember that God stands silently between me and the danger.

Instead of panicking, I will choose to trust that His presence is my protection, even when I can’t perceive it. What feels like a delay may actually be divine defense.

Short Prayer:

Lord, thank You for standing between me and the things that seek to harm me. Even when I can’t see Your hand, help me to trust Your presence. Be my light in darkness and my shield in battle. Amen.