Wisdom 10:17-21: a reflection

17She rendered to holy men a reward of their toils. She guided them along a marvelous way, and became to them a covering in the day-time, and a starry flame through the night. 18She brought them over the Red sea, and led them through much water; 19but she drowned their enemies, and she cast them up from the bottom of the deep. 20Therefore the righteous plundered the ungodly, and they sang praise to your holy name, O Lord, and extolled with one accord your hand that fought for them, 21because wisdom opened the mouth of the mute, and made the tongues of babes to speak clearly.

Recounting the exodus, the book of Wisdom pictures God's wisdom leading his people through their deliverance: guiding them along a marvelous way, becoming a covering for them in the daytime and a starry flame through the night, bringing them safely through the sea while their enemies were overwhelmed. And it ends on a note of praise: they sang praise to God's holy name, and extolled with one accord his hand that fought for them.

Notice the picture of God's guidance: a shade by day, a light by night, a way opened through the waters. God did not merely send his people out and leave them to find their own way; he went with them, guiding, sheltering, lighting the path, making a way where there was none. His presence led them, step by step, through the wilderness and the sea to safety.

That same guiding presence is promised to us. God does not save us and then abandon us to navigate alone; he goes with us, guiding our way, sheltering us in the heat, lighting our path in the dark, making a way through the waters that seem to block us. When the way ahead is unclear, when you feel you are crossing a trackless wilderness or facing an impassable sea, remember how God led his people: as a covering by day and a flame by night. He who guided them will guide you, going with you and making a way. Trust his leading, and let your journey end, as theirs did, in praise of the hand that brought you through.

Lord, you led your people through the wilderness and the sea, guiding them along the way, a covering by day and a flame by night, making a path where there was none. Thank you that you do not save me and then leave me to find my own way, but go with me, guiding, sheltering, lighting my path. When the way ahead is unclear, when I feel I am crossing a trackless wilderness or facing an impassable sea, lead me as you led them. Be my shade in the heat and my light in the dark; make a way for me through the waters. Bring me through, and let my journey end in praise of the hand that led me.