The Lord not only prepares the way before us, but He also follows up behind encouraging, exhorting, and gathering in the weary. He is the Shepherd that goes ahead of His flock, watching for dangers… but He is also the Rear Guard watching for those same threats that may sneak up from behind. In other words, the Lord not only goes before us, but has our back as well. Or as Exodus 23:20 tells us, “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.”