CLOUD -- GOD'S PRESENCE

With celerity they moved across the desert, angry, with revenge burning in their hearts. Six hundred bully chariots commanded by officers led a thundering army across the hard rocky soil. Pharaoh knew his freedom-seeking slaves were trapped. Enraged by the death of his firstborn son and hardened against an omnipotent God Who had ravaged his country, he would make Moses and his pathetic people pay. As the Egyptian warriors approached the Israelites panicked. They turned on their reluctant leader and cried out, “Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” (Exodus 14:12)

Moses watched as the dust of the approaching legions billowed. He looked into the eyes of fearful men and cried, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today . . . The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exo.14:13,14)

Meditation

Exodus 14:19,20—Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.

The Israelites did not see the angel of God nor understand at that time that the cloud leading them and buffering them from their enemy was the visible symbol of God’s presence. Even the impact of supernatural power levied against Egypt could not lift their eyes from slavery to salvation. Instead of rejoicing in that great canopy of grace they floundered as if it were fog.

No matter what you face today can you trust that God is with you? He may lead you to a place where there is no escape. You may have to cross your sea of doubt on the path He creates in order to learn that His power is sufficient to meet your predicament. As a follower of Christ, you won’t find God revealing Himself through a dense cloud because His Holy Spirit resides inside you. The glory of the Lord is your strength—with you to guide you. Be quiet in the turmoil knowing that He will direct you where you need to go and protect you from that which seems bent on your demise. Go ahead! Walk on dry land!

Inspiration

In the Bible clouds are always connected with God . . . If there were no clouds, we should have no faith . . . His purpose in the cloud is to simplify our belief until our relationship to Him is exactly that of a child.—Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest

As a sign of God’s presence, the pillar of cloud and fire was associated with divine actions: salvation (Ex. 14:19-20); revelation (Ex. 33:9-10; Ps. 99:7); judgment (Num. 12:5); commissioning (Deut. 31:15). Nehemiah used the pillar as a sign of God’s faithfulness (Neh. 9:12, 19).—Holman’s Bible Dictionary