“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them…” Exodus 13:21
When His people were wandering in the wilderness, God gave them a cloud during the day, and a pillar of fire at night. At night, if they were traveling in the cooler temperatures, the pillar of fire not only lit their path but probably scared off any night creatures who might be hunting for prey. Makes sense. So why the cloud by day? They were wandering in desert climates where the sun could beat down and suck the sweat right out of you. I live in a hot climate. During the summer the sun can be brutal. We pray for a cloudy day to break the heat. Clouds can be a great relief.
It seems to me that God often brings cloudness into our lives. And I think perhaps it is to protect us. Like the Hebrew people. we are sinners who are wandering in wildernesses of our own while the Lord molds us, teaches us lessons and call us back into repentance. But He never leaves us stranded. He still takes care of us, loving us. Perhaps, while we are looking inwardly to our faults and working on being better children of the Light, a cloud or two blocking the heat of the world is a good thing. Perhaps it is best to shade us from the temptations which are out there , to keep us from getting burned by our secular culture or our strength drained by circumstances beating down on us like the brutal summer sun.
It may be frustrating if you cannot see through the clouds around you. But God knows best. Maybe you are just not ready to see what is up ahead. Perhaps if you did, you’d dash off onto another path that you are not supposed to go down. It just might be your are not yet spiritually strong enough to handle the thing that God knows is coming up.
If you feel like you are in a spiritual cloud, give thanks to the God who put you there, and who will lead you out when the time is right. In the meantime, listen closely to His voice, and follow His footsteps. He will protect you and guide you- always.
Gracious Father, You care so deeply for your children, even when we are prone to stray. Cloud us in your Presence and guide us along the paths of our lives as we learn more of You and rely more and more on Your Spirit to guide us. In good time, bring us into the Light of Your Son that we may dwell in the eternal land promised by His sacrifice for our sake. Amen
“Look, he is coming in the clouds, and every eye will see him. . . ” Rev 1:7
