The Beauty of a Cloud

The LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way…

Exodus 13:21 CSB

            Remember when you were little and you used to lay on the grass and try to find animals and objects in the clouds? If you lived in big open sky areas you had so much to see and imagine. Even if you lived in a big city there were clouds you could observe and anticipate images which would appear, meld, contort, and rearrange into different shapes worth staring at. My husband and I recently spent time on the coast of California in Monterey. This can be a very foggy area during the day or night which led us to spend each day contemplating wearing a hoodie, shorts, or swimsuit. Often, we would go out prepared for foggy clouds to engulf us and end up applying sunscreen as we walked along the beach. Whatever the day turned out to be we were sure to see the beauty of clouds all around us.

            The image of a cloud in the Bible often represents God as a visible manifestation of His presence. In ancient cultures a cloud represented majesty. When people saw the Israelites advancing with the Cloud going before them, they were often in fear. They had witnessed the power of the Majesty that went before the Israelites in a cloud and knew His presence was there to fight for them. In Exodus 13:21 the Lord remembers His promise to guide and protect His people. In this verse it is noted, “The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way…”. Going before them in a cloud provided assurance and direction. It allowed the Israelites to travel safely and efficiently through the wilderness. And in a more practical sense, it provided shade from the harsh sun during their difficult journey. Providing them direction was the fulfillment of His promise to Abraham, to guide His people to the Promise Land.

            God is actively involved in the lives of His people, providing guidance and direction. He is actively involved in ALL of His peoples lives. The cloud did not wither out and fade away like the incoming fog in Monterey. The cloud was there always. When the people cried out in distress, the cloud was there. When people were scared, thirsty, hot, tired, the cloud was there. And just as He led the Israelites, He leads us today, like the cloud, through His Word and Spirit. The Israelites had to trust God’s guidance, even when the path was uncertain. When we are unable to move forward, staring at the ceiling and unsure about our path we are able to see Him in His word. When we cannot see the full picture of God’s plan, we are able to hear His voice from the Holy Spirit, ready to guide us in the same way He used a cloud.

            The Israelites journey was long and arduous. It was hot and dirty and the persistent walking made it feel as if they could not take one more step. They had to dig deep and turn their eyes daily to the Cloud for His provision and guidance. Does this sound familiar to you? Are there many days you wake up and don’t even know how you are going to swing your feet out of bed and begin the journey of the day? Maybe you have made a career change and you can’t imagine how you will complete the courses needed to be successful. Are you facing an addiction and you cry out each day for help, but just can’t seem to move from its grasp? God sees each of these journeys and is moving ahead of you providing guidance. Your participation is required to begin to cultivate a daily dependence on God during this journey in order for His guidance to take you in the right direction. He will lead you where He wants you to go and your faith, through daily trust, will allow you to see the path to follow. Being in the Word daily, faithful ongoing prayer, and relationships with other Christians will teach us to trust in God's guidance, even when the path is unclear. He is faithful to lead us through life's journey, providing direction and protection.

            The cloud doesn’t just lead us, though. In Exodus 14:19 we are shown the cloud in a different position. “The pillar of cloud moved from in front of the Israelites and stood behind them.” (CSB). I had never paid attention to this one sentence before, but it rings so true. God moved to stand behind the Israelites to protect them from the Egyptians as they moved through the Red Sea. This is the best thing I have read in a long time. As our God leads us through our wilderness journeys, or even through our mountaintop experiences, He stands behind us as a protector and Savior. His presence is everywhere and will show up at the exact time we need Him to show up; guiding, protecting, moving, and planning. God’s prevention and intervention stands between us and our daily struggles and our crisis’.

            He is the only one we can positively count on to lead, intervene, and protect. When we put our trust in His promises, gaze upon His cloud, and abide in His Word, He will be there for us. This is His promise. Are you ready to gaze upward and find the shapes of His cloud moving exactly where He needs to be?

A Prayer for Today

Lord God, Your provisions are so, so good. You stand in the perfect position to see us, guide us, and protect us. Thank You for showing up each day to guide us in the way You want us to go. Thank You for protecting us when we wander or are in peril. You alone are THE great cloud!

Today’s Challenge

Where do you see God working in your life or protecting you? Take time to thank Him for His guidance and protection. Continue to speak to Him daily in prayer and praise for all He does.