God is Here

Read Exodus 12-14
 
Exodus 13:20-22 After leaving Succoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. 21 By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or travel by night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
 
I remember when I was very young experiencing total darkness in my bedroom at night. Frightened, I cried out for mom to, “Turn on the light!” Imagine now that you are walking with about 1 million people. You’ve left your home, and you are walking each day into a desert. We can believe there would be considerable darkness in Israel’s collective mind. Would they not feel as if they were in a dark room to cry out, “LORD, turn on the light!”
    That is essentially what they did. And so the LORD responded. As my mother turned on a small light to comfort and assure me, God the Father, soothed his children in their great uncertainty. He came in his light. “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:3) became very personal for Israel. With his light and his cloud, God personally guided his people into their new life.  
    We praise God today that his light still surely leads us as he reveals His Word to us. His cloud of glory is around us in the Spirit’s wisdom and comfort. When we attend church or a Bible study, we hear the light of his love. God surrounds us with his caring people and gifted teachers who lead, instruct and sometimes comfort as a cloud of protection.
    It is easy for us to be focused on the darkness. Too many people speak of negative and sinful things. Trials and difficulties can dim our view of God’s grace and love. Be purposeful, then, to seek the light of God’s revelations of himself. Knowing who God is will help you know God’s protecting cloud covers you.
 
Ephesians 1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.