God is Here

Read Exodus 13:17-15:21
 
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.
 
WHEN I was very young, my mother kept a hall light on at night as my brother and I went to sleep. One night she turned off the light thinking we were old enough to accept the darkness. But we weren’t. In the fearful darkness, I cried out, “Turn on the light!” She quickly responded. How comforting it was to know mom never left her place to care for us.
   The LORD was giving his very personal presence to his people. Yes, he gave his pillars of fire and cloud to tell them he would never leave his place to lead his people. El-Shaddai is a good Father. The One who said, “Let there be light,” at Creation’s dawn, turned on the light at night and gave a pillar of cloud by day to lead Israel into his promises for them.
   To confirm his promises of safekeeping, God led his people into peril. This seldom makes sense to us, but it is completely within God’s plan to personally demonstrate he gives his presence to us. The final confrontation with Egypt and the journey through the sea in Exodus 14 were two more events to demonstrate God’s personal power is with Israel.
   Did Israel then resolutely follow and obey God’s every command? Did they quickly turn to him in new trials that would come? Were the plagues, the Passover and the Red Sea sufficient evidence for God’s nation to trust him in each crisis to come?
   Sadly they were not. Just three days later, at the oasis of Marah (Exodus 15:22-25) Israel would reject God’s leadership. In fear they did not consider God would provide fresh water for them. At the bitter water, they urgently wanted him to “turn on the light” to ease their thirst. We can’t blame them for needing water. But we could ask, “Why did they not praise God and pray for water?” Then El-Shaddai answered their anger with his grace. He made the bitter water fresh. Then the LORD gave his people this loving protection promise: He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.” (Exodus 15:26) This is a conditional covenant. “if you will” then “I will”. God wanted his children to always know he would comfort them in any darkness if they were faithful to hear and do as he commanded.  
   Let’s remember the Light of the World has come in person. Let there be light in your mind to come out of any darkness in your heart. See and know the Living God has never left his place to lead 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.