Exodus 13:21 And the LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.
God goes before us. The Lord Jehovah, the Eternal God, secures the way we should go. To us, the path ahead may seem unclear, it may be filled with confusing turns and it may even seem there is no direction or purpose. However, God will point our way. He does not ask us to navigate unchartered territory. He knows exactly what lies ahead, and we are assured of His care and protection just as the Israelite nation looked to Him for their way to the Promised Land. Right now, we are unable to gather in a building for corporate worship yet the church is not built of mortar and stone. The church is built of those who love God and trust in Him. The Lord was with the Israelite church in the wilderness and He is with us in this unchartered territory.
God leads us. Consider clearing a path to make it more suitable for a walk. Trails that we might follow in nature have been cleared by another before us. Many of the largest obstacles have been removed, and looking forward, you can see the way to go. “Those whom God brings into a wilderness, He will not leave nor lose there, but will take care to lead them through it… Those who make the glory of God their end, and the word of God their rule, the Spirit of God the guide of their affections, and the providence of God the guide of their affairs, may be sure that the Lord goes before them though they cannot see it with their eyes: we must now live by faith”, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary.
God protects us. God went before the Israelites by day in a pillar of cloud. Think, what does a cloud do? It covers the bright sunlight of day. It gives us shade and shelter. God protected His people from the intense heat as they followed Him. Patrick/Lowth/Whitby/Lowman Commentary says, “This cloud was a symbol of His gracious presence with them, and special providence over them”.
God was a pillar of fire by night to give them light. Think, what does light do? It enables us to see. When we use the phrase, someone is in the darkness, we are saying there is no understanding.
Have you chosen light over darkness; hope over fear?
Where is your refuge? Where do you seek cover?
God is our strength. A pillar is noticeable, usually a sign of strength and support. Many of our daily activities have ceased. Most of us are no longer going here and there with schedules that are filled. Unless you are considered an essential worker, you are home, only running necessary errands. Exodus 13:21 tells us of the nation of Israel as they go through unchartered territory. They have a guide, they have protection, and they have a purpose – to travel by day and night. Even in the wilderness, they are to keep going, to continue to walk forward as they follow God.
Are you growing in your dependence upon Him?
Are you taking this time to pursue God?
Nehemiah 9:19 Thou, in Thy great compassion, didst not forsake them in the wilderness; the pillar of cloud did not leave them by day, to guide them on their way, nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they were to go.
