“And throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out” Exodus 40:36
it was such a joy to sit in the kitchen this morning, sipping coffee with my wife. we didn’t realize how much we missed home until we got there. we also didn’t appreciate the peace and presence of God in our house until we returned to it. How sweet it was to sit and sing and read and pray in His presence this morning. it felt so right to be there. it felt like the cloud was with us.
The people of God knew they were in the right place when the cloud was with them. And they knew it was time to go when the cloud moved. Oh! Wouldn’t life be so much easier if God still showed Himself as a visible pillar of cloud? Then we would know where to go and what to do, wouldn’t we?
I’m not so sure it would be “easier” or “better”. i think we have something now that surpasses even the glory of that cloudy column. Consider the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God on the inside. Back then, a chosen people of a single culture were graced to experience the nearness of God in the form of a visible cloud. Now, whosoever shall believe in Jesus Christ shall receive God Himself dwelling inside of them. The immediate peace and presence of God is now available to ALL who believe.
we have a cloud living inside of us.
Though the presence of God may not be “visible” in the same way it was in that day, His presence is truly discernible; perhaps moreso. This point may raise some interesting discussion. Please, comment and share with us how you discern the presence of God. How has He moved you and led you at times?
As we sang and sipped coffee, My wife and i decided to follow the cloud. As long as we sense His peaceful presence dwelling in a certain place at a certain time we will endeavor to remain there. And when we sense the cloud lifting, we will seek to follow it. Of course, we’re no experts at discerning where God is and what He’s up to, but then again, He’s a really good leader. He knows how to make His movements known to His people, leaving us to simply follow that cloud.
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