As I was standing in my back yard with the dog, it was so quiet. Then the rustling of the leaves started. As the wind gently moved the trees, the leaves rustled. The few hold-outs that are hanging on to those limbs cracked and creaked in the breeze. The leaves on the ground jiggled in the grass and joined in the chorus of rustling. I closed my eyes and I could feel the ever so slight breeze brush over my face. When I opened my eyes, I could see the clouds moving across the sky. Just gliding. Slowly.
I immediately was reminded of the Israelites who followed the pillar of cloud by day. The Lord went before them. When the cloud moved, they moved. Where the cloud went, they went. No fan fare. Just a pillar of clouds. Reminding them that He was with them.
The verse in the Bible that talks about the LORD going before them uses the word for "the Angel of the Lord". That word means this: "Who is called the Angel of the Lord, not a created but the uncreated Angel, the Angel of Jehovah's presence, in whom his name, nature and perfections were, even the Word and Son of God, the Lord Christ, who went before the armies of Israel, as their King, Leader, and Commander." It means Jesus!
As you move through this holiday season, look for your pillar of clouds. The Bible gives us a great illustration of the presence of the Lord. Jesus is the Reason for this Season. He hasn't changed. He is still there. Leading. Guiding. Gently gliding ahead of you.
So many people are struggling in this season of Joy. He knows that. He knows your heart and your thoughts and your anxious ways. Let Him lead you through your wilderness into your promise land. He knows the way!
"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 night."
Exodus 13:21
No comments:
Post a Comment