Guiding cloud

Exodus 13:21-22(NIV)

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 night. ²² Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

What a wonderful way to be guided, by a pillar of cloud or pillar of fire! If the cloud moved in the day, the Israelites had to move. But if the cloud stood still, they had to stop moving!

I like it to be on the move. I do much better with moving than standing still. But it is quite clear in these chapters of Israel’s journey through the dessert that sometimes God’s guiding cloud came to a standstill.

So if you are a mover and shaker, know that sometimes God will guide you to stop moving.

But how would we know in today’s world when God wants us to stop moving? It would have been easy if we also had a guiding cloud.

But don’t worry; we actually still do have a guiding cloud… This cloud is however not in the sky, each one of us has a cloud right inside of us!

Doug Gilmer says that God doesn’t give you clouds and fire to lead you. He does one better – He gives you His Spirit!

The Holy Spirit does for you today what the cloud did for the people of Israel so many years ago. And because God’s nature is to love you unconditionally, you need not worry that you are ever alone. God is always near. No matter what you have done, no matter the circumstances in life you may be facing, God is there and the Holy Spirit is constant guiding you.

So let the guiding cloud of the Holy Spirit lead you. And if the Holy Spirit’s cloud brings you to a standstill, be obedient and stop moving!

Shalom!

Anina