LEADING AND FOLLOWING
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people. —Exodus 13:21-22
Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. —Exodus 14:19-22
Wow… imagine this pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night that led the Israelites… for forty years! They needed no map. The Lord was their map. They needed no way. The Lord was their way. Think about that. The Lord led them all the way to the Promised Land. Yes, because of disobedience it would take them forty years to reach His destination for them, but the Lord led them there. He brought them there on His terms and for His purposes and in His timing. Though all the travel, trials and turmoil the Lord’s presence was with them and guided them.
We may not see the pillar of cloud or the pillar of fire guiding us in the way, but we do have His Holy Spirit within us and Jesus said, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” (John 16:13-15). “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (I Corinthians 6:19-20). It is a marvel to think that we do not have a pillar of cloud or fire that is out front guiding us, but we have His Holy Spirit within us guiding, revealing and teaching us. Wow! How fortunate we are. Oh that you and I would follow His guidance!
Praise God that we have called on the Lord Jesus and He saved us from sin, death and hell to a relationship with Him. We know where we are going when we die and can live for Him now. We are all going to die and we do not know when, but people need to be ready for that day— https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVb77Nc2CR4. Be faithfully following Him now to be ready to meet Him after death! We know not when death will come to us…
Dear Father may I faithfully follow Your guidance in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus my Lord. Yes, may this be so! I so look forward to being with You in glory!