The Cloud That Did Not Move

Have you ever been outside on a hot summer day and felt the relief from the heat when a cloud blew overhead. The temporary relief from the sun beating down can be noticeable. It is welcome relief. The departure of the clouds is not welcome. In time the heat returns when the clouds blow away.

What relief it would bring to multitudes if the cloud idd not move. There is a story in the book of Exodus where the cloud did not move. In fact, God used that cloud to lead Israel on their exodus from Egypt and to remind the nation He was present and available.

Exodus 13:22 (ESV)
²²  The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.


Day after day there were two visible reminders of God's presence. The cloud that did not depart during the day and the pillar of fire each night. I am certain that both were a comfort to the children of Israel. When they were afraid, when they were lost, when they were overwhelmed by impossible minds all they had to do was look up at the cloud that did not depart or the pillar of fire that offered reassurance each evening.

We take clouds for granted. That is unless it is oppressively hot and they provide a little shade from the sun. We also notice clouds when they indicate storms are coming. Other than that, I am fairly certain most of us have not given any thoughts to the presence of clouds. They are pretty ordinary.

I wonder how many ordinary things God puts in our path to remind us He is present and available. How many times do we rush through our days and never notice Him.

God used a bird the other day as a reminder for me. A simple bird. I watched that bird fly to the ground in a parking lot of a busy restaurant. The bird walked a few steps and found some discarded scrap to eat. Immediately my thoughts went to [Matt 6:19-34] In that passage Jesus calls for people not to be anxious about foot and closing but to trust God's provision. That bird did not cook the food, plant the crops, or labor to pay for it. God provided for that fowl creature. God loves each of us more than that bird. He is present and available.

A simple bird. We see birds almost everyday. On that day God manifested His truth through that feathered friend.

For Israel He manifested Himself through a cloud that did not depart. Look ip and look around. You never know when and where God will show up. You never know how He will manifest His presence to remind us He is there and He is available.