Prayer: Father, when I seek for Your presence, remind me that You are already there. Open my eyes to see the unseen, open my heart to love the unloved. Amen.
Reading: Exodus 13 key: vs. 20-22
20 So they journeyed from Succoth and encamped in Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. 21 Adonai went before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead the way and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light. So they could travel both day and night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never departed from the people.
Attention: When I visualize a pillar, I see a vertical structure of stone, concrete, wood, or metal supporting a horizontal structure. I think most contractors and engineers would agree.
However, Moses describes the manifestation of Adonai’s presence in the wilderness journey as “pillar of cloud” and “pillar of fire” with a purpose. Notice that he doesn’t use the plural form for the pillar or the cloud or fire, since the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire are one cloud and one fire. It makes sense, since the scriptures declare and Adonai declares of Himself, as being “One.” Even the Ten Commandments declare that we are to have “no other gods”. Numerous references to Adonai being the “One God” are found in Deuteronomy 6:4; Zechariah 14:9; Mark 12:29,32; and 1 Timothy 2:5-6b.
Most clouds I have seen have been horizontal and hovering above the heaven and earth. I did see an amazing lightning display in the mid-eighties in Arizona. I witnessed lightning going horizontal between clouds. I had always seen lightning flashing down to the earth. It was a spectacular display.
Have you been to a restaurant which has outdoor seating, and they have heating columns set throughout their outdoor seating area to keep their clients warm? Those heating units have a heating source. In the desert, Adonai was the supernatural source which did not burn out. If you have ever been in a desert, you know that it can get extremely hot during the day and extremely cold at night. God was supernaturally attending to His people. He was keeping them cool during the day and warm during the night!
This passage concludes with a message of assurance. Moses declares that Adonai’s presence, “never departed from the people.”
As New Testament followers of Yeshua, we are assured that He will never leave us or forsake us. His presence is with His followers, 24/7. Remember, we established that there were potentially 2+ million Hebrew men, women, and children, plus livestock and sheep for whom Adonai was providing. What size of a pillar of cloud or pillar of fire would be needed to provide for everyone? It wasn’t a small campfire, or a small cloud. Adonai’s presence was awe-some!
Remember, when we are in God’s presence, we are in the presence of Royalty (He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords), we are in the presence of the all sufficient One, we are in the presence of the One who parted the sea, we are in the presence of the Resurrected One, we are in the presence of the Almighty, there is no other!
Action: I will enjoy the presence of the Almighty One today!
Yield: I will give my life to the Almighty One today!
Engage: I engage with Adonai today by staying in His presence.
Relationship: I stay in His presence by staying with Him, because He is with me all the time.
Prayer: Father, I love Your presence. I rejoice today in Your presence. I praise You for the attentive ways You care and provide. Thank You. Amen.
Memory Verse: 1 Timothy 2:5-6b
5 For there is one God and there is one Mediator between God and men—a human, Messiah Yeshua, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony at the proper time.
Music Video: Kari Jobe—Rest https://youtu.be/EMXUiMA0IIE
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”