Your Clouds
Tuesday, August 1
Your Clouds
The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. Exodus 13:21
Throughout the Scriptures, clouds serve as a powerful symbol, indicating the direct presence of God in both time and space. Despite its significance, this biblical-theological theme has often been overlooked and underexplored. It is truly surprising how much the Scriptures can teach us, using clouds as a means of illustration or allusion to convey profound symbolic and redemptive-historical meanings. Delving deeper into this theme opens up a new dimension of understanding and appreciation for the profound role clouds play in revealing God’s presence and divine purposes.
A few years ago I did a short study to understand the many times clouds are mentioned in the Bible and its meaning. In this I discovered the cloud almost always served as a reminder of God’s covering. Think of the clouds as the glory of God.
In the Exodus, as the Lord led His people out of Egypt, He guided them through the wilderness for 40 years using a pillar of cloud as a visible manifestation of His presence. This cloud served as a promise to His people that He would be with them throughout their journey. It became a powerful symbol of God’s protection and provision. The cloudy pillar shielded them from the scorching sun and concealed them from their adversaries. Furthermore, it taught them to trust in God’s guidance, even when the path was unknown. As Moses stated, “The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way” (Ex. 13:21). The people couldn’t see beyond the cloud, but they had to place their trust in the Lord, believing that His presence was sufficient to lead them to their destined place.
God never promised us a road paved with good days, instead what He has promised to be with us all the way. He promised that he was going to be there all the time. Lean into the presence of God.
Prayer for today: Loving Father, thank You for Your protection over our lives. Thank You for Your unchanging nature and character. Thank You that You’re compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Amen.