The journey to the Promised Land: "God’s guidance in the unknown"
Exodus 13:21 “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 night.”
These Israelites flee Egypt and leave this slavery but step into an unknown space. At least for them, the space of slavery was a known space. It’s the sense that even if the known space is a space of suffering the idea of an unknown space can be even more uncomfortable of its nature. Here in this verse is the comfort that as the Israelites step into this new chapter of their existence they do so with the presence and power of God’s abiding presence. Whether it is day or night this verse is the assurance that God will lead them through this space of unknown.
I come this morning shouting a praise of hallelujah for this verse and this devotional time. This is the exact word that I needed to hear this morning. This assurance that whether the unknown be leading me into a season of day or night that God’s abiding presence will be actively guiding me regardless of the circumstances of my life. I so relate with the Israelites today with the intimidation of the unknown of tomorrow but I come confidently before the Lord this morning assured of His abiding presence that will guiding my path in the day or the night of the tomorrows of my life.
Lord, may you be that presence of cloud and fire in my life that will guide my path today and into the tomorrows of my life. May you go before me in the cloud of the day and in the fire of the night; help me to take comfort and to be watchful for this abiding promise. Give me the grace to take notice of what direction you are leading and to trust that direction even as I have no idea about the land to which you are leading. Protect me from the temptation to go back to Egypt into the slavery of the known but may I take delight and comfort in relying on you for every single step that I may experience the joy of being led by your abiding cloud and fire at work in my life. Continue to remind me of your story of leading to the Promised Land and regardless of the circumstances may I rest in full assurance that your cloud and fire will always lead to the Promised Land. Amen!!!
God’s leading through the unknown is a journey to the Promised Land!!!
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