So, we're in Exodus 13:21–22, “Guided by His Presence.”
“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 may travel by day and night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.”
Before I talk about this passage, I want to talk about your reading, study, and devotions in God's Word. Sometimes you and I just need to stop and smell the roses. Sometimes we need just to stop and meditate and take in the beauty of a couple verses. Sometimes it's not best to read a great big, long chapter. Sometimes it's better to just camp on a couple verses and consider the beauty of what is there. And I love, love, love the picture of our LORD in this passage and his care for his own.
This passage is tender and beautiful. God is merciful and he's patient. He's kind and he's tender-hearted. And in his wisdom and loving care, he knows what we need way more than we do. God knew these people had been beaten down and abused for 400 years by their Egyptian masters. During that period of time, they had no right and almost no hope. Generation after generation, they had cried out to God who seemed far away, who seemed unhearing and uncaring. So even though God had unleashed his infinite power to deliver them, these people were surely susceptible to doubt and fear. They needed constant assurance of God's presence, his guidance, and his care.
So, God literally goes before them in a visible manifestation of his presence. I want you to notice this, “the cloud by day and the pillar fire by night” are not just guidance. They are assurance that God is with them. There's a visible manifestation that God, who controls creation, harnesses creation so there'd be something before the eyes of the Israelite children that would always remind them that God was with them.
I mean, think about this. They could look up any time of the day or night and be assured that they were not alone. How beautiful is that? They would always know that they were not off on their own, that they were being guided by the presence of the LORD. Imagine how important it was for them to be assured that the God who had delivered them was still with them, and if he was there to guide, he was there also to provide. He would never leave them on their own; the Lord who rescues, guides and always makes his presence known.
God does the same for us. You may think, “Well, I wish I had a pillar of fire and a cloud in front of me all the time so I would know God's around.” Well, Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. Surely, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Do you know there are over 100 passages in the Bible that promise the security of God's presence, that he will never leave us or forsake us? I believe that the children of Israel will gladly exchange our Bibles for their cloud and pillar. Because again and again and again, in hundreds of ways, God reminds us that He is with us. He is our hope. He is present. He will not abandon his own. And that's really good news!
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. When has there been a season in your life where you felt like God was unhearing and uncaring? How did that season make you susceptible to doubt and fear? How did God meet you in that difficult time to show you his presence, guidance, and care?
2. How does the assurance of God’s presence in your life (based on what Scripture communicates about his continual closeness and care) help you in times when you might feel lonely and down? What are some helpful reminders for you that give you assurance of God’s continual presence?
3. Because we can know that God is always with us and that we’re never truly alone, how might that affect your relationship with him and your confidence in his sovereignty over your life and all things?
4. Even though it may not seem like it sometimes because of our circumstances, what is encouraging to you about the fact that God will never abandon you or turn his back on you?
5. Why do you think the Bible is perhaps better than a pillar of cloud or a pillar of fire?
For Younger Children:
1. How do you normally feel when you’re lonely? What helps you to feel better when you feel lonely?
2. If you knew that God was always with you, standing by your side in real life, how would that help with your feelings of loneliness?
3. How does the Bible help us to understand that we’re never truly alone? How can the fact that God is always near and caring for us make you feel comforted and loved?
For Older Children:
1. If you could trade your Bible for a literal tower of cloud by day and fire by night, knowing that God was physically represented by those towers, would you do it? Why or why not?
2. Even though we don’t have pillars of clouds or fire, how can we know that God is always with us? What has helped you to remember that truth when you’re feeling a deep sense of loneliness?
3. How can we help remind each other of the truth of God’s presence and care in times when we’re feeling isolated and detached from others?
4. When you hear, “God will never abandon you,” how does that make you feel?
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