Pillar of Fire

I think, sometimes, we use God like a flashlight.

The flashlights in our house are always there...somewhere. 

Its comforting...when I think about them.

In fact, I don't normally think about my flashlights on a daily basis.

No, its not until an emergency.  The electricity shuts off in a storm...always at night, somehow...and my husband and I suddenly run around, looking for those darned flashlights.

"Where are they?"

"I think I keep them in the laundry room!"

"Wait...didn't we see the kids using them a couple months ago???"

Suddenly, in urgent moments...in confusing moments...in scary moments.  We all reach out for the flashlight.

God is not a flashlight.  He is a Pillar of Fire.

I've gotten a little lost lately.  A little too wrapped up in my life  Very satisfied in doing things for the Lord instead of being with the Lord.

It happens, but this time its been confusing...somewhat urgent...and very scary.  I reached out and wondered why I wasn't immediately safe.  But, the Pillar of Fire was there.

What on earth am I talking about?  Its in Exodus 13: 21, 22:

^" By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people."

This happened between the famous Exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt and the even more famous crossing of the Red Sea.  In between the amazing acts of God in our lives, there is always waiting.  Always a little hesitancy about what on earth God has in mind.  

We lack...and desperately want...direction.

What an amazing thing!  I want to see it.  An entire nation of people, guided by what must've been a gigantic pillar of cloud or of fire!  And knowing that it was God.  He was "here".  Don't you want to see God "here" every step of the way?  This story keeps coming to mind as I wonder, each day, what on earth God is doing in my life right now.  Here is what I am learning.

1.  God Goes Before Us

This is my new favorite thought.  The Sovereign God of the Universe.  Infinitely Holy.  Completely Good.  Terribly Awesome. Goes.  Before.  You.

The people of Israel followed that Pillar around through the wilderness without a clue what God had planned or where they were really going.  They had a promise of a new land.  And the pillar.  Each day they awoke, and if the pillar stayed put, they stayed put.  If the pillar moved, they moved.  It might move at night...they moved at night.  It might move for three days...so they moved for 3 days.  

But they knew that, if it moved, God had a place in mind.  A plan just around the corner.  A new camp...with everything they would need...being prepared when the Great Pillar finally rested.  

It may seem like such an unstable life, but right now...with my life in a topsy turvy spiral to nowhere...I can't think of anything more stable than total, complete reliance on the Lord. 

I wake up now with no plan, because the plan I might need to make brings me such stress and confusion.  Instead, I wake up and cry, "I cannot do this on my own.  I invite you in today, God.  I don't plead for direction, only complete satisfaction in Your constant Presence.  When its time to move.  Move me."

2.  God Wants Surrender

God as a Pillar of Fire has taught me something else.  Before I can do great things.  Before I can win souls.  Before I can write songs.  There is only God.  And there is only my complete and utter surrender of my life and will to Him.  I've never really done that before.  Conceptually, yes.  At my moment of salvation, absolutely.  But really...REALLY...give every step to Him?  That's new.  That Pillar taught the People of Israel...who had been enslaved for hundreds of years in a foreign land and who were just now getting reaquainted with this Jehovah fellow...their first lesson in a relationship with God.  Dependence.  Sarah Young, in her book "Jesus Calling" uses an opposite metaphor of a fog and says this:

"As you look...at the path ahead, you notice that a peaceful fog has settled over it, obscuring your view.  You can see only a few steps in front of you, so you turn your attention more fully to Me and begin to enjoy My presence.  The fog is a protection for you, calling you back into the present moment.  Although I inhabit all of space and time, you can communicate with Me only here and now.  Someday the fog will no longer be necessary, for you will have learned to keep your focus on Me and on the path just ahead of you."

3.  Our Pillar of Fire Fights For Us

In Exodus 14, we witness the historic and miraculous crossing of the Red Sea.  The Egyptians were closing in fast.  The terrifying warriors of Pharaoh, with their chariots, horses and weapons struck fear into teh hearts of Israel.  God, as we know, plans an impressive escape route.  But, I have never noticed the event that takes place immediately before this.  The Red Sea manages to over-shadow the Pillar of Fire coming to the aid of God's Children:

"Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long."

In their most terrifying moment, the Israelite's Pillar charged toward their enemy and protected them.  Our Pillar of Fire does not just go before us.  He has our back.

I had to pause a moment.  That thought gives me such a sense of gratitude and safety, it is overwhelming.  More so when you realize what Moses had just said to the people as they cried out in utter panic:

 “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Think about that.

"The LORD will fight for you;  you need only to...be...still."

Go, be with God today.  Enjoy the company of our Pillar of Fire as He guides, comforts, and protects.