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.
Exodus 13:21-22 NIV
When God brought Israel out of Egypt, he did not leave them alone to find their way to Canaan. Instead, he provided them with the world’s first GPS. But rather than an electronic version, it was a pillar of cloud by day and fire at night. When the pillar moved, they moved. If the pillar stopped for a while, then so did they (Num. 9:15-23). The pillar, or cloud, led them each step of the way, guiding them to appropriate places to camp (Deut. 1:33).
The Spirit and the Word
As God’s people, we do not have a pillar of cloud and fire to guide us today. But he has given us other guides that will do much more than just lead us from campsite to campsite. The first of these is the Bible. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” God’s word will guide us along the path we are traveling. If we will invest the time in learning what it says.
The second guide God gives to us is his Spirit. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to us. And that he would “teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit guides us and helps us to understand the Scriptures that God has given to us. Having the Scriptures is good. Having the Holy Spirit to teach us from them is even better.
Today, while we may not have a pillar of cloud and fire to guide us, we do have something better. God’s word and his indwelling Spirit. Allow them to lead you through your life’s journey.
