It's 5am. I'm running along the golf course near our house. It's early. In fact, it's still dark.
I come up to the berm near hole number three. I stop. The beauty of the moon stops me. It's hovering between two gigantic pine trees.
It's ominous glow is casting a light over everything in this early morning hour. The trees are lit, the grass mulling over courses, sandpits, the forest behind the golf house.
I'm awakened by God or a good dose of caffeine I had the night before. These days it's hard to tell which. Either way, it's good to get up, put on my running shoes and head out into the early morning to exercise.
As I stare at the moon I begin to feel the need to pray.
My life feels 'off' at the moment. Maybe it feels 'off' because I haven't slept well this week, 5 hours a night, 6 if I'm lucky. Perhaps its because I'm an emotional guy who runs on high energy, and conversely I feel down right now?
I find myself psyching myself up for the day, mentally preparing myself: If only I'm more honest at work? If maybe I work harder? If perhaps I try harder at the projects I'm given? If I can workout more and get better sleep, then I'll feel better, as if life is on my side again, for me instead of against me.
Set Free From Slavery
God tells his people He is moving before them. The story happen in Exodus 13. It's just after He's lead them through the Red Sea, saving them from not only imminent death, but also a life of redundant slavery.
He tells them He is moving before them.
The God who has set them free from slavery is moving before them.
He does this by showing up as a pillar of fire (at night) and a cloud (by day). This is an incredible image.
When you follow the story of God in the book of Exodus it tells of God as 'fire and cloud' leading them. The God who has freed them from slavery is now showing up as fire and cloud to lead, guide, and protect them along the way.
Along the Way
Here's my favorite part of this passage: along the way.
This one phrase says so much about the character of God. He's just freed them from slavery. At this point I think He's pretty much done enough. He could demand gratitude before doing anything else. He could wait to see if they respect his awesome actions. No, he immediate proceeds to walk alongside them.
He's not waiting for them to "get-it-right." He's not demanding them to work out their sinful kinks before he does another miracle. He's not an overbearing Lord whose just checking off a list to see if his people have made it or not. Instead he's showing up as an awesome mysterious God who leads, guides, and protects his people.
He does this by walking along the way.
The Character of God
Here's where this gets personal.
In this passage is a picture of God, and particularly his character, which I am not believing right now. My heart is stuck somewhere else. My identity is focused on other things.
You see…its not about whether or not we feel 'off' or 'on' today. It's not about the circumstances of our life being all lined up and perfect. In fact, it's not even about us at all.
It's about a God whose gone before us along the way. It's about a God who leads, guide and protects in all thing. It's about a God who comes to us and meets us where we are at no matter if we feel amazing or not.
Are you feeling up or down? Are happy or discouraged? Do you love your job? Are you frustrated at what you do? Are there places in your life where you know you need to change?
Where is God showing up as your fire and cloud?
AB.
AB.
