The WildernessSample

5th day. How to see God in the wilderness.

When the Israelites traveled through the wilderness, they had a Guide that went before them. A Heavenly Guide. Showing them the way to go so that they would be protected and provided for while they face the dangers of the desert. Exodus 13:21-22 says “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.”

This means that Israel had a permanent Guide to follow. Wherever they saw the cloud moved, they followed, wherever they saw the fire moved, they went after it. The power of following your guide in the wilderness lies in the realization that if you lose your guide, then chances are slim for survival on your own. It is always wiser to follow someone who is familiar with the terrain. Let’s look at some of the symbolic meanings of the cloud and the fire and how we can use these to see God in our wilderness seasons.

The pillar of cloud went before the Israelites by day. Clouds are sometimes life changers in the desert because shade is not very common in a place where there are little to no trees around. The shade that the pillar of cloud provided was without a doubt a massive relief against the hot desert sun. Those who traveled closest to the cloud were the most privileged in receiving rest and relief. They are the ones that, as stated in Psalm 91, abide in the Shadow of the Almighty. A lot of times when clouds are formed it signifies that rain is on its way. In the desert, if you receive rain, it can make a difference between life and death. The rain brings refreshment and nourishment to a weary traveler. I remember when I was a child, my sister and I would lie on our backs and look for picture-like shapes that formed animals or objects. When we see a fish-shaped cloud we would think of holidays at the beach and when we see an elephant-shaped cloud we would think of the strength an elephant has. And I think a lot of times God uses the spiritual clouds in our wilderness to communicate to us certain messages that encourage and remind us of His presence and faithfulness. Those pictures changed when the wind started to blow, and sometimes new pictures would form from the same clouds. The wind that blows speaks of the movement of the Holy Spirit in the wilderness seasons. Whether that be in our characters or our circumstances. When Jesus was done fasting in the wilderness, Luke 4:14 says that He was empowered by the Spirit and started His ministry. This testifies to the truth that the Spirit of God is present in our wilderness seasons and strengthens us on our journey.

So, the pillar of cloud that we see in the wilderness is a way to see God’s rest, relief, refreshment, nourishment, encouraging messages, and the movement of His Spirit.

The pillar of fire that led Israel by night was also a lifesaver in the wilderness. Just as the days are very hot, the nights can also be very cold. Those who camped closest to the pillar of fire at night were comforted the most. Those who camped a distance away from the pillar of fire most definitely needed to cultivate their own fires to help fight against the cold. Fires are also useful to protect travellers against the predators that walk around at night. Fire is also used to light the path of travelers so that they can avoid obstacles that are in their way. Probably the most common use of fire is for the preparation of food and boiling water. So, as we can see, fire is one of the essentials when traveling through the wilderness.

Do not miss the pillar of fire that represents God’s comfort, protection, guidance, and sustenance with what we need to survive.

So in your wilderness season, do not believe the lie of the enemy that God has forsaken you because He has not. He is actually closer than you think. Look out for the signs of His clouds and His fire. They are the ones who are leading and guiding you to progress on your wilderness journey.