“For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.” Exodus 40:38

God led the children of Israel through the desert with a cloud overshadowing them by day and a  pillar of fire by night.

God overshadows His children with the cooling cloud in the heat of the day and the warm flames of the pillar of fire in the cold desert night. He leads them, provides for them, and gives them rest.

As the cloud and pillar of fire rested on the tabernacle of the house of Israel, the Holy Spirit rests within God’s children. Their bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

In the desert, the Israelites learned to depend upon God for their daily food and water, for their shelter, and for their guidance. They lived by daily miracles … manna from heaven, water from a rock, quail from the wind, healing from the snakebites, cooling cloud by day, and pillar of fire by night. God is all-powerful.

When the Israelites came to the edge of the desert and God readied them to enter the Promised Land, Moses sent 12 men to investigate the land. The men brought back a branch of grapes so big that they put it on a pole and carried it between two men.

Joshua and Caleb urged the Israelites to go into this land of flowing milk and honey. The 10 remaining spies focused on the people of the land who were strong, lived in fortified cities, and many were giants.

The trip through the desert was supposed to be a relatively short trip, a time of leaning into God and learning to trust Him. Instead of trusting God to sustain and protect them on the journey into the Promised Land, the Israelites chose to stay in the desert rather than to take on the battles to possess the promise.

Is there a promise that you’re hesitating to take possession of? Perhaps there is a battle before you take possession of God’s promise for you. God will sustain you. God will protect you.

My prayer for you:

Father of promises, great and small, give us greater faith as we lean into You. Help us feel Your presence as we step into the promises You have given to us. We know that the battle belongs to You. Thank You for all You are. Thank You for Your love. Thank You.