Under The Cloud
I love looking at the clouds. They are so majestic. We live near the ocean and we have quite a view from our balcony of the clouds forming over the water. The sunsets are fantastic, as the sun lights up the clouds. Have you ever laid down on the ground looking up to the sky, trying to see images in the clouds? My wife and I have done that on a number of occasions; just letting our imagination go. Some see clouds as a threat, as signs of imminent storms, or as a spoiler to an afternoon at the beach or picnic in the park. But even if clouds for you are negative symbols of doom and despair, we should try to see the good they can bring. Remember the metaphor, “Every cloud has a silver lining.”?
The children of Israel were in Egypt for about 400 years. The average rainfall there is about 2 inches a year, and much less as one travels South into the desert. During those 400 years, the Israelites had to endure day after day of cloudless skies and intense heat. As Moses led them out of Egypt and into the Sinai, they now had to confront this weather condition without the protection of their homes. To get to the Promised Land, the men, women and children were to walk through the desert, in the heat of the day and the cold of the night. Our God is not sadistic, He provided protection for them. He gave them a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. For the Israelites, having a cloud to give them shade was a novelty. They weren’t used to being so cared for. It was like having air-conditioning. Having the cloud during the day was a blessing.
Since that time, clouds have become a metaphor for the presence of God. Moses went into the cloud to talk to God. It was in the cloud that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and it was by means of the cloud that the Lord guided Israel by day. When the armies of Egypt approached, the cloud went between them and they were protected. One day, when Isaiah was worshipping in the Temple, a cloud filled it with God’s glory and he saw the Lord seated on His throne. (Is. 6.1-5) Elijah prayed for the rain to come and in seeing a small cloud, he knew the drought had been broken and rain was on the way. On the Mount of Transfiguration, a bright cloud overshadowed Jesus, Peter, James and John and God spoke from the cloud. (Matthew 17.5) Jesus ascended into Heaven in a cloud and He will come again in a cloud. (Acts 1.9-11)
Clouds produce shadows and under the shadow of the Almighty the people of God are protected. If you feel you are “under the circumstances”, just remember that God is greater than the circumstances and His deliverance is near. Declare that: “All things work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8.28) Nothing surprises God. Nothing is too big for Him to handle. If the cloud seems dark and threatening, look for the silver lining. As Psalms 91 says: “He will deliver from the snare of the fowler…You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.” His cloud is over you. Don’t get out from under it. You can hide in it and the enemy cannot touch you. God will meet you there. It can be your hiding place…a place of peace and resfreshment…a place for just you and God.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Psalms 91; Exodus 13.21; 16.10; Luke 9.34; I Cor. 10.1; Mark 14.62; Daniel 7.13