Even a casual “Sunday School attender” knows that God led the children of Israel through the desert by a cloud and a pillar. The cloud led them during the day, and the pillar of fire led them at night.

There was light and direction for their journey-day and night.

But did you know that the cloud and the pillar moved? As Pharaoh and his army closed in on the people of Israel, the situation became dire. While the chariots thundered in from behind, Israel was trapped with mountains on one side and the Red Sea on the other.

And right then, the cloud and pillar moved. Notice Exodus 14:19, “Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel.”

During one set of circumstances, the people of God desperately needed the direction that the cloud and pillar provided. They needed God to show them where to go and which route to take.

And yet, when the circumstances changed and the enemy was closing in, God moved the cloud and pillar from one position to another. He wasn’t providing direction at that moment. instead, He was providing protection.

The very same cloud and pillar now came between the people and Pharaoh’s army. “Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side, so neither went near the other all night long.” (vs. 20)

The cloud and the pillar moved at the beckoning of God. Whatever His people needed, He provided. If their circumstances required Him to mark out their path, He did so, day and night. But if their need was for protection, if His kids needed security and care, He provided it in abundance.

The messages swirling around our world right now are Chicken Little at his best. “The sky is falling” is the refrain and it reverberates throughout our world.

Now is a great  time for God’s people to notice that the cloud and the pillar move. They move at the command and will of our Father and they move to assist His people. He is still at work on behalf of those who follow hard after Him.

Now is not the time for anxiety and fear.. Now is the time to follow the light and bask in His care, day and night.

Pass the word: the cloud and the pillar move!