Our Guide

On the day the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered it. But from evening until morning the cloud over the Tabernacle looked like a pillar of fire. This was the regular pattern —at night the cloud that covered the Tabernacle had the appearance of fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. Numbers 9:15-17

ISRAEL was on the verge of a new start. They were about to set out from Mount Sinai, where they had been camping for almost a year, to make their way through the wilderness to the Promised Land. So much about the journey and the destination ahead was unknown, but this much they knew: They wouldn’t be going into the wilderness alone. God was going with them. He had come down to dwell in their midst in the Tabernacle on the first day it was set up. His radiant glory descended in a pillar of fire on this tent in the middle of their camp and stayed there.

The day would come when, once again, the people of God would set out into the unknown —on the Day of Pentecost. The risen Jesus had ascended into heaven and told them to wait together. And similar to the pillar of fire descending on the Tabernacle in Moses’ day, tongues of fire descended on God’s people on the Day of Pentecost. It was an outward sign that the Holy Spirit had descended to dwell in all believers.

As we face the unknowns of each new stage of parenting our children through life in the wilderness of this world, we sometimes wish for a pillar of fire to lead us and show us where to go. But we have something even better. We have the Holy Spirit indwelling us, guiding us, and empowering us for every unknown.

Lord, some days I wish your presence was as visible and your leading as recognizable as a pillar of fire. As we make our way through the wilderness in this world, we do not take your presence for granted. We want to move forward when you move and stay where we are when you stop. Thank you for your Holy Spirit, who lives in us and illumines your Word, helping us to know and understand your will. Thank you for the way you are renewing our minds so we will know the good and pleasing and perfect will of God for our lives.