Ever Present

Exo 40:36  Whenever the Cloud lifted from The Dwelling, the People of Israel set out on 

	their travels, 

Exo 40:37  but if the Cloud did not lift, they wouldn't set out until it did lift. 
Exo 40:38  The Cloud of GOD was over The Dwelling during the day and the fire was in 

	it at night, visible to all the Israelites in all their travels. 


	Here was a whole nation going camping in the wilderness. Though there were 

restrictions on them at their former abode, they at least had a solid structure house and a 

steady, scheduled occupation to which they could apply themselves. I'm sure it might 

have been something to do for a vacation of a week or so, but in making it into a several-

year trip there must have been a great deal of wondering about how much longer this trip 

was going to be. (Probably a lot of kids asking, "How much longer, Daddy?") 

	There was a place to which they were going, however, and in that Promised Land 

there was something they would require above everything else - an awareness, familiarity 

and dependence on the presence and direction of the glory of God. The things before 

them in the wilderness would take more than just following a single man. They would 

need to have personal understanding of the God that guided Moses. There would be walls 

for them to walk around, battle's for them to fight and land to be occupied and developed. 

All of this would require a personal, unrestricted confidence and reliance upon an ever-

present God who had promised to bring them through to victory. For years they would be 

conditioned in this required awareness by this incredible display of the glory of God. At 

first it must have been such a novelty to have this ever-present cloud over the tabernacle 

in the day and this unquenchable fire at night. After a while, though, it became something 

that was just a part of their every moment, giving them confidence and direction. They 

would not move unless it permitted them and they would never be without a night-light. 

They began to learn how to please God in their daily living and to make things right 

before Him in sacrifices, but there was always this visual before them, assuring them that 

there was a reality in this God. They could always be assured that, yes, the same God that 

did all that He did in their deliverance was still with them. 

	An adventure lies before anyone who is willing to occupy the land that is 

promised to all. There will be enemies to conquer and walls to overcome, and much of it 

will be things that are beyond our natural ability. To really occupy and live in the 

abundance that is ours, we'll have to become completely reliant on the One who has 

brought us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Though it may seem like this trip is 

taking a bit longer than we would like and though we may be tempted to give up, there is 

an opportunity for us in this adventure to learn complete awareness and dependence on 

His glory. As we were so impressed by His presence on the day we first decided to follow 

Him, there is an occupation of that same presence in and over the tabernacle of our hearts 

that is always there, day and night. While it may just become a part of our daily life, 

losing its novelty, there is an unending potential in allowing it to actually lead and guide. 

In beholding and desiring this glory there is a change that comes over us by the power of 

His spirit and we are equipped in every way of goodness. We are made able to occupy 

and conquer the land of abundance with confidence in the One who we know is guiding 

and empowering us. 

	Never moving until the Cloud's release and allowing a fire within us to glow 

throughout our night, there is place for us, unshakable and invincible, in the presence of 

our God. May His glory be given its full potential in our lives as it is allowed to be so 

much more than just an observed entity. May we be propelled by our fellowship in Him 

to another realm of glory. 


4/23/04