Years ago, I used to hear a phrase repeated so often that it almost became cliche: "Practice the presence of God." That phrase had a mysterious ring to it, as though there were some strange ritual or something that believers needed to go through at regular intervals in order to stay close to God. But what it really meant was, "Keep yourself aware of God's presence, so that you can think and act accordingly." And maintaining an awareness of God's presence is essential if we are to develop and maintain a close, personal relationship with God.
God has not left us without help in doing this, however. In this study, I want to look first at the remarkable reminder that God gave to Israel in the wilderness to keep them aware of His presence, and then at the even more remarkable reminder that He has given to us.
When the Children of Israel left the promised land after the destroying angel slew the firstborn of Egypt, they did not go alone. The Lord went before them in a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night.
Exodus 13:20-22.
And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them in the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, [from] before the people.
The cloud visibly represented God's presence to the children of Israel. In addition, it represented to them God's leadership, as it was by means of the cloud that God showed them which way to Go.
The pillar of cloud and fire also represented God's protection. When Pharaoh changed his mind about letting Israel go, and sent his army after them, the pillar of cloud moved between the Israelites and the Egyptians.
Exodus 14:19-20.
And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness [to them], but it gave light by night [to these]: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
God was represented in the cloud by "the angel of the Lord." Later, in the day when the children of Israel received the Ten Commandments directly from God, God gave an interesting warning to Moses for Israel regarding this angel.
Exodus 23:20
Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name [is] in him.
But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.
Clearly the pillar of cloud and of fire was much more than a camp ornament!
The glory of the Lord also appeared to the children of Israel in the cloud.
Exodus 16:10.
And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
God also spoke to His people at times through the cloud.
Psalm 99:7.
He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept His testimonies, and the ordinance [that] He gave them.
Exodus 33:9.
And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood [at] the door of the tabernacle, and [the LORD] talked with Moses.
When the Tabernacle was built, the pillar of cloud and fire was closely associated with the Tabernacle.
Numbers 9:15-18, 21-22.
And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, [namely], the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.
So it was alway: the cloud covered it [by day], and the appearance of fire by night.
And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.
At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents...
And [so] it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and [that] the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether [it was] by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.
Or [whether it were] two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.
What God gave to Israel in this pillar of cloud and fire was something very special: He gave them proof in the senses realm of His presence. It took no degree in theology to realize that this was no natural phenomenon; the cloud was supernatural. The cloud expressed for them in the senses realm, where they could always see it, the presence of God in their midst. And God left no doubt in their minds as to where and when He wanted them to travel, and when He wanted them to stay. All they had to do was look at what the cloud was doing, and act accordingly.
The cloud never left them while they were in the wilderness.
Nehemiah 9:19.
Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way they should go.
The pillar was a very visible example of God's faithfulness to Israel. Whether Israel was faithful to God or rebelling against Him, the pillar of cloud and fire stayed with them.
But it is Israel's response to the pillar that is especially interesting. They knew that the pillar was a supernatural manifestation of God's presence and guidance. Any time they doubted whether or not God was on their side, all they had to do was look at the pillar. It was visible from any place in the camp, at any time of day or night; when they marched, it was always in front of them, leading them. Like God Himself, the pillar was always there for them.
The pillar was there when the Israelites camped at a place with no water, and the people murmured against Moses. The pillar was there when the people made the golden calf and worshipped it, saying, "This is the god who brought us out of Egypt." The pillar was there when the Israelites heard the reports from the spies and refused to enter into the promised land, even though God had told them to take it. Every time the Israelites murmured against God, disobeyed God, made up their minds to go back to Egypt, or worshipped other gods, the pillar was there, a silent witness of God's presence, and a silent witness of their deeds.
What happened? How could anyone disobey God in the presence of so vivid a witness of His presence?
The answer is simple: they got used to the pillar of cloud and fire. Sure, it was exciting for the first few days, but after a while, the novelty wore off. Sure, they saw the cloud. It was the same cloud they had seen yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that... After a while, it just blended into the scenery. The only important question was, was the cloud moving, or was it standing still? If it was moving, time to go; if it was still, then folks could get some rest. After a while, the spiritual significance of the cloud faded into the background.
Today, we don't have a pillar of cloud and fire to remind us of God's presence. But God has not left us without a witness. Each of us who is born of God's spirit has holy spirit, and each of us has the ability to manifest holy spirit in nine different ways.
One of these manifestations in particular is always available as a senses-level witness of God's presence in us and with us: that manifestation, in case you haven't already guessed, is speaking in tongues. Any time is the right time for you to speak in tongues, even if you have to do it silently. We need never doubt God's presence; we need never doubt that we are who God says we are, or can do what God says we can do.
But human nature hasn't changed a bit. Can you remember how excited you were the first time you spoke in tongues? If you were like me, you had a hard time getting to sleep that night. And I was even more excited to find out that I could still speak in tongues the next day. I had some very special, very private speaking in tongues prayer sessions with God in those days; the privilege of praying perfectly to God in my very own "prayer language" meant a whole lot to me.
But after a while, the novelty started to wear off. Speaking in tongues started to become mechanical. I started speaking in tongues less and less, forgetting for days at a time.
At times, I still stand in awe at the greatness of what God has done for me in making me His son, in implanting His spirit in me. At other times, I have to fight with my mind to remind myself that the manifestations of the spirit, and particularly speaking in tongues, are spiritual, are supernatural, are anything other than business as usual.
Speaking in tongues is always available to me. Any time I need a reminder of God's presence, or of what God has done in my life, I need only speak in tongues. Speaking in tongues is my own personal pillar of cloud and of fire.
We cannot afford to let that which God has given us as our own personal witness of His presence become commonplace in our lives. We cannot afford to make the same mistakes that Israel made in this. God has done His utmost to remind us of His presence on a daily basis, if we choose to be reminded. Let us challenge ourselves to live and walk worthy of people living constantly in the presence of God.
In Isaiah, God made a very interesting promise to Israel regarding the pillar of cloud and of fire, which will come to pass when Christ returns to set up his kingdom on earth, with Jerusalem as the capitol of his kingdom.
Isaiah 4:5.
And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory [shall be] a defense.
When Christ returns, each and every home, and each and every assembly (synagogue or church) will have its very own pillar of cloud and of fire sitting on top of it. Even the blindest Israelite will have no excuse for not seeing God's witness of His presence, not merely with Israel as a nation, but with His own family.
We don't have to wait for that day for such a personal witness of God's presence. God has already given each of us who is born again our very own pillar of cloud and of fire, clearly visible whenever we open our mouths and speak in tongues.