An encouraging thought for you during this time of COVID-19…
As I was reading this week’s Hebraic scripture portion, I saw an analogy that I believe brings comfort in times such as this. I was reading from Exodus 35:1—40:38. The concluding verse, Exodus 40:38, reads:
For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in [plain view] of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys. (ESV & [NET] Full quotations are at the end of this post)
This cloud was their guidance and protection. The LORD was always with them in the cloud and guided them by day and night, including providing the light by which they were able to see their way, as it says in Ex 13:21-22.
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not remove the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night from before the people. (ESV & NET)
The cloud and fire were a physical manifestation of His presence. Notice that He never removed His presence from them!
I believe that the cloud also protected them as they traveled, just as it did in Exodus 14:19-20 as they prepared to cross the Red Sea with Pharaoh and his army in hot pursuit. He protected them, just as He had promised through Moses in Exodus 14:14: The Lord will fight for you…
Though we may not see a physical cloud and fire today as we walk through the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) is present with those of us who follow Yeshua as our Savior, our Messiah. The Ruach is our cloud by day and fire to light the way in the thickest darkness. As it did at the time of the Exodus, His revelation illuminates and protects the righteous, though it usually appears opaque and dark to those who deny Him.
Adonai knows the cure for this virus, just as He knows the cure for all viruses and other sicknesses. He was not caught off guard by its appearance and He is in the process of revealing the medical cure. I am positive we will also hear of miraculous cures and protection as well. It will all happen in His timing and according to His purposes. Our only responsibility is to trust Him, to keep our face turned toward Him, not taking Him for granted, but keeping ourselves clean before Him, just as we are keeping our hands clean with soap and water and sanitizer, and keeping “social distance.”
Stand firm in Him today and, if you have never repented and given your heart to Him, asking Him to be your Savior and the Lord of your life, do so right now! If you need to repent and rededicate your life to Him, do so right now! In your own words, ask His forgiveness for ignoring Him, for violating His teachings and guidance for life, and ask Him to be your Savior and to fill you with the Ruach Hakodesh, the Holy Spirit. He never rejects anyone who asks. In fact, He is just waiting for you to choose Him because He paid the price for your sin and He wants to give you the Ruach HaKodesh to guide and support you here and now.
Full Scripture References
Exodus 40:36-38
Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in [plain view] of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys. (ESV & [NET])
Exodus 14:19–20:
Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night. (ESV)
Exodus 14:13–14:
And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. (ESV)
Scripture quotations are from:
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016)
The NET Bible. (Biblical Studies Press, 2005).
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