A Pillar of Fire by Night

I'm not one to focus too much on myself. I prefer that my expression of following Jesus shows up in part when I pay attention to other people and to my community. But telling stories about God's goodness and giving testimony to His faithfulness is always important. So here is a personal story of God's faithfulness to me. I tell it in hopes that it strengthens your faith as you follow Christ in 2009.

A part of the story of the nation of Israel is told in the Book of Exodus in the Bible. This story illustates God's faithfulness to Israel as it was led by Moses. The nation was taking a long journey through the wilderness and God had promised to lead them. How did God lead them? In Exodux 13:21 it says that 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...." This is taken from the Amplified Bible.

We can only imagine what it might have been like to follow a cloud in the day. What faith the nation of Israel must have shown to believe God's promise enough to simply follow a cloud. But what about the pillar of fire by night? What might that have been like? In those days I would expect God used actual fire to light the way. But I have a story of a modern-day fire-by-night adventure that I hope encourages you.

On New Years Eve a week or so ago, I was at a friend's house for a gathering. The celebration broke up about 11:30PM, a half hour before midnight. We all left for home and I had about a 45 minute drive. I knew I was going to be on the road when the clock struck midnight. In that moment and in that reality, I indulged in a little self pity. "Poor me," I thought, "I'm not going to be with anyone when the new year changes." Perhaps you have felt similar aloneness before.

I was driving down the local bypass which sits somwhat above the city of Elkhart. The road goes above the roof lines of the buildings. I was talking out loud to the Lord in my self pity: "How am I going to even know when midnight strikes, Lord? The clock in my car is not correct, and I can't see my watch in the dark. I'm going to spend another New Year turnover alone, oblivious to a year's passage."

My attitude in the doldrums, I suddenly saw what I thought was lightening in the sky. It seemed to be intensifying as I drove forward. As I followed the bend in the road, I was suddenly surrounded by FIREWORKS!!! They were before me and beside me and behind me. Huge sunburst designs. Little snapping and whirring forms. Reds and greens and whites and golds. Because the bypass sits above the rooftops, I felt as though the fireworks were at eye-level as I was driving my car. It felt surreal, like I was right in the middle of the lights and sounds of the New Year. The images reflected off the hood of my car, and I wanted to reach out and touch the lights. I no longer dwelt upon being alone. I knew God was with me in the majesty, beauty, and simple joy of that moment.

Later I reflected on Exodus, and especially on Exodus 13:22 which says that "The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people." As I move forward into 2009, I will be continually reminded that God leads His children in the ways they should go. And whether it be a cloud, a fire, or fireworks, He always gives us something magnificent to follow.