“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”
Exodus 13:21-22
God guided the people out of Egypt through a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. God leads us the same way today. Instead of clouds and fire, God leads us through the Holy Spirit, His Blood, and the Bible. The journey is full of obstacles and hardships. That should be expected. We should not despair because He will deliver us if we are steadfast. And God puts on this path because He wants us to grow close to Him.
First, it’s easy to think, “Since God is guiding us, everything will go well and be easy.” However, after a long day of walking through the desert, they expect to cool off at night, but God throws them a pillar of fire. Or they might be craving the sunlight on a cold day, but instead, get cloud-covered skies. Either way, the so-called weather conditions were less than ideal. When God guides us, the conditions might not be what we expect or what we hope for, but it is all a part of God’s plan. We can’t control the sun or clouds, but God can. He creates our present conditions.
Second, with God leading us, putting aside the weather conditions, we hope for a peaceful journey. Instead, the strongest army in the world chases us from behind- we are trapped between the Red Sea and an army looking to destroy us. We are running out of water, and we can’t drink the remaining water because it’s so bitter. We are starving to death. Everything looks hopeless. The journey God puts us on will seem hopeless and impossible to overcome. Just remember this a part of God’s plan.
Third, the pillar of cloud and fire guides the people of Israel out of Egypt. Today, God guides us out of unfaithfulness, secularism, and the world through the Holy Spirit, His Blood, and the words of the Bible. We must follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, do as the Holy Spirit commands. We must think of His blood. In other words, we must live without sin, try to live righteously, and live connected to God. And finally, we must live according to the Bible. We follow the pillar of cloud and fire by doing these three things.
Fourth, if we follow the pillar of cloud and fire, we will encounter hardships. If we follow the movement of the Holy Spirit, live according to His Blood and the Bible, we face hardships. That is God’s plan. We must not despair or be discouraged because He will deliver us; He will part the Red Sea to save us. So when we follow His guidance, we must not be surprised or discouraged when we meet obstacles. It is His Plan. Don’t expect the journey to be trouble free.
And finally, where is God leading us? We follow the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of cloud by night but to what destination? Where is He taking us? He wants us to run to Him. God wants us to “jump into His lap” and seek comfort and peace. The army chasing us down; enduring hardships with food and water; and the unforgiving weather conditions… God gives us these obstacles so that we will run to Him.
God leads us through a pillar of cloud and fire. He leads us through the Holy Spirit, Blood, and the Bible. When He leads us, we must not become discouraged. Hardships are expected. We will run into obstacles. God does this because He wants us to run to the Shepherd.
Summary
1. When God guides us, don’t expect the conditions to be ideal.
2. During the journey, we will run into obstacles and hardships.
3. We follow God’s guidance by adhering to the Holy Spirit, His Blood, and the Bible.
4. Do not despair. Meeting hardships is planned and designed by God.
5. God puts on this path because He wants us to grow close to Him.
GOD FIRST 
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