LED BY THE PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FIRE YET NO WATER

LED BY THE PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FIRE YET NO WATER

When we had prayed or served the Lord for a while and yet there is nothing to show for it, we tend to ask, “Is the Lord with me indeed?” You might be fortunate to listen to messages of consolation and encouragement saying, God is with you. You thought the man of God did not know what you are going through, let him say whatever he wants, I do not think God is there to answer my prayer. Why is it taking Him so long to answer my prayers? The Israelites were fortunate to be led by the great prophet Moses, the man who saw God face to face, he had parted the Red Sea and they saw the hands of God in Egypt and they were led forth by the Pillar of Cloud by the day and Pillar of Fire by the night, indeed God was the One who led them out of bondage. The Israelites journeyed according to the commandment of the Lord, led by the pillar of cloud and fire, and yet they came to a place where there was no water for them to drink. Beloved, we may be in the way of our duty, and yet may meet with troubles, which Providence brings us into for the trial of our faith, and that God may be glorified, in our relief.

Here they demanded for water from Moses as if he was not part of the journey, ungoverned passions, provoked by the crossing of unbridled appetites, sometimes make men guilty of the greatest absurdities, and act like madmen, that cast firebrands, arrows, and death, among their best friends. Control your anger when your needs are not met. Never transfer aggression to others when you find yourself in an unsuitable position. It is better to keep quiet and see how things unfold. If you follow God in His journey, believe Him absolutely to supply your need, He is still in the Pillar of Cloud and Fire over your affairs. The ground may look dry, but the Heaven over your life holds much waters.

Do not tempt the Lord like the Israelites, immediately they found themselves in a dry location began to question whether God was with them or not: they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not? - Exodus17:7. If the Lord is not with you, how did you get to this location, by your own strength or power? It is a great provocation to God for us to question his presence, providence, or promise, especially for his Israel to do it, who are so peculiarly bound to trust him.

When men unjustly censure us and quarrel with us, it will be a great relief to us to go to God, and by prayer lay the case before him and leave it with him: if men will not hear us, God will; if their bad conduct towards us ruffle our spirits, God's consolations will compose them. Moses begs of God to direct him what he should do, for he was utterly at a loss; he could not of himself either supply their want or pacify their tumult; God only could do it. He pleads his own peril: “They are almost ready to stone me; Lord, if thou hast any regard to the life of thy poor servant, step in now.”

God can open fountains for our supply where we least expect them, waters in the wilderness (Isa 43:20), because he makes a way in the wilderness. While we follow the pillar of cloud and fire, surely goodness and mercy shall follow us, like the water out of the rock. That rock was Christ, 1 Cor. 10:4. The graces and comforts of the Spirit are compared to rivers of living water - John 7:38, 39; 4:14. These flow from Christ, who is the rock smitten by the Law of Moses, for he was made under the law. Nothing will supply the needs, and satisfy the desires, of a soul, but water out of this rock, which is Jesus Christ.

Word Affirmation: “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." – John 7:38 (Don't just say it, mean it!)

“If you follow God in His journey, believe Him absolutely to supply your need."

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