The journey of God’s people through the wilderness has to be studied in detail by today’s Christians to gather the many valuable lessons for their spiritual journey. As Paul writes: “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (1Cor.10:11) These great truths to be meditated are for our admonition. One of the significant observations of their journey was that they were under a cloud (Num 10:34), written also in 1Cor.10:1: “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea.”

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What does being under the cloud signify for us today?

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A HEAVENLY PROTECTION:

Cloud covering was a real shelter and also served as a guidance in the wilderness journey. Moses saw it as: "He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler." (Psalm 91:4)  It was truly a cover that spread over the people of Israel to shelter them from all forms of harm in their desert journey. Without this they would have perished in the fierce desert with pestilences or scorching heat or the destruction that is at the noonday. The cloud-covering in a figurative way served as a gigantic tent for Israel. For the New Testament believer, it is in the unseen realm a spiritual covering that keeps us safe from all kinds of spiritual attack and physical harm. His protection over us works in real and practical ways in our day-to-day lives. It is hence inevitable that we be under this covering wherever we are. This means we need to be within the periphery of His truth, which sets the boundary for us. Once we cross this boundary of truth, then we fall into unprotected area and will enter into enemy’s hands.

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CLOUD AS GUIDANCE:

Neh.9:12 says: ”Moreover You led them by day with a cloudy pillar, And by night with a pillar of fire, To give them light on the road Which they should travel." Only God knew the way in this wilderness and hence He moved with His people in this cloudy protection and showed them the way forward. Cloud showed forth light in the darkness. Similarly, we have the light of the word of God to show forth our way forward. (Ps.119:105): “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”

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A LAYER OF SEPARATION:

This wonderful provision of God not only protected them, but also separated them from others. It was for them a supernatural separation layer from all other heathen nations surrounding them. In the same way we are separated by God’s spiritual covering over us. Once we walk under this cloud we have this mark of separation. What is this that keeps us separated from others? As it is written in (Col. 3:10):"and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him…"

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CLOUD AS A WITNESS:

God’s people walked in front of the Gentile nations with this witness of cloud covering. All the other nations saw this cloud in the wilderness and the pillar of fire in the night, this served as a glorious witness for God’s children. We who walk under this cloud should show forth this witness to the world that we belong to God. (Acts 1:8): “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

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Note:

The cloud that protected, guided,

separated is to be a glorious witness for God on earth!