In Exodus 13 we’re introduced to an amazing sight. The Israelites had the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire with them EVERY DAY. No matter what, day or night, they had a constant reminder that Yahweh was with them, protecting, leading, and providing for them.
Yet, what did they do? They grumbled about lack of meat and water. They complained when He provided them with manna to eat and water to drink. They murmured about basically everything. Here they have a visible, can’t miss it, sign of God being with them, and they rejected it for a deceived impression that they knew best.
It continued this way when the God of the universe sent His Son, Jesus, in the flesh, saying that His name would be Emmanuel, God with us (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). He walked among His people, healing, teaching, providing. Yet they rejected Him (John 1:10-11). After all, they knew best. Their delusion led to hanging Jesus on the cross.
After His resurrection and appearing to His disciples and others for many days (1 Corinthians 15:3-8), Jesus promised to be with them always (Matthew 28:20b). In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit was sent to indwell God’s children, fulfilling Christ’s promise to be with them always. The Spirit leads, teaches, empowers, just like in the wilderness and in Jesus’s day. Yet, just like then, God’s children often ignore the continual presence of God in their lives. They complain, grumble, murmur because they believe they know best.
May we repent and rejoice with grateful submission that Emmanuel, God with us, indwells.
Photo by Max Saeling on Unsplash
The Clean Housekeeper Wannabe 