By R.A. Mathews

They moved. Frequently.

And they did so on a dime, packing up and immediately going. There were no fancy RVs. They traveled on foot with tents, clothes, pots and pans and animals. 

They would camp for a night. Sometimes, they would settle down in the afternoon — dragging everything out and putting it up, planning to stay awhile, and then leave the next morning. 

At other times, they would live in the same place for a year. No one ever knew the plan. 

Moreover, this wasn’t a family of six. It was a community of over two million people — all of God’s children who had left slavery in Egypt. 

So how did they know when to move and when to stay? The fire and the cloud.

What fire? What cloud?

Here’s the passage:

“And 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, that they might travel by day and by night” (Exodus 13:21, ESV).

In addition, once the tabernacle was built in Exodus 40, it became the place where the Presence of God would rest. It went like this:

“Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at His command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order and did not set out.  

“Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the Lord’s command they would encamp, and then at His command they would set out. Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. 

“Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out” (Numbers 9:17-23, ESV). 

Each day, the Hebrews must have wondered how long before they would move again. Worse yet, some days they found themselves with no water or food. At other times, they faced powerful armies, and God forced them into battle.

It must have been unsettling. Yet, remember, each day the pillar of cloud and fire was with them.

As I write this, it gives me goose bumps — the absolute glory of seeing the Lord’s Presence every day. Looking up and God always being there. For me, it would have been amazing. Utterly amazing!

Yet, the pillar of cloud and fire became common to them, because even as God physically moved before the Hebrews, they lost sight of their Lord. Read about those years in the wilderness, and you’ll see how they fought with Moses again and again. And in the Presence of the Lord.

They had to learn.They had to know they were in God’s Hands. 

Like the Hebrews, you’ll go through times in the wilderness when you won’t know what’s coming next. 

Right now, you may be facing a challenge with your health, your finances, your child, your parents, your spouse or even a pet. Perhaps all that you hold dear is threatened by a crisis. 

You may be afraid, not knowing day-to-day how you will get through your struggle.

These times can fill you with anxiety or they can fill you with faith. God forced the Hebrews to rely upon Him in all things, and you may be forced to do the same.  

But stay in His will. 

God’s children only wandered for 40 years because they did not trust the Lord. 

Believe that He loves you. Lift your eyes to heaven and pray for His guidance.

When you put your faith in God, when you pray for His help, everything changes. 

Look for the Rev. Mathews at RAMathews.com where you can contact her and read her biography and samples of her books. Copyright © 2025 R.A. Mathews. All rights reserved.