A Lenten Devotional for Today
The Pillar of Cloud and Fire Read: Exodus 14:(10-18)19-31
And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and wentbehind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behindthem. (Ex. 4:19)
“I will certainly be with you,” the Lord promised Moses (Ex. 3:12); and
remember, your Lord is a “here I AM” God when delivering grace, so that you
can be sure of His presence for your salvation. The Lord most certainly went
with Moses to Egypt, working plague after plague to demonstrate the folly of
resisting His Word. He Himself went through Egypt and took the lives of the
firstborn in the tenth plague, while His people were protected by the blood of
the lamb at the Passover. But when it came time to lead His people out of
Egypt, they could point to Him. There He was, in a pillar of cloud by day and a
pillar of fire by night. Again, God did not remain in heaven, towing a cloud
around to guide Israel. He was present in that pillar of cloud and fire, cloaking
His glory as He led His people. When Pharaoh's army drew near, the Lord
moved between it and Israel to protect His people. The following day, He led
the Israelites on dry ground across the Red Sea; then, when Pharaoh and his
army pursued to do them harm, God closed up the waters and washed them
away.
St. Paul writes, “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that
all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were
baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea...” (I Cor. 10:1-2). (If you need
a verse to prove that “baptize” doesn't always mean “immerse,” this is a good
one; Moses and the people stayed dry, while only Pharaoh and his army were
immersed!) The Lord was present in the cloud, and used water that day to save
His people and drown their would-be murderers. There He was.
Once again in today's devotion, we point to the cross and say, “There He is.”
There, on the cross, is the Lord at work to redeem us; there, He's the fulfillment
of Passover as the Lamb who is slain to take away the sin of the world. And
each of us looks to the font and says, “There He is, for me!” There, He drowns
an enemy far crueler than Pharaoh: He destroys your old sinful nature that
would drag you to hell forever.
You still have enemies that seek your life. As the Israelites inexplicably
longed at times to go back to Egypt and be slaves, so you will seek a return to
the slavery of sin. Death still pursues, seeking to use disease and affliction to
make you forsake your hope in Christ. Therefore, as surely as the Lord went
before the Israelites in the wilderness in the cloud, so also He accompanies you
by His Word. He tells you that, because your Old Adam is drowned in Baptism,
you are His beloved, firstborn child. And because you are His firstborn, death
for you is like the Red Sea—a formidable barrier that He will use to deliver you
to everlasting life, when you will see Him in His glory. That's what makes Holy
Baptism such a great comfort: you can look back at that day and say, “There He
was, making me His own forever. So I am baptized, and so I am His today.”
We're back!
I spent the last four days driving 2400 miles. I picked up Serenity on Wednesday in Missoula and we arrived back here in Dublin last night. Four days of sitting in a car for ten or twelve hours is not my idea of fun.
Serenity is a great traveler, she didn't complain and was cooperative throughout, pretty good for a five year old.
I'm having trouble organizing day care for her though. I might end up hauling her to work with me if I'm not careful! Gack!
We are exhausted from the trip and are taking it easy today. I'll give more updates as the opportunity and urge land in the same moment. I had intended to post along the way but found no time to do it.