“The LORD Is Our Guide!”(Ex.13:20-22).
How time flies! We are already in the last week of January. However we thank God that he has brought us this far; Ebenezer!
My first lecturer in New Testament introduction once said that in this digital generation God ought to be granted an interview on television so that he can address some of the perennial issues that are considered to be issues of theodicy. We may say this raises doubt concerning the immanence of God; yet we know that God is both transcendent and immanent at the same time.
Here is my naive way of understanding God as both far and near at the same time: A mother or nanny stays at home to take care of a baby. While the baby may be in his crib in the room, the nanny may be doing some house chores, but being attentive to any noise the baby may make. She also occasionally peeps in on the baby just to make sure he is okay. The New Testament succinctly expresses God’s immanence with the word, “Immanuel!”
God has always been with us, albeit invisibly! P.P. Bliss explained the invisible presence of God in this hymn:
1 God is always near me,
hearing what I say,
knowing all my thoughts and deeds,
all my work and play.
2 God is always near me;
in the darkest night
He can see me just the same
as by mid-day light.
3 God is always near me,
though so young and small;
not a look or word or thought,
but God knows it all.
There is no gainsaying about God’s invisible presence. The cause for concern is the absence of God’s theophany.
Theophany derived from Greek ‘theophaneia’ “is a visible manifestation of deity in a tangible form.” Today’s pericope is one of the Old Testament mini theophanies.
This happened before the children of Israel arrived at the Red Sea.
“After leaving Sukkoth, they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”
In the worst moments of our lives when we think we are without a friend; when we have lost all hopes, just know it is a false alarm that the devil is using to lure you from trusting the LORD.
From the day of the LORD’S final manifestation through the incarnation, he has never left us. Christ says, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
My friend, you may be spiritually blind not to notice it, but by day the LORD is going ahead of you in a pillar of cloud and by night in a pillar of fire to give you light. Whatever your desert wanderings may be, neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night leaves its place in front of you! You are safe in the arms of Jesus!
Prayer of the day and week: Heavenly Father, thank you for the blessed assurance of always being there for us. Amen!
Welcome back to a new working day and week! Have a blessed day and week! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
26/01/2026.