The Pillar Of Cloud

Ex 13:21-22, Ex 14:19-24, Ex 40:33:38, Num 9:15-23

In Weakness There Is Strength

The power within a cloud

- Fog Hinders us

- Snow Stops us

- Rain Drowns us

Examples:

- According to the Bureau of Standards in Washington, a dense fog covering seven city blocks to a depth of 100 feet is composed of less that one glass of water. That amount of water is divided into about 60 billion tiny droplets. Yet when those minute particles settle over a city or the countryside, they can almost blot out everything from your sight. Many Christians today live their lives in a fog. They allow a cupful of problems to cloud their vision and dampen their spirit. Anxiety, turmoil and defeat strangle their thoughts.

Feb 12/06 A single fragile snow flake has nil impact but falling at 3-4 inches an hour it halts NYC. New York City sanitation department estimates the cost of digging out after a snowstorm at $US1 million for every inch of snow. At that rate the city is facing a bill of almost $US27 million after 26.9 inches fell on New York’s Central Park on Sunday, the highest one-day dump since records began in 1869 and surpassing the previous record. Blackouts were in Maryland, where 85,000 homes and businesses were affected, and in northern Virginia, where 60,000 were reported without power. Tens of thousands of travellers were left stranded as airports and bus and rail services across the US were shut down.

NEW ORLEANS February 18, 2006- A drop of rain is hardly noticed but the fury of Katrina destroyed lives. More than five months after Hurricane Katrina, more than 1,300 bodies have been found, but the real death toll is clearly higher.

I. Cloudy Pillar’s Significance

Weak as a cloud

Strong as a pillar

1 Cor 1:27-28

- To those outside the cloud seems as a puff of smoke

- At the first gust it would be torn apart

- To those under it — It was their source of salvation

II. Cloudy Pillar’s Presence

1. Evidence of God

- The visible presence of an invisible God

- His promise - Ps 46:5

- God seen in Christ - Heb 1:3

2. Evidence of Fellowship

- God spoke to them out of the cloud - Deut 5:22

- he gives a greater promise to us - Mt. 28:20

3. Evidence of Provision

- It was under the cloud that manna fell

- Water came from the rock

- In Christ all the promises of God are found

- 1 Pet 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you

- Follow Him for lameness will bring leanness

4. Evidence of Protection

- At the Sea cloud placed between Egyptians & Israel

- Ex. 14:24 - “The Lord looked through the pillar and troubled the host of the Egyptians

- The Lord looked through Christ and saved us

- Looks through Christ to protect us - Jude 1:24

5. Evidence of Shelter

- Shading them from the desert sun

- Ps 121:5-6

- He shelters from sin and wrath by His blood

- Shelter from sadness & sorrow by His comforting Spirit- Psalm 57:1 - Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast

6. Evidence by His Light

- The fire was the center, the cloud was wrapped around it.

- Unavailing the darkness

- Melting the cold

- Illuminating the unknown

7. Evidence of their Guide

- They followed it by faith - Num. 9:17

- They followed it promptly.-Num 9:18

- They followed it consistently