Ever have a fickle friend? The relationship is unstable. “A rolling stone gathers no moss” implies someone who is constantly changing their mind because of instability. Having a friend like this leads to major disappointments. In Exodus, the Israelites are fickle and certainly rolling down the hill of instability in their relationship with God.
GOD KNOWS FICKLE PEOPLE
God knows His fickle people described in Exodus 13:17-22; 14:11-31. “So it happened, when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearer; for God said, ‘The people might change their minds when they see war [that is, that there will be war], and return to Egypt.’”
GOD’S GUIDANCE SYSTEM
God plans the longer road trip to Canaan because the Israelites had some serious lessons to learn about God. They need to exchange their slavery mindset to learning who they are in God. God marks their journey to freedom with unusual guidance systems. “The [presence of the] Lord was going before them by day in a pillar (column) of cloud to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they could travel by day and by night. He did not withdraw the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from going before the people.”
OUR PILLAR OF FIRE
Once Bill and I traveled at night in severe fog. We were on the road and the headlights of our car went out. My father ended up driving to our location. Through the darkness and fog, we drove our car behind him the entire way home. He became our “pillar of fire” in a frightening situation. He saved our lives on that road.
ACCUSATION ABOUT GOD’S MOTIVES
God carefully guides the Israelites on the long route with the cloud and the pillar of fire. He provides directions for the entire journey. The Israelites do not respond well. “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What is this that you have done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians?’ For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians [as slaves] than to die in the wilderness.” Talk about fickle…
THEIR TRUE NEED
They don’t know God or His ways and accuse Moses of hatching a plan for their demise. The Israelites desperately need an intimate relationship with God.
We live in a fallen world. It can be frightening. It is easy to accuse God of not looking out for us. He wants to be our cloud by day and pillar of fire at night, but often we ignore Him. We are fickle.
THE DECISION
Regardless of the miracles, the Israelites develop spiritual amnesia concerning the God Who always loves them and plans a future for them. They forget His cloud and the pillar of fire mark their path. Have you forgotten your cloud and pillar? This is the God Who promises: Even to your old age I am He, and even to your advanced old age I will carry you! I have made you, and I will carry you; Be assured I will carry you and I will save you. (Isaiah 46:4) Don’t be fickle! Decide to entrust Him with the entirety of your journey.
