Tag: pillar of smoke and fire

• Exodus 13:21-22: The Lord Precedes Us

  
  

  Exodus 13:21-22: The Lord Precedes Us

  First Sunday of Lent, February 22, 2015

  In our Noontime reflections we have frequently written about the pillar of smoke and fire that lead the Hebrew people in their faith-journey through desert trials in their search for the land they had been promised.

  The Lord preceded them, in the daytime by means of a column of cloud to show them the way, and by night by means of a column of fire to give them light. This they could travel by both day and night. Neither the column of cloud by day nor the column of fire by night ever left its place in front of the people.

  Today we reflect on our own Lenten journey, our own penitent search and we ask ourselves a few essential questions.

  • What is it we seek?
  • Is there any part of ourselves we hope to change?
  • Is there a relationship we must amend before healing can take place?
  • Are there actions we need to take before moving forward in our journey?
  • When confused, where do we look for guidance?
  • When alarmed, how do we find peace?
  • Are we as eager to follow God’s lead as we are to ask for God’s protection and help?
  • Is it possible that we cannot see the column of smoke and the pillar of fire even though it constantly precedes us?

  If we cannot see ourselves as the Hebrew people who wander in the desert hoping and looking for the covenant promise, we might see ourselves as the Children of God who are well loved and well guided by God. In times of fear, pain and confusion, we might remember that after returning from death to commission his disciples, Jesus comforts and assures them. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”.  (Matthew 28:19-20)

  God is with us always in the person of Jesus and in the healing person of the Spirit. When we consider our worst trials and suffering, we do well to look for the presence of the column of smoke by day and the pillar of fire by night. We do well to allow the Lord to precede us. As we spend time with these verses today, let us be open to the presence of the Spirit.

  To read Rabbi Sigal Asher’s thoughts of the column of cloud and fire, click on the cloud image above or visit: http://rhr.org.il/eng/2014/01/finding-our-pillar-of-cloud-and-fire/ 

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  February 22, 2015

  Children of God, Matthew 28:19-20, pillar of smoke and fire, Rabbi Sigal Asher, the desert experience

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• Refuge and Cover

  
  

  Thursday, December 27, 2012

  Isaiah 4:2-6 – Refuge and Cover

  We hear from the prophet Isaiah frequently during Advent and Christmastide; he tells us the story we long to hear when trouble stalks us.  Isaiah reminds us of the smoking cloud by day and a light of flaming fire by night.  The pillar of smoke and flame was both guide and protector during the Hebrews’ desert journey.  We humans need frequent assurance that someone is looking out and looking over us.  We can never hear this news too often that we are a part of the Messianic branch of Jesse, a small twig on the flourishing stem that grows from the remnant root of God’s people.  This is our history.  It is also our salvation. 

  Perhaps your family has researched its ancestry.  Maybe you have sat with elders and listened to stories and then passed them along to the youngster generation.  Oral stories and written accounts are valuable to us as they bind us together and remind us of all that we hold in common for the good of the whole.  Humans are destined to function in groups both for good and for evil.  The tradition of the Jesse Tree is one that connects us not only with our heritage but with one another as well.  Its symbols serve as reminders of who we are and the common journey we make no matter the time and place of our existence. 

  We may from time to time lose track of our destination point; our common compass begins to spin in confusion as we struggle to push and pull one another into our own idea of our joined journeys.  Political and religious discussions are always minefields that threaten to endanger our joint pilgrimage for in the heat of the debate we forget that our origin and our destiny are the same; and that we make this pilgrimage together or not at all.  And we also forget that no matter how complex our plan to protect ourselves and no matter how strenuous our effort to stay on course, we are not in control of our surrounding circumstances.  We struggle to be our own best protection and guide but ultimately we learn – if we allow ourselves – that it is God who is our best shield against misfortune; it is God who serves as our best compass.  The difficulty in trusting God so deeply is, of course, that we must engender and nurture a solid relationship with God.  This is something we believe we do not have time for . . . we are so busy protecting and controlling ourselves and sometimes others.

  As we move through these first days of Christmas, we ought not to leave behind the message of the season too quickly.  Let us linger for a time to allow the mystery of our inheritance to take hold of us.  Let us reflect on our legacy and its impact on our lives.  And let us ask the Spirit to remind us of the power of our traditions that rise from the root of Jesse and flow through the Messianic Branch to nourish us.

  Isaiah reminds us today that we ought not move too quickly through the Christmas season.  The prophet tells us that we have much to treasure and much to consider.  He recalls our heritage and predicts our future.  He tells us that we are Jesus people.  He explains to us that God is our best protector and guide.  He reminds us to follow the pillar of smoke by day and to abide close by the column of fire by night.  Isaiah gives us our best roadmap for life.  Let us take heed . . . let us respond well . . . and let us allow God to be our only compass for this most important journey.

  For more information on the tradition of the Jesse Tree, go to: http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/Christmas/What-is-the-Jesse-Tree.aspx

  To read about how a compass functions and to find links to NASA’s Earth Observatory and other NASA information, click on the image or go to: http://www.universetoday.com/77072/how-does-a-compass-work/

  39.533225 -76.430369

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  December 27, 2012

  compass, Jesse Tree, journey, pillar of smoke and fire, remnant

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