Walking by Cloud and by Fire

Michelle Buchanan
Feb 10
2 min read

Exodus tells the story of how God literally led His people out of Egypt—the whole multitude of men, women, and children! No GPS. Just God Himself.

A pillar of cloud by day.

A pillar of fire by night.

Every. Single. Day. For 40 years in the wilderness.

There was never a moment when His presence wasn’t visible, near, and leading.

Exodus 40:36–38 says that when the cloud lifted, the people packed up and moved with it. When it stayed, they stayed. Sometimes they stayed for a night and sometimes they stayed for weeks. The journey was directed by His presence, not a predictable timeline.

For throughout their journeys, the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.” – Exodus 40:38

God revealed Himself to the Israelites using fire and a cloud--two visible ways to display His constant presence with them.

Sometimes God leads like a cloud—covering, protecting, guiding, step by step.
Sometimes God leads like fire—with the power of a towering inferno–lighting the way towards the plan He has for us.

At eight years old, in a little country church, I was keenly aware of my need for a Savior. God was like a cloud of covering over me and I followed Him to surrender to His invitation to His gift of salvation.

At fourteen, I sensed a fire awakened in me—a desire to give my life to Him and to dedicate my life to serving Him.

Over the decades, God continues to lead me by cloud and by fire. His presence has covered me during the darkest days of my life. In those days when I thought I had lost my way, He guided me to keep taking the next steps through times of resting and times of moving.

Today, I still experience Him in both His covering and in the fire of His presence. It is my passion to see women walk in His power with His presence continually leading them—in Exodus-like travels.

The same God who led Israel desires to lead us through the Holy Spirit.

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His disciples: