Devotional by Andrew Doan (The poet’s husband, a simple man)

“Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” 18 Therefore God led the people around by way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in battle formation from the land of Egypt. 19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will certainly take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.” 20 Then they set out from Succoth and camped in Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. 21 And the Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night.”

Exodus 3:17-21

Have you ever been camping in a desolate place? I’m thinking Joshua Tree or somewhere remote like that. Away from the norm and comfortable. There’s a lot to like about camping, but for me the best part is the campfire. I could sit and stare at a fire for hours without getting bored. I know I’m not alone in that. There seems to be something about fire that has that effect on a lot of people. I think the reason we sit at a fire when camping is because fire fulfills needs we have as people that are foundational to who we are.

In this passage, we find the Israelites in a similarly desolate environment. Imagine. They just left their homes in Egypt where they had been oppressively enslaved. Although that was a terrible situation, now God is leading them through the wilderness to find their next home. The wilderness can be a scary place to be. I’m sure that’s how it felt for the Israelites. Thankfully for the Israelites, God provided a guide…Himself. And I just love the way he presented Himself. A cloud by day (super practical, since the desert is scorchingly hot), and a fire by night. A fire! God could have just manifested a bright light to guide their path. But by choosing to use a fire, I think God communicated something very special to the Israelites, and to us by proxy. Think back to the camping illustration. By choosing fire, God clearly demonstrates his attributes.

First, He is a light! He’s our guide through the wilderness. He’s committed to getting us where we need to be. His promised land isn’t always easy to get to and the journey isn’t always quick. But the journey is worth it, and we can be sure our guide will get us there.Second, He is our provider. The wilderness can be a cold lonely place. But rest assured, like fire, God is a better source of warmth than any camping blanket. Third, He is our security. Campfires provide a strange sense of belonging and safety to an otherwise desolate place. Most people when camping will gravitate to the fire. The light in the darkness provides understanding and security to what is otherwise unknown and threatening.

So, are you close to God? Whether you feel like you’re in a wilderness or not, would you say you’re sitting at the feet of the ultimate fire, drawing direction, warmth, comfort, and security from the God of the universe? Or are you cold, isolated, and afraid? I encourage you to examine your life. What practices do you need to cut out? What do you need to do to better sit at God’s campfire?