Sapate Ma’asi 12, 2023
Pou ‘Ao
EXODUS 13:21
AND THE LORD WENT BEFORE THEM BY DAY IN A PILLAR OF CLOUD TO LEAD THEM ALONG THE WAY, AND BY NIGHT IN A PILLAR OF FIRE TO GIVE THEM LIGHT, THAT THEY MIGHT TRAVEL BY DAY AND BY NIGHT.
‘EKISOTO 13:21
Pea na‘e hā‘ele mu‘omu‘a ‘a Sihova kiate kinautolu, ka ‘aho ‘i ha pou ‘ao ke taki hala, ka po‘uli ‘i ha pou afi ke fakamaama kiate kinautolu; koe‘uhi ke nau fononga ‘aho mo po‘uli.
Almost every time an anan ("cloud") is in the Bible, God is visiting the neighborhood. The divine archer hung his retired bow in the clouds (Gen. 9:13). The anan on Sinai, which wrapped round the mountain (Exod. 24:15), was also his megaphone to call to Moses (v. 16). The Lord's cloud of glory housed itself within both the tabernacle (Exod. 40:35) and later the temple (1 Kings 8:10-11). He makes clouds the onesie of the newborn sea (Job 38:9). And as Israel traversed the wilderness, the Lord's cloudy pillar guided them by day, and his fiery pillar by night. We associate clouds with shade or rain or funny shapes. But for Israel, clouds were God's mouthpiece, signs, and clothing.
Thus during Jesus' transfiguration, when a cloud appeared, there was no doubt the Father was on the doorstep. "A bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him"" (Matt. 17:5). Jesus ascended into a cloud (Acts 1:9) and he will return "in the clouds" (1 Thess. 4:17), for he is the Father's Word, his promise, and his presence for us.
O Christ, guide us, your
church, through the wilderness of this world.
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