“For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.” Psalm 48:14
When I was in boot camp, we marched everywhere. It was an efficient and organized way of moving our unit from one location to the next. The key to marching in formation was following the leader, or our “guidon bearer.” The guidon bearer holds the unit’s flag, is always the most visible person in the military unit, and always in front of the formation. The guidon, or flag, represents the unit, and stays with the unit constantly. In years gone by the guidon was also a weapon.
In Exodus 13:20-22, God appeared as a pillar of a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, to guide the Israelites. He did not leave the people. God also provided protection to the Israelites in Exodus 14:19-20:
Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.
God was the Israelites guidon. All the people had to do was follow the pillar of a cloud or pillar of fire. The cloud and fire represented more to the Israelites than a guide. The pillar represented God’s observable presence with His people. In addition to guiding the Israelites, the pillar was protection and a visible identification of who the Israelites were and who they belonged to.
Is God your guidon? ________ What identifies you as a child of God?
Walk in His Light,