“A shroud of cloud with a flaming blaze at its center, ‘to give them light on the way they were to take’ (Nehemiah 9:12) . . . . What’s clouded in mystery is a flame to light the way. The cloud over you is also the light before you.”- Ann Voskamp
” . . . the pillar of cloud moved before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.”- Exodus 14:19-20 (ESV)
As Ann Voskamp concludes Chapter 7 of WayMaker, she cites Christopher J. H. Wright. In The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative, he writes: “Exodus-shaped redemption demands exodus-shaped mission.”
Therefore, Ann states, a cross-shaped life = an exodus-shaped life: always a way through. As you grow, think, and embrace a cruciform way of life. Hence, stillness to know God leads to attentiveness to hear God. And in turn, cruciformity leads to surrender to God.
Yet, Ann underscores, even the dark isn’t truly dark. Because it’s possible for everything to function as a lighting thing. A light exists within the dark clouds to light the way. Thus, mystery leads to revelation. So, there’s more than a light at the end of the tunnel.
In addition, the Light Himself, Jesus, leads the whole way. The Bible speaks to the soul caught between a rock and a hard place. Above all, the Bible reveals an exodus out. Through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When you’re holding on by a thread, a thread of grace still running through everything holds you together.
In conclusion, Ann counsels:
“What if the question is never ‘What’s the way out of this?’ but “What can I be in this?’ The way through happens whenever we stop focusing on how we get out of something and focus on what we can get out of this to become more Christlike.”
Today’s question: What shroud of cloud with flaming blaze lights your way? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “An unafraid and untroubled heart”
