“The Lord went before them . . . in cloud and fire.” (Exodus 13.21)

I don’t know about you but most of my prayer times seem to be in the cloud rather than the fire.  It’s comforting to know that God leads by a cloud as well as by a pillar of fire.   And it’s also strengthening to remember that God spoke to Moses out of the cloud.

From Amy Carmichael:
When Moses went up, a cloud enfolded him.  In that cool darkness he heard words which afterwards he spoke to the people in the heat and glaring light of the plain.  So, day by day, as we look forward into the hours which seem to rush upon us, we see not clearness but a cloud.  Then a Voice that we know calls softly, Come up to Me, and be here; the Cloud of the Unknown becomes for us then the very over-shadowing of the wings of the Lord; we sit down under His shadow with great delight, and His fruit is sweet to our taste [Song of Songs 2.3].  And this fruit, tasted first in the dark alone with Him, will be ours for others.  “What I tell you in darkness,” He says to us still, “speak that in the light.” [Matt. 10.27]