Clouds

I was reading a commentary the other day on 1 & 2 Thessalonians by Michael Holmes. In his discussion of 1 Thess. 4:17 and how we will meet up with Jesus in the clouds, he mentions that clouds symbolize God's presence throughout the Bible - the Exodus (Exod. 16:10), at Mt. Sinai (Exod. 24:16), in the desert (Num. 11:25), at Solomon's temple (1 Kings 8:10) the Transfiguration (Mark 9:7), and the Ascension (Acts 1:9).

If God's presence is symbolized by clouds and God is always with us... then when I look into the sky and see clouds, God is there. When clouds blind me in their darkness, God is with me. When I'm lost in the fog of confusion, God is there with me.

Sometimes I wonder if God isn't closest when He seems absent and silent. When we are engulfed in dark clouds, maybe we are also being engulfed by God's presence even though we may not feel it. Perhaps sometimes the clouds engulf us and blind us in order to keep us safe - for if we could see we would be overcome.

Why do I think that? Because often God seems closest the moment the clouds are lifted - that's the moment that I realize that God has been carrying me all along. That's the moment that I see that God has been working behind the clouds.

Whenever I see a cloud, I want to remember that God is with me - whether or not I feel or see Him there. The clouds symbolize his presence.