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\u201cFor I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, that our forefathers were all under\u00a0and\u00a0protected by the cloud [in which God\u2019s Presence went before them], and every one of them passed safely through the [Red] Sea,<\/em>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1 Corinthians 10:1\u00a0\u00a0 Amplified Bible<\/p>\n Paul is reminding us of the experience of the Hebrews when they were delivered out of the hands of Egypt.\u00a0 By all appearances, things must have looked grim to them when they came upon the Red Sea with the army of Pharaoh closing in behind them.\u00a0 Yet they walked in the protection of the cloud.\u00a0 We know that throughout the wilderness the Hebrews were guided by the cloud by day and the fire by night.\u00a0 It was that cloud that they walked in as they went through the trials of daily life, following Him.\u00a0 They were protected by the cloud as they crossed the Sea.\u00a0 What was the cloud?\u00a0 It was the presence of God.<\/p>\n We need to remember that we have an even better, more detailed and powerful covenant then they did.\u00a0 When they walked in the cloud and were protected by His presence, it was indeed a cloud.\u00a0 It was that which was external and surrounded them.\u00a0 The presence of God surrounded them like a cloud, enveloping them and keeping them safe and secure always, whether they realized the protective covering was there or not.<\/p>\n But we have it even better.\u00a0 Yes, we walk in His presence and surrounding protection at all times, but the cloud (the presence of the Lord) is not just around us, it is indeed within us as well.\u00a0 Not only do we have the surrounding protection they had, but we also have the assurances within us. We have the calm, the peace, the voice of the Lord giving us words of comfort as we move forward in Him, through the Sea.\u00a0 He will guide us and direct us so that we can know what to do and what is going on, even when that is not apparent to the natural mind.\u00a0 He is the presence within us that is continually speaking to us.\u00a0 As it is expressed to us in John 10, He is the shepherd that speaks to His sheep and calls them by name, and we, the sheep, hear His voice.\u00a0 As we hear His voice He leads us out into the day and into the fields where we are safe and have an abundance of all that we need.<\/p>\n The Hebrews had the cloud around them protecting them, but since it was not within them, they had to rely on the man, Moses, to hear the Lord\u2019s leading on their behalf.\u00a0 You have the Holy Spirit speaking to you personally every single day of your life in Him!<\/p>\n We have a relationship with the Lord, with the Shepherd as we go through the trials of life.\u00a0 The Hebrews just had the cloud that covered them in safety.\u00a0 You and I as believers in Jesus have the cloud both surrounding us and within us.\u00a0 You have the Holy Spirit speaking words of direction, and comfort to you as you proceed.<\/p>\n