Visible, Invisible.

I started sketching some ideas relating to the pillar of fire, and feel lost to the concept. God stood before Israel as a burning column, visible from all places in the camp. I can't get my brain parts around how impressive that must have been.

By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide then on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. (Exod 13:21-22)

God was providing guidance through the wilderness. To take our hand when we are lost is most definitely in the character of God. He promises to continue this pattern indefinitely.

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. (Isaiah 58:11)

Even Jesus promised to leave us with a guide until He returns: I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.

But when he, the Sprit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. (John 16:12-14)

God wants to be known by us; He could have chosen to reveal himself as a whisper or soft light. Instead, He became a tangible sign in a pillar of fire and cloud. Always visible, always present, always amazing.

Trying to see the visible.
Having provided such a clear reminder of His presence, one would think it would be easy to represent an image of the sight. Not so for me. Here is what I have been working with.



The first picture is an overall concept of composition. I don't care for the column, though. Next to it I have a revised idea for the column of fire. Considering God was in the column, not just using it at a signpost, I think it needs a more live feel. I like the flow of the second drawing, but I am not yet ready to commit this idea to canvas.

In the "Second Guessing Yourself" category:
In his article Put Your Hand to the Plow, Ken Collins pulls an interesting verse on the subject of looking back on every decision:

Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)

Now Jesus was speaking about getting distracted from the work He sets before us. If we prayerfully consider our choices, self-doubt is like doubting the lead of God; like seeing a pillar of fire in the night sky, but choosing to stumble in the darkness instead.