(Exodus 40:36) Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, Israel would set out.

During Israel’s 40-year wilderness journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, God led Israel through the uninhabited desert toward the Promised Land by the cloud—the presence of God— that dwelt over the tabernacle.

Whenever the divine cloud lifted and moved toward the Promised Land, Israel would have to pack up, leave their familiar encampment, and follow God's presence.

God did not give Israel a detailed map to follow. Instead, Israel was required to follow the moving presence of God. When the presence of God moved on, Israel either followed the divine cloud, or they were left behind in the wilderness.

Israel had no options. Either they followed God’s leading, or they stayed and tried to live a religious life without God’s presence.

As Christians, we also have no options. Either we follow the moving cloud of God’s presence into our future or we will be left behind in the camp, attempting to live for God after he has already moved on to do something new.

But, sadly, many of us decide to stay back into the camp where we can remain comfortable and live routine lives. Many of us are choose familiar surroundings.

We often decide not to take risks, and follow the presence of God into the future’s unknown. Too many of us remain stuck in the old. God is moving on, but we often are stuck in the present.

In this devotion, I am attempting to run through the camp and yell, “the presence of God is moving!”

Are you staying behind, or will you move forward with God’s presence?

Forget the past, for God is always moving us forward into something new.

Will you follow him?