January 7, 2001
"Then the Lord will create over Mount Zion and over those who assemble there, a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and a shade from the heat of the day and a refuge and a hiding place from the storm and rain."
Isaiah 4:5-6
Reading this scripture opened my eyes to more of the words and imagery God uses to help us understand his nature. He is just and fair, sin must be dealt with, he loves us enough to correct & discipline his people but his heart over everything else is simply to be a place of refuge. He wants his people to come to him to feel protected and sheltered. The imagery uses the elements of weather but we can understand that to be that he wants to provide the resting place for us today from all the challenge, trial and pain that living in this world offers us on a daily basis.