2 In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. 3 And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, 4 when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning. 5 Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. 6 There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.

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This passage may seem a little puzzling, until you remember the history of the people of Israel.  When they left Egypt, God led them through a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.  When the pillar moved, they moved.  When it settled, they stayed put.  This was how they knew where to go and when to camp;  God directed them in an obvious, visible way.

It is a sign of God’s grace that the pillar of cloud and fire continued to be there, even when Israel grumbled and when they rebelled.  Even at their worst moments, He did not remove the pillar.  He did not leave them to find their way on their own, lost in the wilderness, but He continued to guide them and provide for their needs.

This passage refers to Jerusalem after the destruction that was coming.  Notice that it talks about the survivors of Israel…he who is left in Zion.  Their filth and bloodstains have been removed, albeit through a very painful process.  (This is yet another reminder that God’s forgiveness is free but very costly.)

Now He is promising to give them the same provision that He did back in the beginning, when they were moving through the wilderness and were totally dependent on His provision.  By taking them back to that time, He will help them to understand once again who He is and how much He loves them.

This season, allow God to take you back to Christmases past.  Through the events of your life and your history, let Him show you how He has been working in you and around you all your days.  Permit Him to teach you of His grace and provision which was working then and is working still.  And, give Him the freedom to show you what He wants to do next.  He’s not done with you yet.