The Cleft of the Rock
My last day in Cabo meant my last morning adventure. I executed a new plan this morning. Still dark outside, I drove the golf cart with headlights on as far as I could go before I reached the sandy beach and shore. The sun was just starting to cast its dreamy colors. I heard the loudest, crashing waves and surf like I had not seen or heard before. Best of all, I had an aha moment for this blog today.
The aha was the rock formations that I had seen from a distance but today they were up close and personal. I spotted my “cleft” in the rocks. My aha was a great idea! I nestled inside those rock formations and took some selfies. Mission accomplished as you can see in these photos.
I was mesmerized by the sights and sounds all around me. I surmised that since there would be fresh seashells and coral washed in from the night before, I would treasure hunt one last time. Here is my bounty!
The sweetest memories flooded my mind from 2010, just days after my husband’s passing. I woke early each morning in Cabo to take in the magnificent sunrise on the crashing waves. I would find the cleft of the rock formations to sit beneath. How sweet was the presence of my loving Father there – especially as He restored my soul, for it had been in the valley of the shadow of death just a week before.
“What is the cleft of the rock anyway?” you may be asking. “Then the LORD said (to Moses), “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.” Exodus 33:21-22
In the cleft (the safe place) of the rock I hide! From what do I hide? How about fear, pain, suffering, concerns, sadness and anxiety? Maybe it is the past that hurts. We run into the cleft of the rock where there is refuge—a place to hide.
No one escapes pain of some kind. After all we live in a world of heartache and sorrow. But what joy for those who escape into the cleft of the rock. I lift my voice in praise for this place near the Lord where we can stand in His protection; a place where we are hidden beneath His hand of mercy.
Dear friends, if you are alone in the storms of life, our Lord has prepared a shelter just for you where He stands guard over you. In the cleft of THE ROCK, you are safe. You are safe from the cares of the world, safe from losing hope, and safe from living a life without love.
Let go of all you cling to and run. Run into the cleft of the rock where God is waiting to shield you! David was always in some kind of trouble but he knew where to go for safety and peace. In Psalm 18:2 he wrote: “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” I really think he was in the cleft of the rock when he wrote those words.
We may never have circumstances like Moses or David did, but we all need clefts for safety. As Christians, we have a very tangible enemy with a very real presence, that seeks to destroy and steal our faith and courage. Our need for a place of refuge is real. But, really, our cleft is not carved from rock or stone, God makes for us a cleft of safety in the palms of His hands.
When the enemy circles the skies above us like a hawk eyeing a prey, the Lord provides a cleft as our hiding place. If life is overwhelming you today, join me in the cleft where we find our answers, our peace, our comfort.
“He hides my soul in the cleft of the rock, that shadows a dry, thirsty land. He hides my life in the depths of His love, and covers me there with His hand. And covers me there with His hand.”