"And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way...

...and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night; the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people." Genesis 13:21

Our Lord is always present to us in whatever form is fitting for our situation. He will never leave our side. However when we are used to traveling by day, and it becomes night, we often still look for the pillar of cloud and cry foul when we cannot see it. But He is there in the fire!! Casting light on the path we are to take. He knows that in the dark we cannot see the cloud, and so He uses the light and heat of the fire to light our way.

Then when the enemy approaches: "the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness; and the night passed without one coming near the other all night." Genesis 14:9-20. At times we may not see God standing before us leading the way, for He has positioned Himself between us and the enemy, to protect us from harm. We must always seek God open to whatever form He may be taking, and be aware that His choice for revelation can alert us to the state of our spiritual life and our soul's safety or peril.