Deuteronomy 1:33 (ESV)

33 who went before you in the way to seek you out a place to pitch your tents, in fire by night and in the cloud by day, to show you by what way you should go.

The Lord is pictured as having gone ahead of Israel to seek out resting-places on the way to Canaan. This memory is offered with a view to persuading the people to trust in God rather than fear or rebel.