PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FIRE

During the Exodus of the children of Israel out of Egypt, and through their wilderness wanderings to the land of Canaan, God, in the Person of Jesus, manifested His presence with them by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

"Moreover Thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go."     Nehemiah 9:12

"Yet Thou in Thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go."     Nehemiah 9:19


THE FIRST BIBLE REFERENCE TO THE PILLAR OF CLOUD

"And they took their journey from Succouth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. And the LORD went before them by day IN A PILLAR OF CLOUD, to lead them the way: and by night IN A PILLAR OF FIRE, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people."     Exodus 13:20-22

This was before they reached the Red Sea. It was also before God instructed them, through Moses, to build the sanctuary in the wilderness.


THE PILLAR OF CLOUD AT THE RED SEA EXPERIENCE

God’s first guidance by the Pillar of Cloud was indeed a strange one. Instead of leading His people away into the wilderness, out of reach of their enemies, the Pillar of Cloud led them down by the West Coast of the Red Sea, and led them into a defile, where they were shut in by the sea in front of them, and mountains on each side, so that Pharaoh said to himself, ‘they are entangled in the land.’ Here they seemed to become to him an easy prey, and he pursued them with his armies. But God did this very thing to demonstrate to His people that He was their divine Leader, and from Him would come their present and future guidance, protection, and deliverance.

"And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them. And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them (the Egyptians); BUT IT GAVE LIGHT BY NIGHT TO THESE (the children of Israel): so that the one came not near the other all the night."     Exodus 14:19,20

Can you imagine the scene. This was at night time. The Pillar of Cloud, on the Egyptian side, was a Pillar of Darkness, and on the side of God’s people it was a Pillar of Fire and Light.

"Then Moses, obeying the divine command, stretched out his rod, and the waters parted, rolling up in a wall on either side, and leaving a broad pathway across the bed of the sea for the children of Israel. The light from the Pillar of Fire shone upon the foam-capped billows, lighting the road that was cut like a mighty furrow through the waters of the Red Sea until it was lost in the obscurity of the farther shore. All night long sounded the tramping of the hosts of Israel crossing the Red Sea; but the cloud hid them from the sight of their enemies."    4 Testimonies 24

"Jesus stood at the head of that vast army. The cloudy column by day and the pillar of fire by night represented their divine Leader."     4 Testimonies 22

"The cloud that guided Israel, [also] stood over the Tabernacle. The glory of the cloud emanated from Jesus Christ, who from the midst of the glory talked with Moses, as He had talked with him from the burning bush. The brightness of God’s presence was enshrouded IN THE DARKNESS OF THE CLOUD which He made His pavilion, that the people could endure to look upon the cloud, as seeing Him who is invisible. This was God’s plan whereby He might approach man."    1 Bible Commentary 1103

"He made DARKNESS His secret place: His pavilion round about Him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies."     Psalms 18:11


THE COVERING PROTECTION OF THE CLOUD

"The wonderful pillar of cloud had accompanied them in their wanderings, and served to protect them from the fervid rays of the sun. All day it had moved grandly before them, subject neither to sunshine nor storm: and at night it had become a pillar of fire to light them on their way."     4 Testimonies 23

"The Lord directed the Israelites in all their travels through the wilderness. When it was for the good of the people, and the glory of God, that they should pitch their tents in a certain place, and there abide, God signified His will to them by the Pillar of Cloud resting low directly over the Tabernacle. And there it remained until God would have them journey again. Then the cloud of glory was lifted up high above the Tabernacle, and then they journeyed again."     1 Spirit of Prophecy 275,276

"And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not until the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys."     Exodus 40:36-38

"Marvellous things did He in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and He made the waters to stand as an heap. In the daytime also He led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers."     Psalms 78:12-16

"And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents. And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not. And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed. And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. At the commandment of the LORD they rested in their tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses."     Numbers 9:15-23

"In the Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night, God communicated with Israel, revealing to men His will, and imparting to them His grace."     Desire of Ages 23

"From the billowy cloud Christ spoke to Moses and told him to make a brazen serpent and place it upon a pole, and then bid all that were bitten with the fiery serpents to look and live."     Our High Calling 20

"The Saviour was the One who had instructed the Hebrews in the wilderness; from the pillar of cloud and of fire."     Desire of Ages 500

"All the ceremonies of the Jewish law were prophetic, typical of mysteries in the plan of redemption. The rites and ceremonies of the law were given by Christ Himself, who, enshrouded in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, was the leader of the hosts of Israel."    6 Bible Commentary 1095

"The presence of Jesus Christ, enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, followed this people in their wilderness wandering. The Angel of the Covenant came in the name of God, as the invisible Leader of Israel. The Son of God over His own house is higher than Moses, higher than the highest angel. He bears the name of Jehovah upon His mitre, while on His breastplate is written the name of Israel."     7 Bible Commentary 927,928

"We have yet to learn that the whole Jewish economy is a compacted prophecy of the gospel. It is the gospel in figures. From the pillar of cloud, Christ presented man’s duty to God and to his fellow men. His words to His appointed agencies, both in the Old Testament and in the New, point out plainly the Christian virtues. Through all His teaching He scattered the precious grains of truth. All will find these to be as precious pearls, rich in value, if they will practice the principles laid down."    Review and Herald February 21 1899

"If all the teachings given by Christ when enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, had been obeyed, the Jewish nation would have stood forth to glorify God above every nation and people upon the face of the earth. Jerusalem need not have been destroyed. But she disregarded the commandments of God, while professedly regarding them."     1 Bible Commentary 1102

"Christ is over all the works of His creation. In the pillar of fire He guided the children of Israel, His eyes seeing past, present, and future."    Medical Ministry 97

"He who gave the Israelites instruction from the pillar of cloud, and led them through the wilderness into the promised land, is our Leader today. We are under divine guidance, and if we are obedient to God’s commandments we shall be in perfect safety."     Series B, No 3, p 23

"The words which God spoke to Israel by His Son were spoken for us also in these last days. The same Jesus who, upon the mount, taught His disciples the far-reaching principles of the Law of God, instructed ancient Israel from the cloudy pillar and from the tabernacle, by the mouth of Moses and Joshua."     2 Bible Commentary 994

"Jesus spoke to His people Israel from the pillar of cloud and fire. He said, ‘Hear, O Israel; the LORD our God is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.’ The same voice that gave directions to the children of Israel from the pillar of cloud and fire has given lessons to His people of today."     Review and Herald May 5 1893

"The Bible was written for the common people as well as for scholars, and is within the comprehension of all. The great truths which underlie man’s duty to his fellow men and to his Maker are clearly revealed; and those who really want the truth need make no mistake. The way is not left in uncertainty, as though we were standing where four roads meet, not knowing which one to take. THE TRUTH IS OUR GUIDE; IT IS TO US AS LIKE A PILLAR OF CLOUD BY DAY AND A PILLAR OF FIRE BY NIGHT."    Counsels On Sabbath School Work 23


THE EXPERIENCE OF MOSES AND THE LITTLE TENT OF PRAYER

Moses had a little tent which was pitched outside the camp of Israel. He used this little tent as a special place of prayer, where he could talk to, and commune with God, and seek heavenly strength and guidance daily for carrying out his responsibilities as God’s chosen leader of Israel. As he went out to this little tent each morning, the people of Israel would come to their tent doors and watch him go. Then they would join with him in prayer, at their own tent doors.

"And Moses took the tabernacle (little tent), and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of the congregation (the tent of meeting - Hebrew). And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation (the tent of meeting), which was without the camp. And it came to pass when Moses went out unto the (tent), that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the (tent of prayer). AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS MOSES ENTERED INTO THE (TENT), THE CLOUDY PILLAR DESCENDED, AND STOOD AT THE DOOR OF THE (TENT), AND THE LORD TALKED WITH MOSES. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the (tent) door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his (own) tent door. AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES FACE TO FACE, AS A MAN SPEAKETH UNTO HIS FRIEND."    Exodus 33:7-11

When this happened, each time Moses went out to pray, the shadow of the cloud would be over the little tent where he was, causing him to literally be under the shadow of the Almighty. This experience made such an impression upon him, that he was inspired by God to write about it in the 91st Psalm, as follows:-

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High SHALL ABIDE UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY."     Psalms 91:1

That Psalm was written by Moses from the depths of his own personal experience and relationship with the Lord.

We, too, in like manner, can abide under the shadow of the Almighty, in our daily appointments, morning and evening, or at any time throughout the day or night, in our own special places of personal, private, or family prayer.

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