As the time of Moses death approached, Joshua was called to the tent of meeting where the Lord appeared in the pillar of cloud to give him a charge as Moses successor (Deut 31:15). You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. There was something spiritual in this pillar of cloud and fire. Beautiful Lessons From the Passover Type. This verse also applies to Christs (invisible) Parousiathe Suntelia periodthe ending period of the Gospel Age, described in Matthew 24. The people remained at a distance while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21). 14:19b, 24a), and continued to guide and protect the latter uninterruptedly throughout their wanderings. God warned Moses not to let Aaron, the high priest, enter the holy of holies in the tabernacle whenever he wantedbecause he would die. Bibliography W. F. Albright, Two Cressets from Marisa and the pillars of Jachin and Boaz, BASOR, 85 (1942), 18-27; G. H. Davies, Pillar of Fire and of Cloud, IB, III (1962), 817; J. Finegan, Let My People Go (1963), 95. Protection draws allegiance; this cloud was the badge of Gods protection, and so became the bond of their allegiance. Not only were these two pillars a witness to the Israelites but also a witness to the surrounding nations that Israels God was wise, powerful, and protective of his chosen people: And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou Lord art among this people, that thou Lord art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night (Numbers 14:14). Exodus 40:38 fire was in or over the cloud by night? 12. Written in the eighth century B.C.E., it dealt with circumstances after the destruction of Jerusalem in 607 B.C.E. During the wilderness wanderings, Israel was guided on her way by the phenomenon of the pillar (, H6647) of fire and of cloud (Exod 14:24). Some of the Jews who were left in their land by the Babylonians fled to Egypt and dwelt in Egyptian cities, as foretold in Isaiah 19:18. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. They would be afraid and filled with doubt. It was great satisfaction to Moses and the pious Israelites, to be sure that they were under Divine guidance. The pillar of cloud provided a visible guide for the Israelites during the day, while the pillar of fire lit their way by night. The cloud served as a canopy that provided both shade by day from the heat and as a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain. This implies a large cloud for the horde of two million Israelites plus their flocks and herds. when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle. It always appeared in the daytime, and was a guide and shelter: nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people; this continued till they came through the wilderness to the borders of the land of Canaan, when they needed it no longer, and then it left them; for when they passed over Jordan the ark went before them, Joshua 3:6. Hopes Consummation Hymns of Dawn No. 2028 9 April Sunday Another early tradition connected the cloud with the *Tent of Meeting. Exodus 14:19-20 (ESV) reads, 19Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, 20coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. (b) the holy Spirit (Romans 8:26); Was this a third type of pillar with fire and cloud at the same time, like half and half? (c) the Word of God in the Bible; Please see http://www.Harkarkom.com for specifics, Br.David Rice, 2016. When the cloud moved the camp of Israel followed. When it lifted up again, they would set out on the next stage of the journey, with the cloud leading the way. Various explanations have been sought for the origin of these traditions. May YAHWEH be praised for all HIS blessings! The Pillar of Cloud and the Pillar of Fire | CSC Center for Strategic Light stands for holiness, truth, and understanding. ALL for JESUS ALL for JESUS ALL our days and ALL our hours! PHILIPPIANS 2:14 How to Stop Murmuring & Reap Blessings, PHILIPPIANS 4:8 Whatever is true, whatever is noble . **. 23. Moses saw God in a burning bush. Of the three choices, I'd have gone with "Pillar of Fire" myself. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. R5294:5, https://biblestudentsdaily.com/2016/07/09/what-does-it-mean-to-be-baptized-into-christ/, https://biblestudentsdaily.com/2017/03/18/doing-and-saying-the-kindest-thing-in-the-kindest-way/, https://biblestudentsdaily.com/2016/10/30/his-way-is-best/, https://biblestudentsdaily.com/2016/08/10/a-little-while/, https://biblestudentsdaily.com/2016/05/25/victory-over-self/. The spirit begotten Christian is given reminders through the holy Spirit working withinwe develop an educated conscience through studying the Word of GOD and through prayer. The next account in the Bible of this pillar of cloud is in Exodus 14:1920, after God instructed Moses to raise his staff, stretch out his hand over the sea, and divide the waters of the Red Sea for the Israelites to escape Pharaoh and his army pursing the Israelites. Pillars of Cloud and Fire in your Wilderness - Lana Christian What did the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night 40. The pillar of fire by night and cloud by day stayed with the Israelites from leaving Egypt and until arriving in the promised land, a period of about thirty-eight years. 1950: The Pillar Of Fire 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. James Kugel sees the basis of this tradition in the fact that in several places (for example, in Exodus 23),[17] the Bible suggests that the Israelites were led out of Egypt by an angel, but no actual manifestations of this angel are described. 16:10; Lev. Perhaps the lesson for us as Christians today is this: that Gods wisdom will not lead us where his grace cannot keep us. Although it may be conceded that a device made with Gods approval could still serve His purpose, and that fire and smoke might have been employed as symbols of His presence. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.. [16], Another interpretative tradition centers on the idea that an angel may have been concealed within the cloud. Other references to the pillars of cloud and fire seem to indicate it could not be connected to the Mountain of God, but was truly mobile, a supernatural phenomena of some kind ( Ex 13:21 ). As Spirit begotten Christians, our compass is: (a) God (Psalm 32:8) and Jesus (John 1:112); He took not away the pillar of the cloud No, not when they seemed to have less occasion for it: it never left them until it brought them to the borders of Canaan. R5395:5, 5227:5 We are still in this time of persecution; the great Adversary is not yet bound. Did the plagues of frogs and gnats come on the Hebrews in Goshen? 2038 18 April Sunday ' This refers to the cloud of incense, not the cloud over the Tabernacle. The Egyptians follow them, but God looks down upon them from the pillar of fire and cloud, and throws their forces into confusion. 21And 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 was no longer required after Israel settled in Canaan, for they no longer needed a token from God to direct their travels, giving them light on the way they were to take (Nehemiah 9:12). 4:16) R2782:1 An evidence of our faithfulness and sonship.