When the ancient Hebrews left Egypt, after Jehovah had soundly defeated Pharaoh, and rendered their gods impotent, He showed the fledgling nation of Israel just who was "running the show". There was a long standing tradition in the Egyptian army of using fire and smoke for their military signals. One commander of an expeditionary force is recorded in papyrus lodged in the The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, in Cairo, as being called “A flame in the darkness at the head of his soldiers." The Persians and Greeks also used this time honored method of signalling their intentions to their troops during military maneuvers.
Thus, by this sign of the pillar of cloud and fire the Lord showed Himself as the leader and general of the Hebrews. This was a sign that every Hebrew man woman and child would have clearly understood. God had become their leader and provider.
Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces. Exodus 15:6 NKJV
He spread a cloud for a covering, And fire to give light in the night. Psalm 105:39 NKJV
Moreover You led them by day with a cloudy pillar, And by night with a pillar of fire, To give them light on the road Which they should travel. Nehemiah 9:12 NKJV
Frances J. Roberts, author of the well known devotional "Come Away My Beloved" and other inspirational tomes, had this to say about what God was telling His people then, and equally importantly, now.
“Behold, I am the Lord, Thy God; is anything too hard for Me? I am the light of the world, and the greatest darkness shall never be able to quench that light. I shall be to thee a cloud to preserve by day and a pillar of fire to protect by night. Both in the sunshine and in the darkness, I shall be near thee. Thou shalt delight in Me in thy joys; and in the place of difficulty My love for thee shall be as inescapably real as a blazing pillar of fire. Yea, all I was to Israel, and more, I shall be to thee. For have I not promised to give thee the desires of thine heart, and the heathen for thine inheritance." **
The pillar of cloud and fire was not just an event or phenomenon that lasted for a few days or weeks, it was the manifest presence of God that endured with His people for the entire forty years of their wilderness wanderings. He was with them for every day of their journey....
He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people. Exodus 13:22 NKJV
This type of guidance is symbolic that every believer in the New Testament Church must learn to be led by the Holy Spirit each and every day of their life throughout their spiritual journey. It's no coincidence that Holy Spirit is described as an cleansing or anointing fire.
"As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Matthew 3:11-12 NKJV
And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Acts 2:3-4 NKJV
After this fiery encounter with Holy Spirit, the nascence Church was emboldened, and filled with the power to witness, preach and minister to the lost.
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Acts 4:31 NKJV
Jesus told us..... “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV
**Frances J. Roberts, Come Away My Beloved (California: King’s Farspan, Inc., 1973)
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