The pillar of cloud and the fire that we read about in the Old Testament is a subject which I want to discuss from time to time in this blog as I will be making reference to it in our Bible Study that I do at the church house onTuesday evenings. IT WILL BE A PART OF OUR STUDY ON THE TABERNACLE, which is part of our ongoing study in the epistle to the Hebrews.
King David said one time in his meditations, "as I MUSED, THE FIRE BURNED." And this morning as I was doing some studying concerning this subject, the fire burned within. Actually it began when I looked at a few thoughts from a text referring to the pillar of the cloud and fire found in Exodus, ch. 13 verses 21&22: "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."The Bible clearly records that God brought Israel out of Egypt with a MIGHTY hand and He established a pillar of cloud and fire to lead them(to show them the way)
Ex. 14:19,20 says, "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(Egypt), but it gave light by night to these(Israel): so that one came not near the other all the night." Paul tells us in 1 Cor. ch. 10 " that it was Christ in the cloud and in the fire and as we study we will see that He was and is a light in the darkness; a shade in the sunlight; warmth in the night; cooling in the day; separation between the people of God and the enemy; a guide for the pathway; a stumbling block for the enemy; comfort for God's people; fear to the enemy. He is Divine protection for spiritual Israel just as He was for national Israel but destruction for the enemy. He is light for Israel but darkness for Egypt. The gospel of John says
"the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it".
This is the point that I want to draw attention to this a.m. I am going to quote a writer from some years back who said "the LORD took not away the pillar by day or by night from before the people; yet it seems day and night they complained about something. Either the water was bitter, or the food was inadequate; they always found something to murmur and complain about. Are we any better? He has done even greater things for us. He is no longer in a cloud, before, behind or overhead. He dwells within us! He has written His law upon our mind and consciousness. We know very well when we are complaining or murmuring. Either the "food" the preacher dishes out isn't any good; the service is too long or too short or the atmosphere is too hot or too cold. There seems to be legitimate reasons for griping. While Israel complained they made no progress. All they did was go around mountains. God did not utterly forsake them. He still provided water and manna; still kept their shoes and clothes from wearing out; still kept the cloud and fire caring for them.There was no end to His patience and love but they made no progress." Neither will you progress; we will not progress as a church if we grumble and complain and backbite one another. His cloud of protection was still with them....but they were not going anywhere. If you or I want to move on in God....you see by Israel's attitude of ingratitude; ultimately they did NOT enter the promised land. Oh! God! don't let us lose out...don't let us miss the rapture by grumbling and complaining....forgive this man Lord for ever complaining or grumbling or finding fault with my brother or my sister. He did not forsake them, but by grumbling and complaining against Moses and ultimately against God.....they were forsaking Him. Let us not be guilty of this cursed grumbling and complaining.
King David said one time in his meditations, "as I MUSED, THE FIRE BURNED." And this morning as I was doing some studying concerning this subject, the fire burned within. Actually it began when I looked at a few thoughts from a text referring to the pillar of the cloud and fire found in Exodus, ch. 13 verses 21&22: "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."The Bible clearly records that God brought Israel out of Egypt with a MIGHTY hand and He established a pillar of cloud and fire to lead them(to show them the way)
Ex. 14:19,20 says, "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(Egypt), but it gave light by night to these(Israel): so that one came not near the other all the night." Paul tells us in 1 Cor. ch. 10 " that it was Christ in the cloud and in the fire and as we study we will see that He was and is a light in the darkness; a shade in the sunlight; warmth in the night; cooling in the day; separation between the people of God and the enemy; a guide for the pathway; a stumbling block for the enemy; comfort for God's people; fear to the enemy. He is Divine protection for spiritual Israel just as He was for national Israel but destruction for the enemy. He is light for Israel but darkness for Egypt. The gospel of John says
"the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it".
This is the point that I want to draw attention to this a.m. I am going to quote a writer from some years back who said "the LORD took not away the pillar by day or by night from before the people; yet it seems day and night they complained about something. Either the water was bitter, or the food was inadequate; they always found something to murmur and complain about. Are we any better? He has done even greater things for us. He is no longer in a cloud, before, behind or overhead. He dwells within us! He has written His law upon our mind and consciousness. We know very well when we are complaining or murmuring. Either the "food" the preacher dishes out isn't any good; the service is too long or too short or the atmosphere is too hot or too cold. There seems to be legitimate reasons for griping. While Israel complained they made no progress. All they did was go around mountains. God did not utterly forsake them. He still provided water and manna; still kept their shoes and clothes from wearing out; still kept the cloud and fire caring for them.There was no end to His patience and love but they made no progress." Neither will you progress; we will not progress as a church if we grumble and complain and backbite one another. His cloud of protection was still with them....but they were not going anywhere. If you or I want to move on in God....you see by Israel's attitude of ingratitude; ultimately they did NOT enter the promised land. Oh! God! don't let us lose out...don't let us miss the rapture by grumbling and complaining....forgive this man Lord for ever complaining or grumbling or finding fault with my brother or my sister. He did not forsake them, but by grumbling and complaining against Moses and ultimately against God.....they were forsaking Him. Let us not be guilty of this cursed grumbling and complaining.
posted by Randall | 6:22 a.m.
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