See Jesus lead us the way the Israelites were led by the Pillar of Cloud and Fire.
- by Jenno Marco Misa
Knowing where to go, which directions to follow, and what means of transportation to take brings much comfort to anyone traveling. Either you’re driving your own car, taking the public vehicle, or walking down the streets, knowing which way to go is a must if you want to reach your destination without getting lost.
Nowadays, technology has made traveling very well guided with the advent of maps on mobile phones, not to mention the GPS system that’s helping out many since it came out in the late 1980’s.
When it comes to God’s system, many people wonder if there is also a ‘GPS’ navigation system that tells the believer where to go or which road to take. As direction really matters, a believer normally looks up to God before he or she makes a decision, especially if it is a crucial one.
In our lives, we all face many crossroads wherein a decision can make or break the future by its outcome. Some have crossroads in their marital life - a decision where not only the couple are involved, but also the future of the children. Some have crossroads in their career - moving into another job with a better pay or staying in the same job with a better schedule. Whatever it is, all of us, believer or not, come to a point where we ask “which way should I go?”
Back in the time when God called Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, God did not just ask them to come out but personally led them on their way to the Promised Land. And it wasn’t something that’s invisible. God Himself led them in a Pillar of cloud by day, and a Pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21).
The Pillar of Cloud kept the children of Israel shaded from the heat of the sun, while the Pillar of Fire kept them warm during the night. As they were journeying in the desert, the weather could be very playful and extreme: during a sunny day it could be scorching hot, yet can be extremely cold during the night.
Now, there have been many teachings and different approaches on this story. Many believe that God was demonstrating His protection wherever we go and whichever direction we take. But one important detail I would want to emphasize is that part which it says that “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night (KJV)”.
Simplifying the verse, we can say that God was before them, in front of them and leading the way for them. They didn’t have to worry which way to go or what route to take. This makes sense to me as Jesus Himself said that He (referring to Himself) is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). I believe that in this story of the Bible, Jesus, in His pre-incarnate appearance as being the revealed arm of the LORD, was the One leading the children of Israel. Exodus 14: 19 says “Then the Angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them”. When Jesus moved in between the Children of Israel and the Egyptian armies, He caused darkness to the latter so that they were not able to launch any attack to the Israelites all night.
Jesus, being the Pillar of Cloud and Fire, did not only lead them where to go. He also was the ‘traffic light’ of the children of Israel. Numbers 9:17 tells us that “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 (KJV)”.
The Pillar of Cloud and Fire did not only lead them, but also gave them the ‘go and stop’ signal. They were guided both on which way to go, and when to go.
One may say that these are all good back then but what about now? What about in the present times where the Pillar of Cloud or the Pillar of Fire is unheard of? How does a believer determine his direction in life? Is there a sort of an ‘access’ to this Pillar of Cloud and Fire?
The answer is ‘Yes’. When the Day of Pentecost was fully come, He poured His Spirit and appeared in a form of a rushing mighty wind and in ‘divided tongues as of a flame of fire”. “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them (KJV)”. Does that ring a bell to you?
The Pillar of Cloud and Fire was leading the Israelites on the outside because it could not rest on their inside back then because there wasn’t any sacrifice yet that could clean them perfectly so God can dwell in them. That is why you will see the cloud resting on their tabernacle – an external structure where God dwells. Now under the New Covenant established on the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God has already been slain and sacrificed. But the Lamb did not remain in the tomb as He rose up like a Lion and defeated death as He rose from the dead and sat down at the right of the Father. Now that the blood of Jesus has cleansed us perfectly, the Spirit of God (who is both the Fire and Cloud) can now dwell in us. He does not have to stay on an external tabernacle anymore, but can now dwell in our bodies, which is the temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19).
But how come we don’t see it? How come we don’t see any cloud or fire from us? Could it be that the Bible is just pacifying us, making us believe that God is here even if it is not true?
That’s where faith comes in. Just because you don’t see it does not mean He is not there. This event in the Bible was NOT merely written so as to pacify us during the tough times and make us believe that God is really leading us when actually He is not. No! A thousand times NO! This was placed in the Bible so that today we will all know that there is a guide within us - that still small voice on the inside. I submit to you, the more we speak in tongues, the more wisdom will flow in us enabling us to make better decisions-decisions that always lead us to green pasture and still waters.
How do we know that we have made the right decisions? What is the indication that the outcome was influenced by the Holy Spirit?
It is the presence or the absence of peace and rest. The leading of the Spirit always bear peace as its fruit – still waters. The absence of peace in your situation indicates that there is something that needs to be corrected. Inorder to rectify this, tune it to Holy Spirit’s voice by speaking in tongues. When you do this, listen to that still small voice from the inside and through that, I believe, is the way to get out from a troubled situation to a place of peace and rest. When you feel that indescribable sense of peace enveloping you, you know that God was leading you. In Hebrew, it is called Shalom.
People may talk us out of it and may even say things like Christianity is a ‘funny’ religion as we believe in things that are unseen. Yet, that is the very essence of faith. Just because we don’t see it does not mean it’s not there. The world says that ‘Unless I see it, I won’t believe’. But faith says “I believe it, therefore I see it’. The eyes of faith can see things that unbelieving eyes could not.
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