Cloud by Day and Fire by Night

Cloud by Day and Fire by Night

In the Exodus God gave the Israelites a cloud by day and a fire by night to lead them in the desert. Exodus 13:21-22 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: 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

The cloud is the Holy Spirit drawing us to God or leading us to God when it is yet day time, John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. The fire is the Word of God that leads us to salvation and out of darkness. It exposes the darkness and enlightens our heart.

Psalms 119:130 The entrance of your words gives light; it gives understanding unto the simple. Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? says the LORD; and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? When we respond to that Word is when we are saved - Romans 10:9-10 That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever.10 For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Hallelujah!

When they left Egypt that was sin or the old life style. Then they faced a sea or an impossible way to save them selves. You see, we cannot save ourselves, only God can save us from our past or our sin. He opened up the way to salvation by bringing John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness baptism unto repentance for a people to receive the one who was to follow, Jesus the mighty deliverer. When the people crossed that sea it was a shadow of things to come of many being baptized unto repentance to be led to a new life in Him which was to come. Their enemy was defeated and washed away (sin), and they had a new life now. The old life was now over with the past being done away with. Glory to the Lord! Moses was their Shepherd showing or leading them the way to salvation, just like Jesus is the Great Shepherd over our souls and has saved us when there was no way out. Moses was a deliverer for the people of Israel, but Jesus is The Deliverer for all people. Hallelujah!

Then they came to the Rock in Exodus 17:6 Behold, I will stand before you there upon the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. That Rock was Christ being struck by God on the cross for us so we could receive the living water, which is the Holy Spirit – John 7:38-39 He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spoke he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) We will never thirst for salvation again – John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

So we can see in the book of Exodus God showing us the way to salvation, the Holy Spirit drawing us, hearing the Word of God, repentance, and then looking to the Rock, which was struck by God, so we can receive the living water. Thank you Lord!

Written by Pastor Michael J Wilson