Dear Family,
Today is Thursday, April 23, 2020, Day 12 in our counting toward Pentecost. And, this is the 5th day of Week 2.
Undoubtedly, the trip to the Promised Land from Egypt could have been much shorter than 40 years if the point was only to place Israel in the land flowing with milk and honey. Of course, we know God had more in mind, and a great deal of that was for those of us at the end of this age (1 Corinthians 10:6). Maybe the trip was more than a journey; maybe it was a well-conceived process.
Some have estimated the journey from Egypt to Canaan could have been as short as 11 days. Yet, as we know, the trip was not by a direct, concise route. And, the trip to Mt. Sinai could certainly have been made in less time than the approximate 7 weeks, if God had willed it to be so.
Looking at a map for a straight-line route, we guess the distance to Canaan is somewhere in the 240-250-mile range. And, even less distance to Mt. Sinai.
As humans, we might have reason to wonder about the circuitous routes. It might seem reasonable to blame inept human leadership for the arduous, complicated circumstances that occurred in the desert except for obvious, supernatural interventions and signs. Let us always remember that the Israelites were accompanied and/or led by a pillar of fire by night and cloud by day.
Luminous at night, the pillar of fire would have been hard to miss and difficult to ignore. It is first mentioned before Israel crossed the Red Sea. It may have been with Israel in Rameses, but Scripture mentions it first at Succoth to Etham.
Exodus 13:20-22 (20) And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. (21) 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.
It is mentioned again in Exodus 14:19-20, 24 and Numbers 9:21-22.
What did this pillar mean to Israel? At the very least, it meant that God was with them, leading them, and protecting (Exodus 14:19-20) them. The cloud was a covering spread by God, and the fire provided light in the night.
Psalm 105:39 He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
When the pillar (fire or cloud) rose, Israel moved. When it rested, they camped. It remained with Israel in all their journey, and disappeared somewhere near Canaan’s borders.
Exodus 40:34-38 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregations, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
Paul described Israel’s relationship to the cloud as a baptism.
1 Corinthians 10:1-2 (1) Moreover, Brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; (2) And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
Surely the cloud and fire signified God’s presence to Israel. They associated it with God’s presence, power, and glory. There are many verses to show this connection. Let’s look at two.
Exodus 16:10 And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
Numbers 11:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders….”
I often contemplate the issues of being consistently in God’s presence, being covered by His constant protection, and being taught truth by His Word (John 17:17). After all, God’s Spirit is within those of us who are begotten, we are covered by His name, and God promises the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth (c.f. John 16:13 and John 14:17).
There are so many obvious parallels between ancient Israel and the Church today. Israel behaved frequently as if God was no where around. How aware are we of God’s divine presence in our lives?
May God bless you with an on-going and growing consciousness of God’s presence in your life! We love you and ask you for prayers.
Ben Faulkner
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