170
From Eternity Past
The Pillar of Cloud
“And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in
Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. 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 by night: He took
not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night,
from before the people.” Says the psalmist, “He spread a cloud for a
covering; and fire to give light in the night.”
Psalm 105:39
. See also
1
Corinthians 10:1, 2
. It served as a protection from the burning heat,
and by its coolness and moisture afforded grateful refreshment in the
parched, thirsty desert. By night it became a pillar of fire, illuminating
their encampment and constantly assuring them of the divine presence.
Across a dreary, desertlike expanse they journeyed. Already they
were becoming weary with the toilsome way, and some hearts began
to fear pursuit by the Egyptians. But the cloud went forward, and they
followed. Now the Lord directed Moses to turn aside into a rocky
defile and encamp beside the sea. It was revealed to him that Pharaoh
would pursue them but that God would be honored in their deliverance.
Pharaoh’s counselors declared to the king that their bondmen had
fled, never to return. Their great men, recovering from their fears,
accounted for the plagues as the result of natural causes. “Why have
we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” was the
bitter cry.
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Pharaoh collected his forces, “six hundred chosen chariots, and all
the chariots of Egypt,” horsemen, captains, and foot soldiers. The king
himself, attended by the great men of his realm, headed the attacking
army. The Egyptians feared lest their forced submission to God should
subject them to the derision of other nations. If they should now go
forth with a great show of power and bring back the fugitives, they
would redeem their glory, as well as recover the services of their
bondmen.
The Hebrews were encamped beside the sea, a seemingly im-
passable barrier before them, while on the south a rugged mountain
obstructed their further progress. Suddenly they beheld in the distance
flashing armor and moving chariots. Terror filled the hearts of Israel.
The greater part hastened to Moses with their complaints: “Because
there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the