Exodus 13:21-22
As God brought His people out of Egypt, we are told in Scripture that He provided supernatural guidance. Exodus 13:21 says that they were given a pillar of fire to lead them by night and provide light for their steps. By day, they followed a pillar of cloud. The imagery of both the cloud and the fire is associated with God’s manifest glory. Later on, the cloud of God’s glory fills the tabernacle. The fire of His presence consumes the sacrifice offered on the altar. It all serves to illustrate how the glory of God distinguishes the people of God. It is our guidance and supreme motivation in life.
Now, we obviously don’t have this same kind of visible guidance today, but we have been given the Word of God which is described as both ‘light’ and ‘fire.’ Psalm 119:105 says that God’s Word is a lamp for our feet. Jeremiah 23:29 says that God’s Word is like fire. I find it interesting that the pillar of fire gave light to the Israelites, but the very next chapter says that it was darkness to the Egyptians. It is a picture of how the people of God are enlightened by the Word of God, but unbelievers cannot understand it. 1 Corinthians 2:14 says that “the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” Unless God removes the blinders from a person’s eyes, he or she cannot understand the truth. What is light for a believer is darkness for an unbeliever. Faith is what gives sight!
The one who trusts in Jesus is able to see clearly, for the ‘pillar of fire’ has given him sight. The Holy Spirit guides us by teaching us the Word. Just as God spoke to Moses from the pillar of cloud and fire, so also does the Lord speak to us from the Scriptures by making them clear to us.
For more, read Hebrews 1:1-4
