Exodus 14:19, 20 (Pt. 4) Did the Fire Move?
When the people of Israel were waiting to cross the Red Sea in flight from Egypt: “Then the angel of God who went before the host of Israel moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness; and the night passed without one coming near the other all night.”
We read that, “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night (Exodus 13:21).”
I wonder, when the pillar of cloud moved to the rear to hold off the Egyptians, when night fell, did the pillar of fire along with the pillar of cloud move to the rear, or did it stay in front while the pillar of cloud moved behind? I can’t see that this is clarified. But it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that God was in both the cloud and the fire, and His intentions stood out boldly in both: He was protecting His children. Believers are his children. God, we claim your protection, both for ourselves as believers, and for protection unto salvation for those who know you not. Especially we claim protection for all dealing with LIFE issues, in the womb or in twilight years. Help us envision the same for our nation—protection, fore and aft.