The pillar of cloud and fire in Genesis 13:21 has no origin. It is a sign from another dimension. It guides and protects.
What David writes in Psalm 27:1 is thrilling: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”
Isaiah 49:6 says of the Messiah: “I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
And John writes in John 3:19: “The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light.”
The pillar of cloud and fire is an image of God’s presence that we see in Jesus and experience through the Holy Spirit. We cannot analyse God’s work. But we can see the effects (John 3:8).
The pillar of cloud and fire repeatedly led the Israelites into difficult situations. God allows us to get into trouble again and again so that our faith is strengthened. Each time we choose to trust God anyway, we draw closer to him.
Sometimes it’s not so much about us, but about other people seeing that faith endures even in difficult times. It’s easy to believe when things are going well. But it is something special when our faith is challenged.
Moses shows how faith works. He shifts the focus from the problem to God. Do not be afraid. God will help us. He fights for us. He gets the victory – not us. Exodus 14:13: “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today.”
Messiah images in the Torah
- God seeks us – Adam where are you?
- The possibility of a choice – Two trees in the Garden of Eden
- Neediness instead divinity – A new view
- God’s master plan – Salvation through a human being
- A divine clothing – God acts
- A world upside down – Kai and Abel
- Living in the presence of God – Enoch
- God is calling – Noah
- A king-priest like Melchizedek
- God visits Abraham
- Life through a sacrifice – Isaac
- The ladder to heaven – Jacob
- New identity from Jacob to Israel
- Messiah Ben Joseph – Joseph the son of Jacob
- Shiloh, whom all nations will serve – Blessing on Judah
- Moses, the prototype of the Saviour
- References to Jesus in Moses
- The Passover Lamb
- The pillar of cloud and fire
- God wants to be with us – The tabernacle / The temple
- The snake on a pole – An image of a new beginning
- The rock in the desert – Faith is not a method
- A prophet greater than Moses
- A star from Jacob – Bileam