Pillars Of Cloud And Fire. The [presence of the] LORD was going before them by day in a pillar (column) of cloud to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they could travel by day and by night.
He did not withdraw the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from going before the people. Exo 13:21-22
INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT
The Nation Israel Delivered and Organized
II. FROM EGYPT TO SINAI, Exodus 12:37-18:27
3. The Passage of the Red Sea and the Song of Deliverance, Exodus 14:1-15:19
28. How were the fleeing Israelites guided from before and how pursued from behind?
Exodus 13:17-21
And
Exodus 14:1-9
PILLARS OF CLOUD AND FIRE
So it happened, when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearer; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war [that is, that there will be war], and return to Egypt.”
But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea; the sons of Israel went up in battle array (orderly ranks, marching formation) out of the land of Egypt.
Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had solemnly ordered (placed under an oath) the Israelites, saying, “God will assuredly take care of you, and you must carry my bones away from here with you.” [Gen_50:25]
They journeyed from Succoth [in Goshen] and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness.
The [presence of the] LORD was going before them by day in a pillar (column) of cloud to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they could travel by day and by night.
He did not withdraw the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from going before the people.
CROSSING THE RED SEA
Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
“Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. You shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea.
For Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, ‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’
I will harden (make stubborn, defiant) Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will be glorified and honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians shall know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that I am the LORD.” And they did so.
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this that we have done? We have let Israel go from serving us!”
So Pharaoh harnessed horses to his war-chariots [for battle] and took his army with him;
and he took six hundred chosen war-chariots, and all the other war-chariots of Egypt with fighting charioteers over all of them.
The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he pursued the Israelites, as they were leaving confidently and defiantly. [Act_13:17]
The Egyptians chased them with all the horses and war-chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them as they camped by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.
Comments by
F.B.Meyer
On
Exodus 13:17-21
And
THE PEOPLE ARE LED OUT AND PURSUED
There were two routes to Canaan, the nearest through the land of the Philistines; but to take that would have exposed the Hebrews to the very sights that so dismayed the twelve spies. See Num_33:1-56. They might have had to fight every mile of advance. This would have been too great an ordeal for their young faith. So God, like the mother eagle, bore them on His wings. The Angel who conducted the march in the cloud chariot, led them about. Thus God deals with us still, tempering the wind to the shorn lamb. Patience and faith are still severely tested by the circuitous and laborious route, but when in the afterwards we understand God’s reasons, we are satisfied. There are many lessons learned on the wilderness route. How often God leads us into what seem to be impossible positions, that in our absolute extremity there may be room for Him to work. All is love. See Psa_136:1-26.
Comments by
WILLIAM MACDONALD
Believers Bible Commentary
On
Exodus 13:17-21
VII. THE EXODUS FROM EGYPT (12:31–15:21)
A. Flight toward the Sea (12:31–13:22)
13:17-20 The most direct route from Egypt to Canaan would have been through Philistine country, a trip of about two weeks along the coastal road known as “The Way of Horus.” But this was a busy thoroughfare, under constant surveillance by the Egyptian army. To save His people from attack and consequent discouragement, God led them by a more southerly route through the Sinai Peninsula. The children of Israel went up in orderly ranks. They were also taking the bones of Joseph back to his native Canaan, in accordance with their ancestors’ solemn oath to do so. C. F. Pfeiffer writes:
The Biblical term for the sea which was opened before the Israelites is “Yam Suph,” literally the “Sea of Reeds” (Exo_13:18). The area now known as the Bitter Lakes may have been connected with the Red Sea in ancient times, thus accounting for the traditional rendering of “Reed Sea” by “Red Sea.” There are numerous theories of the exact spot of crossing, but none has gained unqualified acceptance.
13:21, 22 The Lord’s presence with His people was indicated by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. “These were,” as Matthew Henry puts it, “constant standing miracles.” This glory cloud is known as the Shekinah, from the Hebrew word for dwell. The pillar (or column) spoke of God’s guidance for His people and His protection from their enemies (Exo_14:19-20). In both respects it is a good picture of the Lord Jesus Christ.
B. Crossing the Red Sea (Chap. 14)
14:1-9 Chapter 14 is one of the most dramatic in the whole Bible. The Lord directed the children of Israel southward to Pi Hahiroth, somewhere west of the Red Sea. This made escape seem impossible, but made the subsequent miracle more marvelous. Pharaoh thought they were trapped and set out after them with his army of six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them. Pharaoh’s overtaking the two million apparently helpless Israelites camping by the sea and shut in between the two is probably the origin of the popular idiom for a terrible dilemma: “Between the devil (Pharaoh) and the deep blue (Red!) sea.”
DONATIONS FOR BIBLE DISTRUBUTION — Quovadisworld
On MeWe join our group at Friends in Jesus
We also have a Page about Creation Ministries International.
See also Young Earth Creationists
You can also find us on Parler.
On Facebook;
Join our closed group at : Quo Vadis Christian Community Group to read and partake in the Bible study to learn to know Jesus Christ. To know Him is to Love Him.
We also have an open Page at Quo Vadis Christian Community you might want to know more about.
Please ad yourself to our Messenger group to receive notification and chat to other members of the group.
You may however wish to disable notification and look at post when you have the time.
Join our messenger group at Friends in Jesus.
If you want a Bible please contact: Please let me have a Bible.
If you want a Bible in Pakistan.
You may also want to join Creation Ministries International.
Find more Study topics at Quo Vadis World
DONATIONS FOR BIBLE DISTRUBUTION — Quovadisworld
We give thanks and acknowledgement to Rick Meyers from e-Sword.
P.O. Box 1626
Franklin, TN 37065
United States of America
www.e-sword.net
