What purpose did the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire serve for Israel?
The pillar of cloud by day led Israel in the way and gave shade from the Mideast sun. The pillar of fire by night gave them light to carry on their activities. This supernatural cloud was the presence of Jehovah, guiding Israel’s movements and resting over the Holy of Holies.
Les explains that the cloud and fire were not natural phenomena, rejecting the historian’s volcano conjecture as ridiculous. The cloud was supernatural, the very presence of Jehovah: by day it gave shade from the Mideast sun, and by night it became a pillar of fire to give light for their activities. Scripture identifies that cloud as Christ, Jehovah, God the Son in His Old Testament personality. Later, when the tabernacle was completed, the cloud rested over the Holy of Holies and became Israel’s guiding light; when it lifted, they moved, and when it stopped, they set the tabernacle so the Holy of Holies was under it. Les says the cloud was no accident but the absolute presence of God, and he marvels that the Jews could see it daily and nightly yet still be disobedient, then applies that same evidence to us.
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
More Questions
Was the pillar of cloud and fire a natural volcanic phenomenon?
The conjecture by historians that a volcano produced the cloud by day (dust) and the fire by night (volcanic fire) is ridiculous; the cloud was a supernatural cloud.
How did God lead Israel through the wilderness day and night?
The Lord went before Israel 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 so they could travel day and night.