What was the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night made of, and what did it do?
The pillar was not volcanic; it was a supernatural cloud, the very presence of Jehovah, God the Son in His Old Testament personality. By day it shaded Israel from the Mideast sun, and by night it became fire giving light for their activities and guiding their movements.
Les explains that a historian conjectured a volcano produced dust for the daytime cloud and volcanic fire for the night, but Les calls that ridiculous. This was a supernatural cloud, which was the very presence of Jehovah—Christ, God the Son in His Old Testament personality. By day it gave shade from the Mideast sun, and by night it became a pillar of fire giving light so Israel could carry on their activities. Later the cloud settled over the Holy of Holies and became Israel’s guiding light; when it lifted, they moved, and when it stopped, they camped with the Holy of Holies under it. It was not an accident but the absolute presence of God.
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.