The pillar of cloud and fire was God's visible presence that led Israel by day and night, protected them from the Egyptians, and directed when they were to move and camp.
Scripture says the Lord went before Israel in the cloud by day to lead the way and in the pillar of fire by night to give light (Exodus 13:21-22). The same cloud also came between Israel and Egypt, giving darkness to Egypt and light to Israel at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:19-20). Les Feldick teaches this was the Shekinah glory of God—Israel's leading force throughout the wilderness, and after the tabernacle was built, it directed every journey (Clip 1, Clip 2, Clip 6).
Exodus 13:21-22 — This passage directly states why the pillar existed: to lead Israel on the way and to give them light for travel.
Exodus 14:19-20 — It shows the same pillar functioning as protection, bringing darkness to the Egyptians and light to Israel.
Exodus 40:36 — It shows the cloud directing when Israel would journey after the tabernacle was set up.
Scripture records that the Lord Himself went before Israel "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" (Exodus 13:21-22). The pillar was not removed from before the people by day or night (Exodus 13:22). At the Red Sea, the angel of God and the pillar of cloud moved behind Israel and stood between the camps: it was "a cloud and darkness" to the Egyptians but "gave light by night" to Israel (Exodus 14:19-20). Later, after the tabernacle was completed, "a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle" (Exodus 40:34). Israel moved only when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle (Exodus 40:36). This is how the cloud directed the nation's journeys.
Les Feldick teaches that the pillar of cloud and fire was not an ordinary phenomenon but the very presence of the glory of God—what Scripture elsewhere calls the Shekinah glory. He points out that the same cloud that first appeared when Israel came out of Goshen protected them at the Red Sea: it was black darkness to the Egyptians and protection and light to Israel, and at night it became the pillar of fire (Clip 1). Les also stresses the cloud's role as Israel's guide. By day it was a cloud; by night it was a pillar of fire. When God wanted the nation to move, the cloud would lift and begin to move. The tabernacle was made portable—its articles had rings and staves—so Israel could take it down, follow the cloud, and set it up again wherever the cloud stopped. Les emphasizes that this was an intensely organized process (Clip 2). He summarizes the whole wilderness experience by saying that the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night was Israel's leading force throughout the 40 years (Clip 6). He also lists it among the miracles Israel had witnessed on their way to Kadesh-Barnea (Clip 5), and he connects the same Shekinah glory to the filling of Solomon's temple (Clip 7).
Scripture shows that when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys (Exodus 40:36). Les explains that the cloud rested day and night—by day a cloud, at night a pillar of fire. When God intended Israel to move, the cloud lifted and moved; then the tabernacle was taken down and Israel followed until the cloud stopped. Wherever it stopped, the tabernacle was set up again and Israel camped. Les notes that the tabernacle furnishings were made with rings and staves so they could be moved (Clip 2).
Les identifies the cloud as the presence of the glory of God—the Shekinah glory. He says this same cloud made its first appearance when Israel came out of Goshen and camped at the Red Sea, and after the tabernacle was built, it came and rested over the Holy of Holies, filling the tabernacle with God's glory (Clip 1). Scripture likewise says that a cloud covered the tent of the congregation and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34).
Yes. At the Red Sea, the pillar of cloud stood between the Egyptian camp and Israel. To the Egyptians it was darkness; to Israel it gave light by night (Exodus 14:19-20). Les highlights this as part of the cloud's purpose: it protected Israel from the Egyptian onslaught (Clip 1).
Les says the cloud and the pillar of fire were evident throughout the whole 40 years of Israel's wilderness journeys in the Sinai (Clip 6). Scripture describes the cloud of the LORD being upon the tabernacle by day and fire on it by night "throughout all their journeys" (Exodus 40:38).
Why God Led Israel the Long Way: The Red Sea & The Pillar of Fire
In other words, drowned them in the Red Sea. And how I bear you, that is the Israelites, on eagles' wings and brought you unto myself. Now, we know they didn't fly. They didn't sprout wings and fly. They walked. But I have to think that somehow or other how I wouldn't have the foggiest idea, but somehow God moved that whole group of people somehow speedily without their even realizing it.
The Cloud as God's Shekinah Glory
Les identifies the cloud as the very presence of God's glory—the Shekinah glory—and explains it was the same cloud that protected Israel at the Red Sea and later filled the tabernacle.
The Cloud Directed Israel's Journeys and Camps
Les describes how the cloud rested over the tabernacle day and night and, when God wanted Israel to move, the cloud lifted and they followed, setting up camp wherever it stopped.
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And every step of the way God moves in again miraculously, brings them down to Mount Sinai, the fire and the thunder on the mountain. In fact they�ve discovered that some of the rocks up there on Mount Sinai over in Jordan indeed was burned with a fire unlike any other rock formation on earth. So this isn�t just a legend from Scripture, this is pretty well scientifically proven.
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Cloud and Fire Among Israel's Miracles
Les lists the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night as one of the miracles Israel had just experienced before reaching Kadesh-Barnea.
The Cloud as Israel's Leading Force
Les says the cloud and pillar of fire were the leading force for Israel throughout the entire 40 years of wilderness journeys.
Shekinah Glory Fills the Temple
Les connects the same Shekinah glory of God, seen in the cloud, to the moment the glory filled Solomon's temple.
Exodus 13:21-22: 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: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
The foundational statement of the pillar's purpose: leading Israel and giving light for travel.
Exodus 14:19-20: And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
Reveals the defensive purpose: separating Israel from Egypt while lighting Israel's night.
Exodus 40:34: Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Shows the cloud as the visible glory of the Lord after the tabernacle was completed.
Exodus 40:36: And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:
Shows the cloud as the signal for Israel to move.
Exodus 40:38: For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
Confirms the cloud and fire were with Israel throughout all their journeys.
Yes. At the Red Sea, the pillar of cloud came between the Egyptian camp and Israel: it was "a cloud and darkness" to the Egyptians but "gave light by night" to Israel (Exodus 14:19-20). Les highlights this as God's protection of Israel from the Egyptian onslaught (Clip 1).
According to Les, the cloud and pillar of fire were evident throughout the whole 40 years of Israel's wilderness journeys in the Sinai (Clip 6). Scripture confirms the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day and fire on it by night throughout all their journeys (Exodus 40:38).
Les teaches that the cloud was the very presence of the glory of God—the Shekinah glory. He identifies it as the same cloud that protected Israel at the Red Sea and later rested over the Holy of Holies, filling the tabernacle with God's glory (Clip 1).
Watch the Teaching: Why God Led Israel the Long Way: The Red Sea & The Pillar of Fire