CRITICAL NOTES.—
Exodus 13:21. A pillar of cloud] Most interesting is it to trace the Scripture allusions to this pillar. How completely the Hebrew camp was controlled in its movements by it may be seen in Numbers 9:15-23; Numbers 10:33-36: hints as to its form may be found in its name and in Psalms 105:39, and 1 Corinthians 10:1 (cf. Isaiah 4:5): that God spoke from it is directly affirmed in Psalms 99:7, and may be more fully seen in chap, Exodus 40:34-38 (where, however, observe the definite article, הענן, the [well known, familiar] cloud,” the cloud of guidance which had gone before them hitherto). (Leviticus 1:1; Numbers 1:1,) &c. Some have thought there were two pillars, one of cloud and the other of fire; but, judging simply from a comparison of the various passages, we are led to conceive of the whole matter thus:—That within the outer shrine of cloud was placed the central symbol of glory more immediately betokening the Divine Presence; that in the darkness of night, this inner glory shone forth through the cloud as fire, visible from afar; that, when the tabernacle was completed, the cloud rested above it, and the glory entered within it, and ultimately took up its abode beneath the outspread wings of the cherubim; and that when the camp was to move forward, and the tabernacle therefore needed to be taken down, the glory resumed its original place of enshrinement within the cloud. In this manner, too, Exodus 14:19-20, may be quite simply understood.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Exodus 13:20-21
THE DIVINE LEADERSHIP OF THE GOOD
The children of Israel have now left Egypt, and are boardering on the edge of the wilderness. They have left Succoth, the place of booths. They are now commencing the hardships of their journey. The young convert has soon to encounter the stern realities of the Christian life, and strangely different are they from those anticipated. But in all wanderings he has a Divine Guide.
I. That the good are divinely led in the wanderings of life. “And the Lord went before them.” The cloud here named was the symbol of the Divine Presence (Exodus 16:10). In the New Testament, clouds are often spoken of in reference to Christ (Acts 1:9; Revelation 1:7).
1. The Israelites were not left to guide themselves in the wanderings of the desert. If they had they would have been lost in the wilderness. When men are freed from the bondage of sin it is eminently needful that they should be led by the same hand which has wrought their freedom. They can no more lead than free themselves. The good are dependent upon God in every circumstance of their life, both in Egypt and in the wilderness. They are led by Him through the wilderness of affliction and woe. They are led by Him in the pillar of His Providence, by the pillar of His Book, and by the pillar of His sacraments and ordinances. The good are not left to the guidance of reason or impulse, if they were they would often go astray; they are led by an unerring Guide. They have a Divine companionship in all their travels. Hence they are safe, and ought to be trustful and cheerful at all times.
1. The Israelites were led by a visible guide. The pillar of cloud and fire was visible to the whole camp of Israel. What a huge phenomenon it must have been, thus to be within view of such a multitude. Christ the Guide of the soul has appeared to men. His Divine glory was wrapped in the cloud of human nature, else none could have endured the splendour of His appearing. “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). He was seen by men, women, and by little children. He sought to guide their feet into right paths. But He is no longer seen by the bodily eye. He has entered within the veil. He is now only visible to the inner eye of the soul. Faith brings Him near to us, and His guidance is as real and reliable as ever. The leadings of the Unseen are more in harmony with the spiritual dispensation under which we live, and tax the nobler energies of the soul.
2. The Israelites were led by a competent guide. The pillar of cloud and of fire was sure to pursue the right way, so that the children of Israel would not be lost in the desert. It would protect them from the shining of the sun and from the scorching of the wind. It would give them the illumination they needed in their journeyings at night. Hence it was indeed a competent guide. The good have a Guide, quite as competent, who knows the best way in which they should travel, so as to culture them for their future inheritance and to enhance the glory of God. They are often brought into perplexing circumstances, but the hand which leads is always able to provide deliverance from enemies, and from hunger and thirst. The good are also protected by the canopy of Divine love, which is carefully spread over their lives (Isaiah 4:5-6; Psalms 121:5). They have Divine illumination in the night time, as they must travel day and night to the promised land. They may truly say in reference to their life journey, “I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me (Psalms 23:4).
3. The Israelites were led by a faithful guide. The Israelites were always conducted in paths which were ultimately best for their true welfare, even though they were at the time unwelcome. The pillar of cloud and of fire never left them while they were in the wilderness. And so the Divine Guide of the Christian life is faithful to the moral interests of those whom He leads. He yields not to their murmurings, He bears long with their rebellion, He remembers His covenant, though often His anger is kindled. But notwithstanding the wayward conduct of the good the Divine Leadership is still permitted to them (Psalms 48:14). God will not leave His Church. He loves it. He has redeemed it. There is none other to help it. He will guide it to the end, till the Church militant comes to the Church triumphant.
II. That the good are often divinely led during the wanderings of life into varied and unexpected paths. “The edge of the wilderness.” The Israelites would no doubt be greatly perplexed and astonished at the way in which they were being led to the land of promise. They would know it to be circuitous. They would see it to be dangerous. They had made no provision for it. Their food was nearly exhausted. What were they doing? Where were they going? Their circumstances were getting more critical every hour. They were obliged to look only to the pillar of cloud and of fire. Hence we see—
1. That God sometimes leads His people contrary to their expectation. No doubt the children on Israel had indulged glowing expectations of the freedom that was to be theirs, and of all its consequent privileges. But how greatly were they mistaken. And young Christians often form very erroneous notions of what their subsequent life will be; they little expect, in the glow of their first experience, that a great wilderness is stretched out before them.
2. That God sometimes leads His people contrary to the dictates of their reason. If the best men of Israel had been consulted as to the path they were to take to Canaan, not one of them, not even Moses, would have selected that divinely chosen. The good are often led in ways that they know not, and which they consider to be contrary to the reason able line of march, but faith in the Lord is the highest reason, and this they must continually exercise.
3. That God always leads His people into those paths which shall yield the most sacred and safe discipline to them. The wilderness journey was a way of severe discipline to the children of Israel, whereas the shorter route would have been a discipline beyond their present strength to endure. God was considerate to them. But the discipline of a freed life advances in severity with the journey. First there is the discipline of the tents, then of the edge o the wilderness, and then of the Red Sea, each manifesting anew the power and love of God. If the way were not rough and perplexing there would have been no pillar of cloud and of fire, there would have been no manna, there would have been no Horeb. The sorrow of life is permeated with the love of God, and hence relieved of its severity, and made a benediction to those who are prayerful and patient under it. If we are Christians, we must follow the cloud, though sometimes with weary step, yet with obedient heart.
III. That the method of the Divine Leadership is adapted to the changing circumstances of the good. “By day in a pillar of cloud, by night in a pillar of fire.” The life of the good has its alternations of day and night, and consequently needs that the guidance of heaven shall be peculiarly adapted thereto. When the right is dark then the Divine Leadership is as a fire, can be readily seen, is sublimely majestic, and gives evidence of solicitous care for those who are in need of it. There are times in the history of the soul when the Bible is all aflame to it, and when it shines with a lustre hitherto concealed. Hence the Divine guidance is adapted to the special need of life. In the dark night of sorrow how many promises have passed, in majestic grandeur, through the heavens of the soul with warming and consoling influence. God does not guide the good in the day time of prosperity and then leave them in the hour of grief: He says to them, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” “At eventide there shall be light.” But sometimes the light is at the back of the Christian soul, and cannot well be seen, but he may be always sure that it is somewhere near him, even in the darkest providence, even though it may be hard to find (Exodus 14:20).
IV. That the Divine Leadership should not be mistaken in association with the ordinary agencies of life. No Israelite would mistake the ordinary cloud for the pillar of cloud divinely given. He would distinctly recognise, and without the slightest difficulty, the cloud he was to follow. If he went the wrong path it would be through wilful neglect. And no really good man need mistake the fancied voice of conscience for the voice of God, the two are distinct phenomena, and may be readily recognised apart. He may always know the cloud he is to follow. The principles and precepts of a true life are clearly revealed, are before each heart, and only the foolish will go astray. The truth is always known from the natural inventions of men, by the fire it gives forth to the soul in trouble. The clouds of earth are minus the fire. They cannot give light. They lack the Divine glory. Fire is an emblem of God.
V. That the Divine Leadership is solicitous to lead the good to the promised and peaceful destiny. The pillar of cloud and fire was given to lead the children of Israel to Canaan. And it is for this purpose that God now guides His people, not to lead them into the secrets of human learning, not to lead them into the wealth of commerce, but into the eternal rest of the soul; and how welcome will it be after the fatigue of the wilderness life.
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah!
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
Bid my anxious fears subside,
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Death of death, and hell’s destruction,
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Bread of heaven!
Songs of praises
Feed me now and evermore!
I will ever give to thee!
THE CLOUDY AND FIERY PILLAR A SYMBOL OF THE BIBLE
I. As the pillar of cloud was given to guide and comfort, so the Bible is designed to lead the thought and console the sorrow of man. The cloud-pillar was given to guide the Israelites during their wanderings in the wilderness, and to comfort them in all their exigencies. To this end it was admirably adapted. So the Bible is designed to guide the mind into all the rich heritage of heavenly truth, and without it man would be lost in the wide waste of error. It is also intended to console the human heart in all the troubled moods of life, when its joys grow dim, when it is rendered lonely by bereavement, and when it comes to death. At such times the Bible is our chief consolation, it enables us to sorrow in hope, it shows us One who is the Resurrection and the Life.
II. As the pillar combined both cloud and fire, so the Bible unites illumination and mystery. The Israelites saw the cloud, but it concealed more than it revealed. God dwelt in that cloud. He dwelleth in light which no man can approach. Yet there was light in the cloud. And thus it seemed to combine natural and miraculous phenomena. Thus is it with the Bible. There is mystery in it which the finest genius cannot attain, which angelic intelligence cannot interpret, and which eternity may not simplify. Deity dwells in the volume, and we expect that clouds and darkness will be round about Him. This is the God-ward side to the revelation. But there is fire in the book, which illumines the doctrines and morality of the Christian life. This is the man-ward side of the revelation. The Book was inspired by God, and was about God, here is the supernatural; it was written by man and was about man, here is the natural.
III. As the pillar of cloud aided the outgoing of Israel from bondage to rest, so the Bible is the best help man can have in walking through this life to the next. What could the Israelites have done in the wilderness without the pillar of cloud and fire? they would never have reached Canaan. And man without the inspired Word of God would be in utter ignorance and danger. Moral freedom would be a mockery to him, for there would be nothing to take the direction or culture of his emancipated energies. They walk the best in the wilderness of life who pay the most heed to the Word of God (Psalms 119:105) LESSONS:—
1. Be thankful for the Bible.
2. Follow the directions of the Bible.
3. Seek the consolation of the Bible.
SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES
Exodus 13:20. God’s redemptive work is progressive, from state to state.
Whenever God brings His people in the way of redemption, they are encamped.
The encamped Church:—
1. Christ is Captain.
2. The battle before it in the wilderness.
3. Slavery left behind.
4. Secure.
5. Progressive.
6. Finally triumphant.
At Etham:—
1. We know not the sorrow of the future.
2. We know not the wondrous events of the future.
3. We know not our sins of the future.
4. On the edge of the wilderness we are on the verge of a great mystery.
Exodus 13:21-22. Visible signs will God give of His presence with His Church.
Signs do not comprehend God, but represent Him graciously to His Church.
The pillar of cloud and fire is a standing memorial of God’s care over His Church.
Day and night Providence equally takes care of the good of God’s people.
Guidance, protection comfort, and sanctification are in the use of God’s signals.
Israel’s cloud and fire are eminently distinct from those of the world.
Neither the hottest day nor the darkest night shall stop the redemption of the Church.
God is not mutable in His purpose and work of grace to His redeemed people.
The pillar:—
1. The same in substance, so is Christ.
2. Firm and solid, yields not to the storm.
3. All could see it, all can see Christ.
4. It was upraised, the life of the good must be upward.
5. It never failed.
6. The boundless grace of Jesus.
7. Whom do you follow?
The Divine Guide:—
1. Acquainted with the way.
2. Accessible.
3. Friendly.
4. Willing.
5. Safe.
6. Continuous.
7. Supreme.
Some can guide through the difficulties of the day, but they cannot guide through the dangers of the night; but here is One to whom the night is as the day, “To go by day and by night.” What if He awake thee to travel through the night! what if the cloud move when the world is asleep, or when enemies, as the army of Pharaoh, are behind and in pursuit! Thou hast a light, and that light is darkness to them: they cannot come nigh thee all the night. It is a sweet view of the condition of the Church in all these seasons of trial, when she cannot sleep and rest for her enemies, but is awake to the midnight march, or the midnight watch. There is a light within the camp, the light of heaven, the fire of the Lord flaming over every tent. And the light that guides is the light that comforts. Who minds travelling in the night that can see his way? And who should fear following the shining of the Lord?—(W. Seaton.)
The pillar is taken away, the cloud is no more by day, nor the fire by night, yet is there light in the Church, a directing light, a comforting light, a protecting light—day-light and night-light. And serene the night, and cheerful the day, that has this light.—(W. Seaton.)
ILLUSTRATIONS
BY
REV. WM. ADAMSON
Fire-Pillar! Exodus 13:20-21. The speaker’s Commentary gives an inscription of the ancient empire of Egypt, in which the general is compared to a flame streaming in advance of his army. On a well-known papyrus, the commander of an expedition is called a flame in the darkness at the head of his soldiers. Burning lights were carried before the armies of Egypt and other ancient nations on the march to battle. The march of Alexander the Great—in his burning, eagle-like swoop eastward—was preceded by an altar of silver, on which flamed “the sacred and eternal fire;” and by huge torches raised on lofty poles, the fire of which was visible by night, and the smoke by day. The Divine Fire-Pillar eclipsed the gleam and glow of these masses of light; while it announced to Pharaoh that Israel was God’s army. Its appearance—more especially when a moved from the front to the rear—was a challenge of defiance to Pharaoh, as well as an admonition not to contend with Jehovah. When God arouses a people to defend their rights with the Fire-Pillar of the Holy Bible, there is little fear of the result. The Vaudois of the Valleys fought under the shelter and guidance of this divine pillar; and their foes were discomfited. So—
“Mine enemies behold it,—so with fears
They pause, and hesitate to venture on.”
Pillar-Guidance! Exodus 13:21. When Leech the painter was a boy, he was placed at a boarding-school where he had to spend his vacations, as well as his schooldays. His mother pined to see her boy, but the rules of the school precluded her from gratifying this desire. She therefore hired an upper room in one of the houses overlooking the playground. Here she watched her little boy. He did not know that any one was looking down upon him; but that eye followed him wherever he moved. Within the cloudy canopy was the omniscient eye of Israel’s ever-watchful God. True, as law remarks, the eye of nature sees not a moving or a halting mass; but, nevertheless, the eye of faith can realize the Divine watchfulness, can trace the unseen hand of heavenly guidance, and can read the monitions of loving faithfulness. When thou goest, says Solomon, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; when thou wakest, it shall talk with thee: for the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. The Light of Scripture is the Light of Life. It is the hand of Christ; aye, it is the heart of Christ.
“Welcome alike, when on mine eyelids beat
Red scorching rays, or fades the evening light.”
Cloud-Shade! Exodus 13:21. So long as Israel remained in Egypt, Nature furnished them with cool shadows. It is true that there were no groves of patrician trees or fresh plantations, such as make up the beauty and richness of an English landscape; but still, its scenes were adorned with tamarisks and palms, which are to the Egyptian what the bread fruit-trees are for the Polynesian. Even on the border land of the desert there bloomed bright, sweet gardens of jessamine and orange. In the beautiful valleys myriads of roses burdened the air with fragrance. So that as long as Israel continued in Egypt there was abundance of natural shade. But no sooner did they enter upon the sandy barrenness than God gave them supernatural shades in the pillar of cloud by day. M’Cheyne, referring to Isaiah 25:5, affords some idea of the importance of this cloud in sandy deserts, where little or no vegetation existed, so that the sunbeams glance along the level waste of the wilderness, scorching hands and faces. He says that about mid-day, when the heat was very oppressive, a small cloud, scarcely observable by the eye, passed over the disc of the burning sun. Immediately the intense heat abated, a gentle breeze sprang up, and the travellers were refreshed. So God wards His pilgrim church from the scorching rays of the sandy desert of sin, in fulfilment of His promise in Psalms 121:6,
“He is a shadow from the noontide heat,
Although a burning fire in gloom of night.”
Night and Day! Exodus 13:22. Samuel Rutherford quaintly remarks that as night and shadow are good for flowers, and moonlight and dews are better than continual sun, so Christ’s absence is of special use. It has some nourishing virtue in it, and giveth up sap to humility. It furnishes a fair occasion for faith to put forth her hand, and lay hold on what it does not see. And yet God was not absent during the night, for the column shone as a flaming fire. So Christ is never really absent from the true Israel of His Church. True, the night often recurs to them as to the typical Israel; but such night is good. When its mantle wraps the “spiritual life,” the Pillar is clad in robes of fire, and a glory is seen which before was invisible. When gloom oppresses the believer on his pilgrim way, then unwonted glories illumine the road. The smiling face of Jesus glows from out the deep and darkling shadows, speaking silently, yet forcibly: Fear not, for I am with thee.
“The gleaming token from afar appears,
To show God’s pilgrims are not left alone.”
Bible-Guidance! Exodus 13:21. A traveller relates that he embarked on a steamer one beautiful evening, but towards morning a dense fog enveloped them. No observations could be made, and the vessel was directed by the compass alone. They were lost in the fog on a dangerous coast, and dared not proceed except by the guidance of the compass. In an hour they heard a fog-bell, knew whereabouts they were, and soon safely reached the desired haven. What the compass was to the mariners the pillar of fire was designed to be to Israel—to direct them in the right way. And such is the Word of God. It is my compass, my pillar of fire, which guides me safely to the haven of rest.
“I have no choice! The pillar of the cloud
Precedes me, hour by hour, to mark my way.”
Desert-Shadows! Exodus 13:22. Three travellers in Egypt decided to reach the Holy Land by traversing the sand-wastes which separate them one from the other. Day by day the heat increased its oppressiveness. The hillocks of sand—between which they slowly moved at the usual pace of the camel—reflected the sun’s rays upon them until their faces glowed, as if they were beside a burning, fiery furnace. Here and there were tufts of verdant plants and stunted shrubs, but too small to afford a shadow from the heat. How great a blessing the pillar of the cloud must have been! Towering over the camp, it cast a delightful shadow upon the sand, over over which they moved. The true Israel—wandering in the wilderness of the world—are similarly circumstanced. They have nothing to relieve the burning beams of the sun save the cloud of shadow which the Word of God casts. And it is associated with the assurances that in the Promised Land of Rev. chaps. 21 and 22, there shall be no hunger, thirst, or burning sun; but green shady pastures and living fountains of waters—
“Shaded on either side by trees of life
Which yielded in unwearying interchange
Their ripe vicissitude of monthly fruits.”
Bickersteth.
Pillar-Stability! Exodus 13:22. Whether at sea or on land, the vast phenomena of water or sand columns are unstable. The cloudy sea or sand masses bend quickly before a driving breath; or the storm beats on them, and they vanish. A vivid account of such water-pillar instability is given in “The Young Castaways;” while a similar illustration of the transitory character of the desert sand-columns is supplied by the author of “The Tropical World.” In the burning deserts of Peru, when a strong wind blows, huge sand-spouts rise to a height of one hundred feet, advance whirling through the expansive waste, encompass the laggard traveller over these solitudes, and overweighted at the summit totter and fall from top to base. All earthly pillar-shadows or shields, guides or guards, are uncertain and unstable; but the Divine Pillar of Truth mocks the lash of desert-hurricane or water-floods. Amidst the uproar and upheaval of elements, it smiles immovable; for against it; the gates of hell cannot prevail. No assaults can shake this magnificent column of salvation, so that as ancient Israel, God’s true people may trust in the Lord Jehovah, for in Him is everlasting strength, and He is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever—
“E’en in the wilderness, He gives sweet sense
Of sure protection, when by dangers press’d.”