Pillars of Cloud and Fire

Story:  Pillars of Cloud and Fire

Passage: Exodus 13:17-22

Characters:  God, Israel

Summary:  God did not lead Israel to the Promised Land in the most direct way because He thought they would turn back if they faced war.  So they went towards the Red Sea.  Moses took Joseph’s bones with him.  The Lord led them as a pillar of cloud in the daytime and a pillar of fire at night. 

Notes: It is interesting that God thought that Israel would go back to slavery if they faced war.  His solution was to march them through the wilderness to a huge body of water where they would be attacked by Egypt.  If I were God, I would not have thought of that as a better alternative to a more direct route with war!  But thankfully, I am not God and He knew what He was doing!  The fact that Joseph’s bones were taken out of Egypt shows that he was never buried.  This shows his great faith!  He had such a strong belief that God would deliver Israel that he never was buried.  Here we see that his faith paid off!  God surely did come through!  The people of Israel were no wandering alone though, God led them in a very visible way in day and night so that they could keep moving!  I wonder when they slept?

Questions:  How tall were the pillars of fire and cloud? Would the Philistines have really attacked? When did the people sleep?

Lessons:  God knows what is best.  It made no sense to not take the most direct route, but God had a very legitimate reason to lead them that way!  Sometimes we feel like God is not with us, but maybe He is leading us by the harder route so that we will end up closer to Him!  I know that has been true in my life!