Israel’s Cloud
God’s providence on behalf of the children of Israel in their wilderness wanderings through the Sinai desert, the land of Moab, and that of the Ammonites, was manifested by a miraculous cloud formation, which became to them a visible token of His constant care and of His presence in their midst. ”And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them in the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light to go by day and night.” (Exodus 13:21, 22, Psalms 78:14).
This cloud and fire pillar seems to have been associated with the Tabernacle in the sense that a branch or foot came down from the cloud to the Tabernacle. When it left, or was lifted up into the main body cloud above, it indicated that the time had come for them to travel. They followed the leading of the cloud: when it stayed they rested, constructed their camp, and a columnar connection, or pillar cloud foot, established itself as before.
”And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys. But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up” (Exodus 40: 33-38, Numbers 9:15-23).
The thick main body cloud above was not confined merely to the air space above the tabernacle structure itself; but rather was spread as a canopy or awning over the entire nation of journeying Israelites. When they were at rest in their tents it also served as a protective covering. It provided shade from the scorching rays of the noon desert sun, ameliorating the intense heat of the day, lest the multitude below perish in the way. The cloud-cover also had a calming influence upon the wind and blistering sand storms, which arose, suddenly posing, at times, a menace to security, yea, a threat to even survival of the host.
It is also well to realize that although the average annual rate of rainfall in the wilderness area is pitifully small compared to that of other regions, both distant and near, nonetheless a third danger to a wandering desert nomad people would be from the very rare but very real flash floods, produced by a sudden torrential downpour of rain – a cloud burst – the waters of which would flow down the dry gulches or wadis, in some places figuratively with the speed of an express train. This constituted an inherent peril to those not alerted to and familiar with the necessity of hasty departure from the dry riverbeds, which frequently were used in travel as natural desert highways to known destinations. The covering cloud over the camp of the Israelites, we are informed, minimized the potential hazard accompanying such storms.
Many who are disposed to scoff at such statements of the Biblical narrative, which call attention to God’s dealings with His people of old, apparently are unappreciative of the many miracles performed by nature in every day routine life, which are soon forgotten by reason of their multiplicity and commonness of occurrence. Yet such events are attested to and by the authority of God’s own testimony through the writings of those holy men of the past.
The Angel of God, protecting Israel.
Archaeology, of late, has been instrumental in leading several non-religious men from skepticism by reason of uncovered evidence, to an increased respect for the accuracy and reliability of biblical descriptions of the ancient past, which testimony they were unwilling to recognize formerly. Recent discoveries have put to foolishness the former scorn of some of these critics. Consider the following:
”And the Lord will create [not as previously in a literal manner, but in a figurative sense] upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire [in the Exodus, this was a spectacular luminous cloud awning or glowing fire light canopy] by night: for upon all [i.e., the entire nation, every individual household or dwelling place] the Glory [of this cloud formation] shall be a defense [protective covering] and there shall be a [similar though symbolic] tabernacle [replacing the literal, temporary cloud cover accompanying them during their wilderness wanderings] for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a covert from [wind and sand] storm and [overflowing] rain” (Isaiah 4:5, 25:4).1
“… He spread a cloud for a covering …” (Psalms 105:39) It did not take the people long to discern the hand of the Lord in their affairs. This overhead open air cloud tent, without visible cords, on occasion remained stationary for long periods of time before gliding on and directing to a new lo cation deemed suitable to Divine Providence.
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS
In one sense the physical or material tabernacle building below comprised of various curtains and skins, supported by boards overlaid with gold, and the Shekinah glory light within, was a similar though smaller representation and visible token of God’s presence in their midst. The Tabernacle Cloud above reminded them of God’s care and Divine Providence in the external affairs of the nation, whereas the Tabernacle Building beneath called attention to the Lord’s interest in their spiritual welfare, directing their paths in moral instruction and enlightenment, and in providing for their typical cleansing from sin through its sacrificial services.
The pillar connection between the cloud above and the building below seemed to fill such a vital role in their affairs that it was soon recognized and likened unto the ”Angel of God.” It protected as well as guided them in the way. Indeed, it appeared to them a certainty that an intelligence emanated from within its enshrouded core. “The Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle and called Aaron” (Numbers 12:5). “For they [the Egyptians] have heard that … thy cloud standeth over them and thou goest before them, by day in a pillar of the cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night” (Numbers 14:14). “Clouds and darkness are round about Him” (Psalms 97:1-4). “He spoke unto them in the cloudy pillar” (Psalms 99:7).
”And the Angel of God which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them [at the Exodus, the crossing of the Red Sea] and it came between the camp of the [pursuing] Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it [the Pillar] was a cloud and darkness to them [a visually impenetrable barrier to the Egyptians], but [on the front side] it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all night. And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud and troubled the host of the Egyptians” (Exodus 14:19, 20, 24). The branch or pillar of the cloud removed, therefore, from before and stood betwixt the fleeing multitude and the pursuing host.
The Apostle Paul, recognizing the importance of God’s past dealings with his people, the institution of the tabernacle arrangement with its service as well as the remark able cloud feature, was not negligent in calling attention to the forceful lessons to be drawn from this. “Moreover brethren I would not that ye be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud and all [the whole nation] passed through the [Red] Sea, and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud [underneath the covenant cloud] and in the sea [the Israelites traveled dry-shod across the Red Sea, as through a tunnel, with the cloud proper as their roof, and the waters heaped up to the left and to the right]” (1 Corinthians 10:1, 2). Yea, even as Moses exultingly sang: “And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea” (Exodus 15:8, cited also in Psalm 33:7 and 78:13).
However, it is not merely to gain a knowledge of Jewish history, its forms, ceremonies and worship that we come to the investigation of this subject, but that we may be edified by understanding the antitype from an examination of the type as God designed in arranging it.
Those familiar with God’s overruling providence with respect to the detailed record of certain events in the lives of prominent individuals in the sacred narrative, and some of the historical experiences of that nation recognize that all of these are designed to set forth higher spiritual lessons and future realities based on the former literal (and in a sense typical also) incidents of the past. “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the age are come” (1 Corinthians 10:11).
The cloudy pillar, styled “the angel of God” among other things, pictures in power, demonstration, and judgment, the future work of Messiah on behalf of restored Israel in lead ing that race and all others of the willing and obedient to the promised rest of eternal security and overflowing happiness – “the desire of all nations which shall come” (Haggai 2:7).
This cloud column, as it were, acted as a cloak or garment concealing the Glory of God from overpowering the people. Thus, figuratively, it concealed from view His awesome presence, which nonetheless sometimes broke out in a fearsome display of light or fire such as that which devoured Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:2). Also on occasion the simulated sound of the voice of the Almighty God came from the midst thereof. We are not to understand that this pillar literally encased the person of the Divine Majesty it self, but rather representatively did so. For this reason it was called the Angel of God.
As the veiled Angel’s presence was manifested in the cloudy pillar, so Moses “the Servant of God” similarly communicated special divine oracles to the nation with veiled face (Exodus 34:33-35). These two methods of instructing the people in a measure prefigured the work of Messiah, “the Messenger of the Covenant whom ye delight in” (Malachi 3:1). Of him Moses spoke saying: “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren [nationality] like unto me” (Deuteronomy 18:15, Acts 3:22).
Furthermore, if our analogy be correct, the large cloud layer above pictures the shielding of the nation from the burning sun of God’s righteousness, and the father like leading of a wayward people to their promised land. “I have blot ted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins; return unto Me for I have redeemed thee” (Isaiah 44:22).
It is in this light – the story of the cloud – that the familiar and forceful prophecy of Isaiah concerning Israel should be understood, namely: ”.Arise! Shine! for thy light is come; and the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For behold the darkness shall cover the earth [in a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation – nor will ever be (Daniel 12:1, Matthew 24:21)] and gross dark ness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His [future] Glory [cloud] shall be seen upon [above] thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light” (Isaiah 60:1, 2).
– Frank Shallieu, from “The Harvest Message” (volume 2:1),
January 1970, distributed by the Christian Bible Students
Association, Warren, Michigan.
(1) In Isaiah 4:5 the word “defense” is Strong’s 2646. It is only used three times in the Old Testament – here, and in Joel 2:16 where it is translated “closet,” and in Psalms 19:5 where it is translated “chamber.” Literally it means “canopy,” such as the Jewish chuppah canopy still used in traditional Jewish weddings. The Psalms reference seems to imply that this canopy is the “heavens” and the “firmament” of verse one. Bro. W A. Baker suggested in a talk many years ago that these “heavens” represent the church and the “firmament” represents the ancient worthies.