Following The Cloud

by Micky Galloway

Numbers 9:15-23, “And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, even the tent of the testimony: and at even it was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until morning. So it was alway: the cloud covered it, and the appearance of fire by night. And whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel encamped. At the commandment of Jehovah the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of Jehovah they encamped: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they remained encamped. And when the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of Jehovah, and journeyed not. And sometimes the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; then according to the commandment of Jehovah they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of Jehovah they journeyed.”

We are introduced to God leading the Israelites by “the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night,” in Exodus 13:21-22. God saw Israel’s need for leadership as they began their journey out of the land of Egypt. The most direct route to the promised land of Canaan, would have brought them into immediate conflict with the Philistines (cf. Exodus 13:17-18). They needed to learn to trust God!

The “the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night,” provided protection. As the Israelites fled from Pharoah and his army, the pillar of cloud separated between the Egyptians and the Israelites. “The pillar of cloud removed from before them, and stood behind them: and it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness, yet gave it light by night: and the one came not near the other all the night” (Exodus 14:19-20). In the morning, “Jehovah looked forth upon the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and discomfited the host of the Egyptians. And he took off their chariot wheels …” (Exodus 14:24-25). The Egyptians were afraid and said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel; for Jehovah fighteth for them against the Egyptians” (Exodus 14:25; cf. Psalms 77:16-20). They needed to be afraid! After the Israelites passed through the Red Sea on dry ground, the walls of water came crashing down on the Egyptians so that not a single soldier survived (Exodus 14:27-28).

The “the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night,” provided guidance. Forty years after the exodus from Egypt, Moses reminded them that God, “went before you in the way, to seek you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to show you by what way ye should go, and in the cloud by day” (Deuteronomy 1:33). Centuries later Nehemiah reminded them that even when they provoked God by making the molten calf, “… This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations; yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of cloud departed not from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go” (Nehemiah 9:12, 18-19).

The “the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night,” manifested the presence of God among His people. As the tabernacle of God was completed by Moses, “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle … And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys: but if the cloud was not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of Jehovah was upon the tabernacle by day, and there was fire therein by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys” (Exodus 40:34-38). Later, Moses noted that this manifested the presence of God among the Israelites to all the inhabitants of the land. “They have heard that thou Jehovah art in the midst of this people; for thou Jehovah art seen face to face, and thy cloud standeth over them, and thou goest before them, in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night” (Numbers 14:14).

What does this mean?

1. Following God can be inconvenient. They had to set up and take down the tabernacle (Numbers 10:17) and their tents (Exodus 16:16) every time God decided to move. Every day (sometimes for years) the people would go through their days with no idea if they would be packing up or moving before the day was over. They might begin a journey (without warning) at bed time. Following God today may be inconvenient too. As the apostle Paul stood before Felix and “reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me” (Acts 24:25). The goal is to follow God, not to be comfortable.


2. Following God can be hard. When Moses commanded the people to “Rise up,” (Numbers 10:35), the people murmured and God sent fire among them (Numbers 11:1). They continued to complain and said, “Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt for nought; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: but now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all save this manna to look upon” (Numbers 11:4-6; cf. 14:26-34;16:41-50; 21:4-9; etc.). The New Testament assures us, “Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (II Timothy 3:12; cf. I Peter 4:12-16).


3. When we are following God, we are protected in times of trouble. The substance of Psalms 61 is God’s protection of His people. “Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I call unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a refuge for me, a strong tower from the enemy” (Psalms 61:1-3). He is our refuge against sin. “Thy word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Jehovah: teach me thy statutes” (Psalms 119:11-12) and temptations, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it” (I Corinthians 10:13). God offers forgiveness, guidance, strength, comfort, etc. if we will trust His mercy and obey His word!


4. When we are following God, we have the promise of His abiding presence. This was the message of the prophet Haggai that stirred up the people to arise and build the temple, for “I am with you, saith Jehovah” (Haggai 1:13; 2:4). In fact, God Himself has said, “I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee.” The writer continues, “So that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: What shall man do unto me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

Just as following the cloud had blessings for the nation of Israel, as we follow the cloud (God’s leadership and guidance in His word), we can obtain the eternal blessing of “rest” in heaven forever in His presence. “Godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come. Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation. For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe” (I Timothy 4:8-10).