The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-08-18
DIVINE GUIDANCE.

THE PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FIRE
Our Lesson describes the manner in which
the march of the hosts of Israel was divinely
directed in the journey from Egypt to the
Promised Land. Moses was the instrument
of COP in leading his people from the land of
their bitter bondage to Canaan, the land of
their promised inheritance. As in all his
dealings with the people, he employed the
means best suited to his purpose that were
convenient. The usual signal for the direc-
ton and guidance of armies and caravans
was column of smoke from fire which was
carried at the head of the advancing compa-
mics, when on the march, and kept burning
at the headquarters of the commanding Off
Ger when encamped. By this the line of
march was indicated, and the time and place
to settle, and break up camp. 1t was the
signal of supreme command by day and by
night. By day it appeared as column of
smoke, and at night as an illumination. By
this sign the Divine guidance of Israel was
expressed, and the command of GoD by the
hand of Moses was declared (23). When the
Israelites depar ted from Egypt, Moses, their
divinely appointed leader and historian, de-
cIares: " JEHovAH went before them by day
in pillar of cloud, to lead them the way;
and by night in pillar of fire, to give them
light; that they might go by day and by night;
the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of
fire by night departed not from before the
people" exodus xiii. 81, 22). When they
arrived at Horeb, the cloud on the mountain
became the symbol of COPS presence with
his people. Here they remained encamped
about year, when Moses organized them
into theocracy with system of divine
laws and a ritual of divine worship that
should distinguish them as People of GoD,
and qualify them for the possession of their
promised inheritance.
When the Tabernacle was erected, it is de-
clared that the cloud, which was the symbol
of COPS presence with Israel, came down
upon it end covered it. The invisible GoD
was conceived of as dwelling in clouds. A
cloud of smoke was the symbol of his pres
ence with his people. The smoke of burning
incense signified his presence in the Taber-
nacle and Holiest Place. column of smoke
expressed the divine guidance. The move
ments determined the movements of the
camp of Israel. When it moved forward the
uOStB III III WhASu ~
went; when it became stationary they halted
and encamped till it moved again. 1t is sug
gested by some that the movements of the
camp of Israel were determined by the ris-
ing or falling of the column of smoke or pill
lar of cloud, which would be "taken up" or
descend Exodus xxxiii. 81 according to the
state of the atmosphere. when the weather
was likely to be best for the people to ad-
vance, the cloud would naturally arise by
we'll known laws, and Uice versa" What was
accomplished by natural agencies is fire.
quently. in the Scriptures, ascribed directly
to COP. GoD who is the author and ruler of
nature employs natural as we'll as supernat-
ural means to accomplish his divine pur-
poses. 1t is expressly declared in the les
son that the commands of GoD by which the
movements of the hosts of Israel we're d.
rected in their protracted pilgrimage to the
promis ed land we're "by the hand of Noses"
To express the divine commands, Moses en-
ployed the pillar of cloud and fire, whether
naturally or supernaturally provided. By
divine guidance the Israelites sojouTned in
the wilderness forty years before they we're
permitted to enter and possess the prom
ised land of Canaan. A record of the jour
ney from Egypt to the ford of the Jordan is
contained in chapter xxxiii. 149.
To the sign of the divine presence and
guidance there was a natural analogy in the
caravan fire, which consisted of small iron
vessels or CRATES, with wood fires burning in
them, fastened at the end of long poles, and
carried as guide in front of caravans, and,
according TO Curtius, in trackless countries
in front of armies also, and by which the
direction of the road was indicated in the
daytime by the smoke, and at night by the
light of the fre.-"Oommentary on the PEN
tateuch," KeiI and Delitzseh.
The Persians and Greeks we're accustomed
to use fire and smoke as military signals.
Alexander gave the signal of departure from
camp by fire on high pole over his tent; if
it were night the army saw the fire; if it were
day, they saw the smoke. That it was also
an Egyptian practice seems to be estab-
shed.-SUNDAY-SoHooL HELPER, Nay 20,
1887.
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIsT.-The
pilgrimage of the Israelites from the land of
bitter bondage through the great and ter