Êxodo 13

Êxodo 13

Pink points out that just as the cloud was a gracious gift to the Israelites, so the Holy Spirit is a gift to the trusting child of God. Jesus said, “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper” (John 14:16). The pillar of cloud was provided to guide the children of Israel. So too, the Holy Spirit leads the Christian. Jesus said, “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” (16:13). Even as the cloud remained with Israel in the wilderness, so Jesus promised that the Father would send the Spirit, who would “abide” with believers forever (John 14:16). Think of it! God Himself dwells within our hearts. We who know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are temples of His Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Blest Holy Spirit from above With all Thy quickening powers Come, shed abroad the Savior’s love And that shall kindle ours. —Watts The power that compels us comes from the Spirit who indwells us. Exodus 13:17-22 A Path Through The Woods The Lord went before them . . . to lead the way. —Exodus 13:21 Daddy built a tepee in the woods for 5-year-old Bree and her 3-year-old sister Abby. Then he constructed a playhouse for them in a nearby fallen tree. When the leaves were off the trees, the children could see the family cabin from their hideouts. But in the tangled underbrush of summer, the girls thought they were deep in the scary woods. So Dad took an ax and clippers into the woods and cut a trail from the back door of the cabin to the playhouse, then to the tepee and back to the cabin. The sisters felt safe and secure because the path was easy to follow. We may wish that God would blaze a trail for us through the deep woods of the future, but that’s not His way. He doesn’t leave us without guidance, though. We learn something of His loving character when we see what He did for Israel as they left Egypt. He “went before them” and showed the way by the pillars of cloud and fire (Ex. 13:21). Today we aren’t led by dramatic signs like fire and cloud. But God has given something better—the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:26; Gal. 5:16,18). He leadeth me! O blessed thought! O words with heavenly comfort fraught! Whate'er I do, where'er I be, Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me. —Gilmore You don't need to know where you're going if you know God is leading. Exodus 13:22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. He did not take away - Ps 121:5-8 pillar of fire - Rev 10:1 Exodus 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries CONSTANT DIVINE "COMPANION" He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people - This reiterates the sure guidance of Israel by Jehovah which remained over the Israelites until they entered Canaan under Joshua. THOUGHT - How does He lead today? The Word and the Spirit. Ps 119:105+ = "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path." Romans 8:14+ = "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." Gal 5:18+ = "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law." This begs an important question? Are you in the Word daily, that the Spirit might have Words to work with in leading you throughout the day? Don't miss a day without hearing your "marching instructions" from your Father in the Throne Room of Heaven! Currid comments "He did not remove/take away …’ The subject is clearly Yahweh from verse 21. The verb is in the third person masculine singular, a Hiphil causative stem. The point is that Yahweh is the one who appeared as the cloud and fire, and he is the one who controlled and decided the length of time that these manifestations were to appear. Obviously they were constantly before the people because God had not removed them." (Ibid) Guzik makes a comment we all need to ponder - Israel could draw great assurance from this visible evidence of God’s presence. Nevertheless, there were still many occasions after this when they seemed to doubt, to rebel, and to act as if God was distant. THOUGHT - Are we not so often like Israel? (Rhetorical question of course!) We have seen God's hand move numerous times in our lives and the lives of our children or brethren in Christ and yet when the test comes, we falter and our faith stumbles and begins to doubt God's presence and power. And we begin to fear (the antithesis of faith). Dear Father please give us the faith to utter the words of that distraught father who cried out ""I do believe; help my unbelief." (Mk 9:4). In Jesus' All Sufficient Name. Amen. F B