We are in chapter thirteen of Exodus with our word for today which is actually two words both translated the same way in our chapter. נָחָה lead, conduct, guide. It is used 39 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. Most of the time we see our word used of God guiding his people. Psalm 23:3 He יַֽנְחֵ֥נִי leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalm 31:3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you תַּֽנְחֵ֥נִי lead me and guide me. And we see a specific reference to our event in our chapter. Psalm 78:14 He וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night. Our other word is סָבַב go in a circle, surround, turn, change. It is used 155 times in the Old Testament. Let’s look at both of our words in our chapter today.
Exodus 13:17-18, 21-22 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not נָחָ֣ם lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God וַיַּסֵּ֨בled the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle…And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud לַנְחֹתָ֣םto lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.
Our other word translated lead means to go in a circle which is what is used to reference his leading them the wilderness route. So God didn’t lead them in a straight line shortest route but instead he took the long way around. He explains why because he didn’t want them to have to face war right away. Instead they needed to see another miracle that God is setting the stage for because he will be the one fighting for them which we will see in the days to come.
It is interesting how our word is used by the Levites later on in their prayer of public repentance of the people they reference this event in our chapter. Nehemiah 9:12, 19 By day you הִנְחִיתָ֖ם led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take…Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail לְהַנְחֹתָ֣ם to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. Did you catch that they are interpreting the event in our chapter as God showing his great compassion to not abandon his people but to lead them. This is seen throughout the Bible. We deserve separation from God but instead God offers to deliver us from sin and danger and lead us to his goodness. He does this because of his compassion and love for us.
Today God guides us through his word the Bible in the same way light helps us see where we need to go. Psalm 119:130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. This is why Jesus is called both the word and the light of the world. Because he is God’s revelation or making known who God is and his will. John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” I’ll close with this great Psalm. Psalm 43:3 Send me your light and your faithful care, let them יַנְח֑וּנִי lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.
