We are in chapter thirty-three of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase. עַמּ֣וּד הֶֽעָנָ֔ן column of cloud, pillar of cloud. It is used 7 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. The first time it is used in the Bible it is used to describe how God would guide them in their journey to the promise land. Exodus 13:21-22 And the Lord went before them by day בְּעַמּ֤וּד עָנָן֙in a pillar of cloud to 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. עַמּ֤וּד הֶֽעָנָן֙ The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people. Nehemiah 9:18-19 Even when they had made for themselves a golden calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies, you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. עַמּ֣וּד הֶ֠עָנָן The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go.
Our phrase is also used to describe how God protected his people against the Egyptian army. Exodus 14:19-25 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and עַמּ֤וּד הֶֽעָנָן֙ the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And in the morning watch the Lord בְּעַמּ֥וּד אֵ֖שׁ וְעָנָ֑ן in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”
Our phrase is also used to identify God’s visible presence for people to connect with God. This is how our phrase is used twice in our chapter. Exodus 33:9-10 When Moses entered the tent, עַמּ֣וּד הֶֽעָנָ֔ן the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw עַמּ֣וּד הֶֽעָנָ֔ןthe pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. A special time of connection with God was Joshua’s commissioning right before Moses death. Deuteronomy 31:14-15 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, the days approach when you must die. Call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may commission him.” And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting. And the Lord appeared in the tent in a עַמּ֥וּד הֶעָנָ֖ן pillar of cloud. And the pillar of cloud stood over the entrance of the tent.
In the New Testament God’s visible presence is seen in two major ways, Christ and His church. We see both of these emphasized and pointed out as where God is glorified in this great passage that I will close with. Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
