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In the book of Psalms the Exodus of Israel is several times epitomized, and among the
features of that memorable time that are remembered is the fact that He who redeemed
the people, led them out and on through sea and wilderness until they reached the land of
promise. Notice the following:
"In the daytime also He led them with a cloud and all night with a light of fire"
(Psa. 78: 14). "And He led them on safety, so that they feared not; but the sea
overwhelmed their enemies" (Psa. 78: 53). He "guided (same word as led) them by
skillfulness of His hands" (Psa. 78: 72). "He spread a cloud for a covering; and a
fire to give light in the night" (Psa. 105: 39).
So in Exod. 13: 21, 22 we read:
"And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way: and
by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light: to go by day and night: He took not away
the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night from before the people."
Let us notice the following features:
(1) The leading was personal. "The Lord went before them." When Moses
rehearsed, before his death, the ways of the Lord with Israel, speaking of His leading he
said, "So the Lord alone did lead him" (Deut. 32: 12). It is the Lord's prerogative to
lead His people, and the solemn statement of Moses here seems to suggest that all other
`leading' is nothing less than idolatry. This should give pause to any who rather freely
use the expression `I felt led'. This personal presence of the Lord was clearly realized by
Moses as being essential to the accomplishment of the Lord's purpose:
"My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto Him, if
Thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence" (Exod. 33: 14, 15).
This presence of the Lord was manifested by an angel. "Behold Mine Angel shall go
before thee" (Exod. 32: 34). So in Exod. 14: 19, 20 we find:
"The angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind
them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them;
and it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a
cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these."
The presence of the Lord, the leading of the Lord, is a great dividing line between the
saint and the world. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God"
(Rom. 8: 14). The leading may be by lowlier means that of an angel. Psa. 77: 20
says, "Thou leddest Thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron", yet though
the means be more fallible, the Lord alone is the leader, whatever medium He may
choose from time to time. The children of God today may not see visible signs of the
Lord's presence, nevertheless the Lord still leads His people, and largely uses the
inspired Word. "Send out Thy light and Thy truth, let them lead me" (Psa. 43: 3). We
may be more certain that we `feel led' when we are led by God's own Word.
(2) The leading was adapted to the need. By day a pillar of cloud, but this would not
have been visible by night, and so the Lord manifested His presence at night by means of