Jun 26 – The Pillar of Fire!

“And so it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said: ‘Rise up, O Lord! Let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You.’” (Numbers 10:35).

Whenever the Lord desired the children of Israel to move forward, the pillar of cloud would rise by day, and the pillar of fire by night. When God arose, the pillar of fire arose, the ark of the covenant arose, and the people of Israel arose. When the Lord rises up for us, we too must rise up for the Lord.

Bring before your mind the night when the pillar of fire arose. When a great rocket is launched into space toward the moon, it ascends with flames and fire bursting forth, filling the atmosphere with smoke. In the same way, when the Lord rises, He appears as a pillar of fire with blazing flames, as though millions of rockets were ascending together. Wild beasts and poisonous creatures flee in terror. Fiery serpents and scorpions are consumed.

During the night, darkness became light, coldness became warmth, and the people of Israel walked in bright illumination and pleasant comfort. How blessed it is that the Lord is with us, rises with us, and dwells among us! Whenever the pillar of fire arose, the Israelites knew that the Lord Himself was rising on their behalf. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.

What is the Lord like? “His eyes were like a flame of fire.” (Revelation 1:14). The prophet Ezekiel writes: “Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the colour of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around.” (Ezekiel 1:27).

And again the Bible says: “His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.” (Daniel 7:9,10).

If such an almighty God rises up, how glorious that sight must be! His enemies flee and are scattered. Unclean spirits cry out and run away at His presence. Witchcrafts are broken. Evil powers are destroyed. Bonds of sorcery are burned away.

Children of God, this God is on our side. He has made a covenant with us. He will arise for us. He is our loving Father. At the same time, He is “a consuming fire” against our enemies (Hebrews 12:29).

Verse for further meditation: “For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’” (Zechariah 2:5).