The Passover And The Cloud (9:1-23)
Neal Pollard
The Lord had provided a way for Israel to remember God’s deliverance in their past, the Passover memorial commemorating His delivering them from Egypt (1-14) and a way for them to observe God’s deliverance in their present. This was provided through the cloud cover by day and the appearance of fire by night (15-23). They had a perpetual reminder of the God who watched over them and took care of them. Whether it was their yesterdays or their today, they could be assured.
The Passover had commands and regulations. God dictated when it would occur, “its appointed time” (2-3). God dictated where it would be observed, “in the wilderness of Sinai” (5). God dictated how it would be done, “according to all that God had commanded Moses” (5). This included what they did with the food and the animal itself (11-12). But, God through His grace and perfect understanding provided an alternative for those “providentially hindered” through touching a dead body (6-14). Yet, if they failed to observe it simply out of neglect or disobedience, “that person shall be cut off from his people because he did not bring the Lord’s offering at its appointed time; that man shall bear his sin” (13). God’s broader vision is seen in that even strangers sojourning in the land who desired could participate in the Passover Feast (14).
From the day the tabernacle was set up, God was the guide of the people. He showed them where to go and told them when to move. That was the purpose of the cloud and fire. These objects stood above the tabernacle, the place where God designated to commune with His people (Ex. 25:8-9). At times, the cloud would stay in place for a long period of time (19). At times, the cloud remained for a short time (20). The thread that tied all of it together was the “command” of the Lord (“command” is found seven times in the last six verses). Once again, we have an endorsement of the willingness of the people up to this point in their exodus from Egypt: “They kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by Moses” (23).
A couple of interesting facts should be considered. The Passover commemorated their deliverance from bondage. God stipulated the when, where, how, and who of this memorial. It is a type of the Lord’s Supper, which commemorates our deliverance from the bondage of sin. God has given it to us each Lord’s Day (Acts 20:7), to be taken when assembled (1 Cor. 10-11), in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice and with self-examination (1 Cor. 11:23-29), and by those redeemed (Mat. 26:26-29). It is a reminder of God’s deliverance in our past, as well as our continual need of His deliverance today.
Second, the providential leading of God guides us through this world. We have the perfect guidance of His Word, which leads us to trust Him as we pray to Him and seek to obey what He has written down for us. Though we do not have some tangible sign like a cloud or fire, we have an unwavering confidence that God is at work in our lives helping us get to the Promised Land (Rom. 8:28).
What we know is that we always need Him (Phil. 4:19) and He will never fail nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5-6). His future integrity is forged by His past deliverance and present help! Our task is to keep moving, just as He has directed in His Word!
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