He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
This verse belongs to the record of Israel's experience in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. God spread a cloud over Israel as a protective covering and shelter and gave fire for light at night during the wilderness journey. The cloud served as a canopy that shielded the people from the burning heat and brought coolness and moisture for refreshment. The cloud directed their journey by day, while the fire lit their encampment and way at night and continually assured them of God's presence.
The care described reveals God's goodness, mercy, and love for His people. The leading described was deliberate to take away a flesh diet and train Israel to live on simple fruits, vegetables, grains, and the bread of heaven. As Creator and Redeemer, God withheld flesh because it was not essential for health and He understood its harmful influence on the human system, wanting to educate and discipline Israel into correct habits so they would become a pure, holy, happy people with no feeble one among their tribes, with all sickness taken away and bearing the divine credentials in their physical appearance even after the long journey.
Their craving for the flesh-pots of Egypt with mourning, weeping, murmuring, and complaining against His plain promise provoked His wrath, so because they were determined to have the flesh of dead animals He gave them the very diet He had withheld. The wilderness experience to which the verse belongs serves as a warning, example, and lessons for God's people in the last days and today. That record should be studied regularly, and all who claim to be God's children should read the verse carefully to learn the necessity of appreciating God's goodness, mercy, and love.
This verse belongs to the record of Israel's experience in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. God spread a cloud over Israel as a protective covering and shelter and gave fire for light at night during the wilderness journey. The cloud served as a canopy that shielded the people from the burning heat and brought coolness and moisture for refreshment. The cloud directed their journey by day, while the fire lit their encampment and way at night and continually assured them of God's presence.
The care described reveals God's goodness, mercy, and love for His people. The leading described was deliberate to take away a flesh diet and train Israel to live on simple fruits, vegetables, grains, and the bread of heaven. As Creator and Redeemer, God withheld flesh because it was not essential for health and He understood its harmful influence on the human system, wanting to educate and discipline Israel into correct habits so they would become a pure, holy, happy people with no feeble one among their tribes, with all sickness taken away and bearing the divine credentials in their physical appearance even after the long journey.
Their craving for the flesh-pots of Egypt with mourning, weeping, murmuring, and complaining against His plain promise provoked His wrath, so because they were determined to have the flesh of dead animals He gave them the very diet He had withheld. The wilderness experience to which the verse belongs serves as a warning, example, and lessons for God's people in the last days and today. That record should be studied regularly, and all who claim to be God's children should read the verse carefully to learn the necessity of appreciating God's goodness, mercy, and love.