God's Protective Cloud in the Desert

Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White

God's Protective Cloud in the Desert

Today's Text: Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us? Exodus 14:11

The Message:      There is a lesson of the greatest importance for us in the experience of the children of Israel as they left Egypt. More than a million people had been led out of the right course, as many of them thought, into a valley hemmed in by mountains. Before them lay the Red Sea, and behind them, following fast after in pursuit, was Pharaoh's host.      In the beginning of their march the children of Israel had been guided by a cloud. Ignorant and superstitious because of their long years of bondage in a land of superstition, the people looked upon this cloud with wonder. Some regarded it with fear, while others declared that it was a favorable omen. As the people were encamped beside the sea, they saw in the distance the flashing armor and moving chariots of Pharaoh's host. Terror filled their hearts. Some cried unto the Lord, but by far the greater part hastened to Moses with their complaints....      Moses was greatly troubled that his people should manifest so little faith in God, notwithstanding they had repeatedly witnessed the manifestation of His power in their behalf.... True, there was no possibility of deliverance unless God Himself should interpose for their release, but having been brought into this position in obedience to the divine direction, Moses felt no fear of the consequences. His calm and assuring reply to the people was "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord."...      It was not an easy thing to hold the hosts of Israel in waiting before the Lord. Lacking discipline and self-control, they became violent and unreasonable.... The wonderful pillar of cloud had been followed as the signal of God to go forward; but now they questioned if it might not foreshadow some great calamity, for had it not led them on the wrong side of the mountain, into an impassable way? ...      But now, as the Egyptian host approached them, expecting to make them an easy prey, the cloudy column arose majestically, passed over the Israelites, and descended between them and the armies of Egypt. A wall of darkness interposed between the pursued and their pursuers. The Egyptians could no longer discern the camp of the Hebrews and were forced to halt. But as the darkness of night deepened, the wall of cloud became a great light to the Hebrews, flooding the entire encampment with the radiance of day. That which had been a terror to the people had become their protection.-Manuscript 6a, 1903.

Commentary: My friend, today we do not have the visible token of God's presence with us, but we do have the gift of His Spirit, the Comforter Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1) who is ever with us through His Spirit.  As long as we are following after Him and are conforming our lives to His commands, we have nothing to fear for He is with us.  His promise to us is "and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (Matthew 28:20). How can Jesus be with us while He in human form is ministering for us in the heavenly sanctuary above.  The answer is by His Spirit, for He said in John 14:16-18 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;   Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." For many in the Christian world and in the Seventh-day Adventist church they look to this verse and see the giving of the Holy Spirit as another being that will be sent to be with them, but as Jesus said in Matthew 22:29 "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God."  Jesus is not saying that He will send another that is different from Himself, but that He would come to them not in human form, but by His Spirit saying in verse 18 "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.", and in verse 17 He says that they know this Comforter because He dwells with them, speaking of Himself, and that the Comforter will be in them, speaking of the manner by which He will dwell with them. The reason why there is so much confusion on this subject is because the trinity has introduced to God's people another being by the name of Holy Spirit, when in reality the Scriptures teach that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ, not another being.  The Bible tells us in Ephesians 4:4-6 that "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."  They share the same Spirit because the Son was brought forth from the Father. Those in the church today who have accepted the deception of the trinity are looking unto another god for their salvation.  They do not and cannot overcome sin in their lives because they are looking unto a false god.  Jesus said of the doctrines of the Scribes and Pharisees "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:7-9). My friend, unless you are connected to the One true God through Jesus Christ, having Him dwell within your heart, you cannot overcome sin in this world and be saved. May you turn away from the corrupt teaching of the trinity and look unto the One true God through Jesus Christ today. God bless,

Video of the Week The Final Protest - The One God of the Bible In this second video we look at some of the clearest statements concerning the one God of the Bible and some common misunderstandings that people use to "prove" a trinity.