Exodus 13

Exodus 13:2

Exo. 13:2. Concerning the pillar of cloud and fire, or the cloud of glory. This pillar of cloud and fire, and also the cloud of glory on mount Sinai, and in the tabernacle and temple, was a type of Christ in the human nature. The cloud was a fit representation of the human nature, being in itself a dark body, a vapor, a weak light thing, easily driven hither and thither by every wind, or the least breath of air; while it continues, is a most mutable thing, sometimes bigger, and sometimes less, constantly changing its form, puts on a thousand shapes, and it quickly vanishes away, is easily dispersed and brought to nought; a little change in the air destroys it, a little cold condenses it, and causes it to fall and sink into the earth. See 2 Samuel 14:14. A little increase of heat rarefies and causes it wholly to disappear. A cloud is a most fit representation of the human nature of Christ, because it is derived from the earth, but yet is a heavenly thing. The bright, glorious, and inimitable fire or light that was in the midst of the cloud, represented the divine nature united to the human. The cloud was as it were a veil to this fire, as Christ’s flesh was a vest to the glory of the divinity. When Christ took the human nature upon him he veiled his glory, the bright and strong light of the glory within, which otherwise would have been too strong for the feeble sight and frail eyes of men, was moderated, and as it were allayed and softened, to make it tolerable for mortals to behold. Thus the glory of God is exhibited in such a manner in our incarnate Savior, so as it were to moderate, soften, and sweeten the rays of divine glory, to give us a greater advantage for free access to God, and the full enjoyment of him. Another thing signified by God’s glorious appearing in a cloud, was probably the mysteriousness of the divine essence and subsistence, and of the person of Christ, and of the divine operations. Thus it is said, Psalms 97:2. “Clouds and darkness are round about him, righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.” 1 Kings 8:12. “The Lord said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.” Psalms 18:11. “He made darkness his secret place. His pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.” Proverbs 30:4. “What is his name, and what is his Son’s name, if thou canst tell?” Isaiah 9:6. “His name shall be called Wonderful.” Judges 13:18. “Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?” God’s nature is unsearchable, it is high as heaven; what can we do? It is deeper than hell; what can we know? His judgments are a great deep, which we cannot fathom, and a cloud that we cannot see through; we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness." Job 37:19. In the cloud of glory there was an excellent luster, but it was veiled with a cloud; there was a darting forth of glorious light, and an inimitable brightness.

But if any over-curious eye pried into it, it would find it just lost in a cloud. God clothes himself with light as with a garment, but yet he makes darkness his pavilion. Thus the blessed and only Potentate dwells in the light which no man can approach unto, and is he whom no eye hath seen nor can see, 1 Timothy 6:16.

Exodus 13:21

Exo. 13:21. “And by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night.” Here in the camp of Israel was something of a resemblance and image of what is said of new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:23). The glory of the Lord did lighten, for here the Shekinah, which was commonly called the “glory of the Lord,” gave them light; and in verse 25 - “There shall be no night there,” the like of which was said of Zion (Isaiah 60:20), and of the Church in her glorious state (Zechariah 14:6; Zechariah 14:7). Here is some resemblance, for the camp of Israel had always light, both day and night; nor was it a dim light that they had in the night, but a light sufficiently clear well to direct that vast multitude in traveling in the wilderness, so that night was, in a great degree, turned into day amongst them (see Numbers 9:21; Deuteronomy 1:33; Nehemiah 9:12; Nehemiah 9:19; Psalms 78:14; Psalms 105:39). The congregation of Israel, in all their travels, were in the form of an army. They went up by their armies (Exodus 12:51), and they went up harnessed (verse 18). They were in military order in their camp and in their marches, and the pillar of cloud and fire was their grand “ensign,” lifted up in the view of the whole army as the ensign which they should follow and the standard by which they should abide; and as the pillar of cloud and fire was the symbol of the presence of Christ, so here was represented that which is spoken in Isaiah 11:10. As here this “ensign,” the pillar of cloud and fire, was to lead the people to their rest, so verse 12 - “And He shall set up an ensign for the nations."…