Seattle, June 9, 2005. (14)
THE BUSH THAT WAS BURNING BUT NOT BEING BURNT. Amazing that the bush was covered and filled with flames but remained exactly as it was, perfectly normal. This fire was most unusual. It was however, just as named, fire. A fire that could be consuming and destructive. In this case it did not destroy the bush. Actually the Angel of the Lord was the fire. Ps. 104:4 He had come as The messenger of the Lord. This angel [messenger] was none other than the Lord Jesus. He is the true messenger of our God and appears in several theophanies, [prebirth appearances of Christ], in the Word. That it was not a created angel is readily seen in the introduction of Himself. No created angel can ever claim to be God. If he does he is a liar. when the Lord said I am Moses recognized Deity, bowed His head and could no longer look upon the bush or the Lord. The Lord called him and appointed him a task that was tremendous. Ex. 3:2-10 The Lord answer the prayer of Moses by sending ball lightning and great hail storms, such as there had not been in the history of Egypt. Ex. 9:23-24
THE PILLAR OF HIS PRESENCE. The cloud and the pillar of fire, one and the same, depending entirely on whether it was night of day. What excitement to have such a visible manifestation of the Lord constantly with them day and night. The presence in the pillar was their guide, provider, and protection. They were a marching miracle. They needed no generator to lighten their march or their camp at night, nor air conditioner by day to keep them comfortably cool. Ex. 13:21 The pillar had miraculous action. While it lead them by day. When their camped was moved, it stood between the pursuing Egyptians and the marching or camping Israelites. Ex. 14:19 To the enemy it was total darkness, like the darkness of a heavily clouded night. On the other hand it was light for the camp of the people of the Lord. Ex.14:20 If that light be darkness how great is that darkness. Mt. 6:23 The morning they crossed the Red Sea the Lord looked at the Egyptians through the cloud and created a problem for them. He caused the wheels of their chariots to fall off. What better way to deter them from following the Israelites and defeating them. Eureka! The Egyptians finally caught on that the Lord was on the side of the Israelites. That they were in dangerous circumstance and had better clear out by retreating. Ex. 14:24-25 The Lord commanded Moses to stretch out His rod over the sea causing it to close up again. The Egyptian army which had followed them into the split of the sea were all destroyed, along with their equipment. Not one was able to escape. Ex. 14:28-29