This week’s Torah portion includes the well known passage introducing the two columns (or the one column with two appearances) that went before the people of Yisrael when they travelled through the Sinai wilderness – both during the day and during the night:
Ex 13:21 And Yahweh went before them by day in a column of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a column of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.
The word twice translated here as “column” is the same word that is sometimes translated as “pillar” – as in the pillars in the structure of the temple and the pillars that were brought down by Shimshon (Samson), killing thousands of Philistines and himself, in the final episode of his life.
These two columns or pillars that featured during the wilderness period – the column of cloud and the column of fire – must truly have been something quite extraordinary. Visually, it must have been an unforgettable experience: Just imagine a column of fire, extending down from heaven like a pillar, illuminating the entire area where the people of Yisrael would have put up their camp on any given night! But the awesome sense of the tangible presence of Yahweh must have made an even greater impression than the visual effect. Just listen to this account of the time when the Yisraelites stood on the edge of the mighty Red Sea, with the Egyptian army in full pursuit:
Exo 14:19-20 And the Messenger of Elohim, who went before the camp of Yisrael, moved and went behind them. And the column of cloud went from before them and stood behind them, and came between the camp of the Mitsrites (Egyptians) and the camp of Yisrael. And it was the cloud and the darkness, and it gave light by night, and the one did not come near the other all the night.
From this account it seems that the same pillar provided light to the Yisraelites and caused darkness to the Egyptians. That’s why some of the ancient Jewish and Aramaic commentators declared that half of the column was light and the other half darkness. Looking at the account in Shemot 14, one can clearly see that on Yisrael’s side it was light, but on Egypt’s side it was dark. This illustrates clearly that Yahweh can use one object or one incident for different purposes. One and the same incident can be a disaster to some but a blessing to others. What huge difference it can make when one recognises the awesome presence of Yahweh in the face of threatening danger! What difference it can make when one manages to take another view and look at something that seems like a dark cloud of trouble, from the other side, only to discover the favour and the presence and the blessings of Yahweh!
The Hebrew word for “column” or “pillar” is “ammud”. This word is derived from the root word “amad” which means “to stand, to be firm, to appoint, to establish” etc. A study of this root word in Scriptures clearly shows that even though we do not often see literal pillars of fire today, we may still be able to sense the presence of Yahweh in these modern times. Who knows, if we allow Yahweh to purify our hearts and our minds, these kind of experiences may have a similar impact on our spirits than during those 40 years when Mosheh and the people of Yisrael saw the Pillar every single day and every single night!
Psa 31:8 And You have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy. You have set (“amad”) my feet in a large place. Isa 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make stand (“amad”) before Me,” declares Yahweh, “so your seed and your name shall stand.
THE PILLAR OF YAHWEH’S FAITHFULNESS
Psa 33:11 The counsel of Yahweh stands (“amad”) forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.
THE PILLAR OF YAHWEH’S ETERNAL PLAN
Isa 3:13 Yahweh shall stand (“amad”) up to plead, and is standing to judge the peoples.
THE PILLAR OF YAHWEH’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT
Psa 119:91 According to Your right-rulings They have stood (“amad”) to this day, For all are Your servants.
THE PILLAR OF YAHWEH’S COMMANDMENTS
Psa 111:10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom, All those doing them have a good understanding. His praise is standing (“amad”) forever.
THE PILLAR OF YAHWEH’S PRAISE
Psa 112:9 He scattered abroad, He gave to the poor, His righteousness is standing (“amad”) forever. His horn is exalted with esteem. Psa 109:31 For He stands (“amad”) at the right hand of the poor, To save from those judging his being.
THE PILLAR OF YAHWEH’S PLEA FOR THE WEAK
2Ch 9:8 Because your Elohim has loved Yisrael, to establish (“amad”) them forever, therefore He made you sovereign over them, to do right-ruling and righteousness.
THE PILLAR OF YAHWEH’S LOVE
Psa 105:10 And established (“amad”) it to Yaákov for a law, To Yisraél – an everlasting covenant
THE PILLAR OF YAHWEH’S COVENANT
Psa 19:9 The fear of Yahweh is clean, standing (“amad”) forever; The right-rulings of Yahweh are true, They are righteous altogether
THE PILLAR OF YAHWEH’S FEAR
2Ch 30:5 And they settled (“amad”) the matter, to send a call to all Yisraél, from Beérsheva to Dan, to come to perform a Passover to Yahweh Elohim of Yisraél at Yerushalayim, since they had not done it for a long time, as it is written.
THE PILLAR OF YAHWEH’S FEASTS
Hag 2:5 the Word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Mitsrayim, and My Spirit is remaining (“amad”) in your midst, do not fear!
THE PILLAR OF YAHWEH’S SPIRIT IN OUR MIDST
Jer 6:16 Thus said Yahweh, Stand (“amad”) in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and find rest for yourselves. But they said, We do not walk in it.
THE PILLAR OF YAHWEH’S SET-APART WAYS
Jer 7:2 Stand (“amad”) in the gate of the House of Yahweh and you shall proclaim there this word, and shall say, ‘Hear the word of Yahweh, all you of Yehudah who enter in at these gates!
THE PILLAR OF YAHWEH’S PROCLAIMERS
Eze 22:30 And I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand (“amad”) in the breach before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it – but I did not find one!
THE PILLAR OF YAHWEH’S INTERCESSORS
Isa 11:10 And in that day there shall be a Root of Yishai, standing (“amad”) as a banner to the people. Unto Him the gentiles shall seek, and His rest shall be esteem. Mic 5:4 He shall stand (“amad”) and shepherd in the strength of Yahweh, in the excellency of the Name of Yahweh His Elohim. And they shall dwell, for at that time He shall be great, to the ends of the earth.
THE PILLAR OF YAHWEH’S MESSIAH
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