1

God protects the Israelites with the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire

2

By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. (Exodus 13:21-22)

3

The Israelites had lived as slaves in Egypt.

God had brought down ten disasters onto Egypt so that they could have their freedom from Egypt then they could go to Canaan.

4

Moses led the Israelites and they headed to Canaan but the Israelites always worried. But God promised that He would protect them until the end.
The Israelites believed in that promise and went on with faith.

5

There were no cars during that time so the Israelites had to walk for a very long time to get to Canaan. In the Bible, it is written that there were 6 hundred thousand men so if we also count the women and children, the number of Israelites would have been over 2 million. It was not easy to move 2 million people altogether.

6

There were two ways to get to Canaan.
One way was to cross over the desert and the other was to pass through the Philistine's country. However, the Philistines were very strong in war.

7

The Israelites did not want to go through the Philistine's country because they were afraid of them. So even though it would take longer, the Israelites decided to travel through the desert. There was not much food and the weather always changed in that desert.

8

The Israelites didn't know where they should go.
They just followed Moses and went to the desert. Even though, the Israelites worried, they believed that God would help them so they bravely went to the desert.

9

But a very amazing thing happened.
A very big cloud pillar led the Israelites in front of them by day.
All that the Israelites had to do was to follow that cloud pillar.

10

That cloud pillar did not only lead the Israelites in front.
It was so big that it covered the sky so that all of the Israelites could see it. It covered the strong sunlight and gave a cool shadow. God used a big cloud to make shade for them.

11

The Israelites walked the whole day by following the cloud pillar.
Time passed and it became night.
When it was becoming dark, another amazing thing happened.

12

The cloud pillar changed to a fire pillar. It brightly shined over the Israelites.
The fire pillar led the Israelites to a safe place.

13

In the desert, it becomes very cold like winter during night time.
But the Israelites spent the night warmed by the fire pillar.
God protected them so that no one could catch a cold.

14

The cloud and the fire pillar led the Israelites everyday.
Every day, God led and protected the Israelites with the cloud and the fire pillar.

15

The Israelites saw this amazing power of God and their faith was strengthen.
They knew that God loved them so much.
They saw that even fire and clouds follow God's orders.

16

Just like this, if we believe in Jesus, we become children of God like the Israelites.
Then God will also lead and protect us like how God led the Israelites by the cloud and the fire pillar.

17

Unbelievers can have fear of what will happen in the future. But, we, as believers of God don't have to have this kind of fear. It is because we know that God will lead and protect us until the end like how God protected and led the Israelites by a cloud and a fire pillar. I hope all of you will live bravely in this world with that in your hearts.