19 And the angel of God,
which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the
pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 20 And it came between the camp of
the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them,
but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other
all the night. (Ex 14:19-20)
23 And the Egyptians pursued, and
went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his
chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And it came to pass, that in the
morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar
of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians (Ex 14:23-24)
The Providential Hand of the Lord in preserving His people is beyond measure.
That is perfectly illustrated in the Pillar of Cloud by Day and Fire by Night
that both served as the advance guard of the armies of Israel and as a rear
guard as well.
Napoleon lead the largest land army ever amassed deep into the heartland of
Russia (le Grande Armée consisting of more than 500,000 troops). As he
moved, the logistics train became more and more cumbersome. The Emperor won a
great, but lackluster, battle outside the gates of Moscow at Borodino. He felt
confident his battle at Borodino had clinched the long coveted victory over the
Holy Russian Empire, but it did not. It simply sounded the death-knell of le
Grande Armée. The logistics trains of supplies had grown so long and
demanding of men and support that they failed to keep the French Army properly
resupplied. Moreover, entering Moscow at mid-September, the harsh Russian
winter was coming on. The Russian people were willing to sacrifice their own
homes and food stores to deprive Napoleon of access, so the Emperor was unable
to capitalize on his victory at Borodino. Napoleon deserted his hopeless
occupation of the burned and smoldering Moscow in mid-October harassed by
Russian army elements. He arrived back in Paris with less than ten thousand of
his former army of more than half a million.
How does all of this history of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia relate to our
topic today? In many ways it does. To use an old military cliché’ - “an army
travels on its stomach”. That means that it consumes food, ammunition, and
means of transport. Not only must it move against the hostile enemy terrain,
but protect its source of resupply to the rear. It also must protect its rear
elements from any enveloping maneuvers of the enemy against its flanks and rear
echelon. This is what makes the provision God made for the protection of Israel
so very amazing and miraculous. God was present in the Pillar of Fire by Night
and Pillar of Cloud by Day. He was the Guide and Compass for Israel’s advance
into hostile territory. He was the Advance Guard of the armies, and He was, as
well, the rear guard. He led the Children into enemy territory and, just in
case, He also moved as a trailing element to protect their rear from hostile
action. The Pillar of Fire lighted the way by night for Israel, but, as the
Rear-Guard, it blinded the enemy behind.
There are only few examples of an army moving without logistical support from
the rear echelons, but Israel did so for forty years in the Wilderness. The
gallant General Patton attempted to move ahead of his support lines, but his
tanks foundered for lack of petrol. The unscrupulous Sherman moved from Atlanta
to Savannah without a rear logistics, but fed his army on the meager provender
of widows, orphans, and women whose husbands were away. He burned their homes,
and ate their livestock. He was successful, but at a heavy moral cost to the
men he led and the Republic he represented.
But the armies of Israel traveled without foraging since the desert provides no
means for it. So how were millions sustained in a Wilderness area without
resupply from the rear? They were sustained by by a vertical resupply from
ABOVE in the form of Manna. Their water gushed forth from the cleft Rock (Jesus
Christ) that Moses struck at the Mountain of Grace (Mt. Horeb). They
grumbled and murmured every step of the way as all armies do, but they, at
length, arrived at the banks of Jordan Waters beyond which lay the Land of
Promise.
Israel was the Old Testament Church of the Wilderness. This is he, that was in the church in
the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with
our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us. (Acts
7:38) What of the
New Testament Church? We are to travel in precisely the same way. When the Army
of God launches off into hostile terrain – and the whole world is hostile
terrain – it must desert its old base of support in the world and travel alone
in its wilderness advance against the enemy. The world will not provide
supporting care, so its source of support must come from within its own ranks.
The Army of God is surrounded on all sides by the enemy, so it travels light,
and it depends upon God as its Guide, Deliverer, and source of provision. Yet,
the Army of God is neither a retrograde army, nor a defensive one. God does not
desire His Army to ever desert the field to the enemy; and He certainly does
not desire that we dig trenches about our outer defenses and simply “hold our
positions.” His Army is already a victorious Army. It cowers before no enemy.
It must be forever advancing against the mal-appropriated real estate that the
enemy has occupied. It is constantly moving forward because it follows the
Ensign of its Salvation (and that ensign never leads in retreat, but always
attack).
Let us heed the counsel of Hebrews: 6 But without faith it is
impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of
God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving
of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the
righteousness which is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was
called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance,
obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the
land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac
and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which
hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through faith also Sara herself
received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was
past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of
one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and
as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13 These all died in faith, not
having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded
of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims
on the earth. 14 For they that say such things
declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been
mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had
opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better
country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their
God: for he hath prepared for them a city. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was
tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his
only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in
Isaac shall thy seed be called: (Heb
11:6-18)
Does the Church of today fit the description of “strangers and pilgrims”
upon the earth? Or does the modern church seem to fit right in with the worldly
society she builds up within her doors? Does the modern church look back on the
glitter of the world that it left behind? I do not think so, because it has
brought the world’s glitter with it into its borders. Does the church of
today travel with light baggage as does a pilgrim in the land? I do not believe
the opulence of modern churches, and the lavish salaries both sought and paid
to social preachers points to that pilgrimage described by Paul above. I do not
believe the modern church is seeking after a country and a city not made with
hands. Instead, it is the city made with hands that they seem to be more
focused on. Their pockets are lined with wealth, yet they worry at the sharing
of that wealth with poor churches.
Paul continues to describe the wilderness wandering of the people of God: 34 Quenched the violence of
fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed
valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised
to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they
might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel
mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn
asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in
sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not
worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of
the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a
good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better
thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Heb 11:34-40) Do you believe our modern class
of evangelist (on average) would refuse deliverance by compromise in order to “obtain
a better resurrection”? A few might, but most would sell their souls first.
The Church is the Army of God, and we must observe an economy of force; but
that does not mean that we covet our treasure, but rather share it with other
elements in that Army. We have the same Pillar of Fire by Night and Pillar of
Cloud by Day to lead us against the foe, and to protect us from the pursuing
enemy – it is the Word of God. The Holy Ghost is our constant source of comfort
and reminder of the duties we bear as soldiers. Enlistments are open in that
Army. Are you on the rolls?
