“For: the Institute of contemporary and Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt”
I was just trucking along in my morning devotional minding my own business when this text in Exodus 14 just nailed me in its description of the Trinity. It seems every member of the Trinity is present yet taking part in the story independently.
Let me set the scene. The Israelites have fled Egypt upon Pharaoh’s request due to the 10 plagues. Meanwhile, Pharaoh changed his mind yet again and has caught up with to his former slaves with his enormous elite army of calvary and chariots. The Lord responds to the Israelites complaining that he will deliver them and win glory for himself from the Egyptians by allowing them to pass through the Red Sea. Then in vs. 19 we have the following description:
19 Then the angel of God, who had been travelling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other; so neither went near the other all night long.
19 Then the angel of God, who had been travelling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other; so neither went near the other all night long(1).
and after the Isralites advance though the walls of water with the Egyptians trailing we read that
24 During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion(1).
In these passages, arguably one of the most important founding narratives for the Israelites, we see three pictures of God. First we find the Angel of the Lord who was physically traveling with the Israelites who moves from the front of the army to the back. The Angel or messenger of the Lord is Christ(2). The Pillar of Cloud/Fire, who is the Spirit also moves with the to the back of the camp. Together they separate the Israelites from the Egyptians throughout the night. Finally, we see the Lord, the Father, who casts confusion on the Egyptians in their pursuit of the Israelites.
Who are these three characters? The Lord is God:YHWH. He is soverign, in control of the Israelites escape and who hardens Pharaoh’s heart and confuses his seemingly invincible army. Pharaoh, we should remember, claims to be devine himself, thereby setting himself up as a rival god over and against the YHWH.
The Angel is God’s human agent for his people, who protects and leads God’s people.
The Pillar protects and leads as well but he is much more ethereal in nature (fire and smoke are about as ethereal as you can get) certainly not human like the Angel.
This would seem to at least anticipate in form the coming Christ and the Spirit he gives to his followers.
1. NIV
2. Talbert, Charles. Reading John. New York: Crossroad, 1992.
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