WALKING IN THE LIGHT
“The Angel of God Who went before the host of Israel moved and went before them: and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. It was a cloud and darkness to the Egyptians, but it gave light by night to the Israelites; and the one host did not come near the other all night.” [Exodus 14:19-20]
“God caused the sea to go back by a strong east-wind. The wind he always makes use of when he chastises the nations. All night long God made it to blow over the sea. To prevent the enemy from inflicting harm upon the Israelites, He enveloped the Egyptians in profound darkness, so impenetrable it could be felt, and none could move or change his posture. He that sat when it fell could not arise from his place, and he that stood could not sit down. Nonetheless, the Egyptians could see that the Israelites were surrounded by bright light, and were enjoying a banquet where they stood, and when they tried to speed
darts and arrows against them, the missiles were caught up by the cloud and by the angels hovering between the two camps, and no harm came to Israel.” [‘The Legends of the Jews’ Volume 3 Rabbi Louis Ginsberg]
God provided light to the Israelites, but it appeared as impenetrable darkness to the Egyptians. Darkness is simply an absence of light. For the Egyptians, it was impossible to access because they preferred darkness—evil over good. The pillar was close to the Egyptians but they failed to apprehend it. It recalls the ninth plague of the Egyptians, when Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites leave Egypt with their livestock. This was the plague of darkness. God established His supremacy over Ra (the god of light) who was considered to be the most powerful of all Egyptian gods.
We read in Scripture that:
“If we really are living and walking in the Light, as He Himself is in the Light, we have true unbroken fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua Ha Mashiach keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations.” [1John 1:7]
Messiah Jesus spoke these powerful words to the crowds who thronged to hear His words:
“I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life.” [John 8:12]
Just a short while later, at the Feast of Hanukah (also known as the ‘Festival of Light which we will be celebrating in just a few more days) Jesus re-affirmed His Divine identity which was rejected by the religious hierarchy. As has been said:
“I do not like the dark, but please do not make the light shine too brightly!”
Hanukah, like Purim is a celebration of a nation’s deliverance through the sovereign intervention of the Divine creator. God has done it before and He will do it again. But, there will come the time in the near future when Jerusalem is surrounded by the armies of her enemies, ready and poised to destroy and wipe her off the map. At that time, with two thirds of the nation dead (Zechariah 13:8) and Jerusalem’s destruction is imminent, the prophet Zechariah prophesies that, “When that day comes, I (the Lord) will seek to destroy all nations attacking Yerushalayim;
10 and I will pour out on the house of David and on those living in Yerushalayim a spirit of
grace and prayer; and they will look to me, whom they pierced.” They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son; they will be in bitterness on his behalf like the bitterness for a firstborn son.” (chapter 12)
Zechariah continues that:
“On that day, there will be neither bright light nor thick darkness; 7 and one day, known to Adonai, will be neither day nor night, although by evening there will be light. 8 On that day,fresh water will flow out fro m Yerushalayim, half toward the eastern sea and half toward the western sea, both summer and winter. 9 Then Adonai will be king over the whole world. On that day Adonai will be the only one, and his name will be the only name.” (chapter 14)
Raphael ben Levi
