Isaiah Week Five: Fire and Cloud

Isaiah four is quite short, only six verses. However, it is full of Messianic and Millennial prophecy. God promises that the judgement from the horrific events of Revelation will be purged. The miles of blood will be cleansed. Yet beyond all of this, the spiritual blight will also be purified. When Israel repents, in the end, Christ’s blood will make them holy.

The two verses I want to focus on are at the very end of the chapter. Isaiah states that in the end, “The LORD will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain” Is. 4:5-6.

These verses brought two Old Testament Scriptures to mind. The first, as many of you might imagine is from Exodus 13:21-22. During the exodus from Egypt, we read, “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.” God’s very presence guided them out of Egypt, protected them from the pursuing Egyptian army, and then led them throughout their wandering in the wilderness. He did not leave them to guess about his will or fend for themselves as recently emancipated travelers. Can you imagine the combination of astonishing, frightening, and comforting emotions they must have felt as they watched these pillars guiding them and protecting them by turns.

Notice also, the promise that there will be a canopy. This has the idea of a defense, veil, or protection. Currently, Israel uses something called an iron dome as a canopy. It works well, for the most part. However, it can be overwhelmed as we saw in the initial attacks on October 7th. One day, horrifically – at the end of all things, it will fail. Man made wisdom and defenses are temporal. However, this canopy provided by the inexhaustible, eternal, never surprised, all-powerful, limitless, self-sufficient God will be a shelter. It will provide protection for all who flock to Mount Zion during the Millennial Reign of Christ.

The second part of Scripture I thought about is actually from Jonah 4:6 (notice the symmetry). We read, “Now the LORD God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort.” The word here for “shade” is the same one found in Isaiah. Throughout all time, God has provided what is needed for his people. Granted, Jonah had a rotten attitude and the plant withered so that God could teach that rebellious prophet a lesson.

Those reading the prophecy in Isaiah’s day and certainly any Jews reading the prophecy today could easily associate this passage with other instances throughout Scripture where God guided and provided. I know in my own life, there are times when I would like a more visible demonstration of God’s guidance. I’m sure you can think of moments when you would have liked to have a pillar of fire directing your steps. However, remember, Israel had that guidance and still wandered around the wilderness for forty years because they wouldn’t actually follow where God led. Jonah had direct revelation from God and ran in the opposite direction. We can’t be upset with God for not providing more guidance when we often refuse to obey what he has already told us to do. Nor can we insist on our preferred method of revelation if we refuse to study his Word so that we can understand his character and what he wants from us. More revelation almost always means more responsibility. Obey what you know – surrender to the current revelation or instruction and then wait patiently for his next direction.

The word refuge found at the end of this passage, not only means protection or a place of safety but it also has the idea of hope or trust. He isn’t just our strong tower or deliverer. He is our Living Hope. Now, this passage is specifically addressing promises to the nation of Israel in the future. However, God’s character does not change. 1 Peter 1:3 boldly declares, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” He will be our shelter from the storm.

Notice, it doesn’t promise that there won’t be storms. There will be a measure of conflict until everyone is made completely perfect and permanently new in the New Heaven (Revelation 21). Yet he is the constant. He is our “refuge and strength” (Ps. 46:1). He doesn’t make mistakes and he will always be everything we need (maybe not what we want) if we seek shelter in him. Don’t row all night like the disciples before you seek Jesus. Even if he doesn’t calm the metaphorical storm around us, he is still with us. He goes before us to guide and protects us from the enemy. He is our living hope and the only refuge we can trust will not be shaken.