This is from Exodus. God helped the Israelites travel by night and day by providing light. (
Exodus 13:21-22)
ANOTHER ANSWER:
The entire "exodus" from Egyptian slavery [symbolic of man's bondage to sin - disobedience to God's Commandments - I John 3:4] orchestrated by God is an encapsulation of the Salvation process.
A person's trust in the shed blood of the lamb [Christ's blood] struck on the doors and windows of their homes; the access points to their homes where they live, blots out all past sins [liberates him from the penalty of sin; death: set free from Egypt]. From that point in one's life, they live in newness of life... they are to RUN AWAY FROM SIN [Egypt] until the time of the Salvation of the LORD.
Until that time, the Power of the LORD [the column of the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night], meanwhile, stands between them and Satan and his demons [Pharaoh and his armies] throughout the remainder of their life, preventing the Devil's dragging them back into sin [Egypt] and bondage to it.
It's a struggle to overcome throughout one's life... but trusting in that awesome protective cloud and fire... though one feels like their backs are against a wall [the Red Sea]... will result in their ultimate "delivery" [re-birth] into the Immortal Family of God:
"And Moses said unto the people, "FEAR YE NOT, stand still, and SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD, which He will shew you to day: for the Egyptians [Satan and his demons] whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD SHALL FIGHT FOR YOU, and ye shall hold your peace." (Ex.14:13-14 KJV)
The entire process of the LORD's Salvation is condensed in the Exodus account. And the LORD's [Christ's] protection from the Devil is pictured in the column of the cloud and pillar of fire:
"I don't want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, what happened to our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. God guided all of them by sending a cloud that moved along ahead of them, and He brought them all safely through the waters of the sea on dry ground. As followers of Moses, they were all baptized in the cloud and the sea. And all of them ate miraculous food [the bread...WORD of God... from heaven - John 6:32-35], and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous ROCK THAT TRAVELED WITH THEM, and THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST." (I Cor.10:1-4 NLT New Living Translation)
It was by a pillar of fire in the night, and a pillar of cloud in the day.
A pillar of fire at night, and a pillar of cloud during the day
During the Exodus, God provided a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night.
Exodus 13:21, 22 - And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people. [NKJV]
Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:22He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
During the time of Moses, God guided the Jews by night using a pillar of fire, reference the following Bible scripture: 21 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.
Exo 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:Exo 13:22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
Yes, according to the Bible, God led the Israelites by a pillar of cloud during their journey through the wilderness. This cloud would move ahead of them during the day and would settle in a specific location at night. The Israelites would then set up camp around the cloud.
A cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
Two images that occurred together to show the presence of God during the wandering in the desert were a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. These images provided guidance and protection to the Israelites as they journeyed through the desert.
The point was made in a few different ways:1). From Exodus 13:21-22: The LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud,to lead them in the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light. He ledthem by day and night. They never faded ... the pillar of the cloud by day, nor thepillar of fire by night ... from before the people.2). If there was anyone who didn't notice these pillars of fire and cloud, they mighthave noticed the fresh layer of manna that fell every morning, and became the mainsource of nutrition for the two or three million people traveling together. Anyone whohas ever experienced the wilderness of the Sinai Peninsula can't fail to be impressedby the concept of himself finding anything to eat there, let alone a large group oftravelers.The pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night (Exodus ch.13, Numbers ch.9).
I suppose you mean 'to his people in the wilderness'? God showed his presence always, by a pillar of cloud to guide them by day and a pillar of fire to guide them by night. (Exodus 13.21,22)