Christ, Israel's Invisible Leader

In Egypt the report was spread that the children of Israel ... were pressing on toward the Red Sea.... Pharaoh collected his forces ... [and] attended by the great men of his realm, headed the attacking army.TA 95.1

The Hebrews were encamped beside the sea.... Suddenly they beheld in the distance the flashing armor and moving chariots betokening the advance guard of a great army.... Terror filled the hearts of Israel. Some cried unto the Lord, but the far greater part hastened to Moses with their complaints.... His calm and assuring reply to the people was, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.” ...TA 95.2

The wonderful pillar of cloud had been followed as the signal of God to go forward; but now they questioned among themselves if it might not foreshadow some great calamity; for had it not led them on the wrong side of the mountain, into an impassable way? Thus the angel of God appeared to their deluded minds as the harbinger of disaster.TA 95.3

But now, as the Egyptian host approached them, expecting to make them an easy prey, the cloudy column rose majestically into the heavens, passed over the Israelites, and descended between them and the armies of Egypt. A wall of darkness interposed between the pursued and their pursuers. The Egyptians could no longer discern the camp of the Hebrews, and were forced to halt. But as the darkness of night deepened, the wall of cloud became a great light to the Hebrews, flooding the entire encampment with the radiance of day.TA 95.4

Then hope returned to the hearts of Israel. And Moses lifted up his voice unto the Lord. “And the Lord said unto Moses, ... Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward. But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.” ...TA 96.1

“The Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 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.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, 283-287.TA 96.2

Angels of God went through their host and removed their chariot wheels.—The Spirit of Prophecy 1:209.TA 96.3

The Egyptians were seized with confusion and dismay..., they endeavored to retrace their steps, and flee to the shore they had quitted. But Moses stretched out his rod, and the piled-up waters, hissing, roaring, and eager for their prey, rushed together, and swallowed the Egyptian army in their black depths.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 287.TA 96.4

[The] Leader [of the Israelites] was a mighty general of armies. His angels, that do His bidding, walked on either side of the vast armies of Israel, and no harm could come to them. Israel was safe.... Then came the sacred song of triumph, led by Miriam.—The Review and Herald, June 1, 1897.TA 97.1

Jesus was the angel enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.—The Review and Herald, June 17, 1890.TA 97.2