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“Then the angel of G’d, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them. Also the pillar of cloud removed from in front, and stood behind them.” – Exodus 14:19, Tree of Life Version The L’RD’s Presence – the Shechinah – protected the newly freed Hebrew people, by manifesting as a pillar of cloud that stood between the Israelite camp and the Egyptian army. This cloud prevented Pharaoh’s army from advancing any further towards B’nei Yisrael (the Children of Israel), thus granting them refuge as they prepared to move forward when the splitting of the sea occurred (yam suf). The Israelite camp was lit by the pillar of fire, otherwise known as the Angel of the L'rd, while the Egyptian camp was in total darkness, since any light from the pillar of fire was blocked by the cloud. "And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the L'RD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided” (Exodus 14:21). "And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left" (14:22). G'd was a mighty fortress to them, on their left and on their right, irrespective of the apparent danger. “For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea. They all were immersed into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” – 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, Tree of Life version of the Bible “Immersion into Moshe means being united with him, accepting his vision, goals and leadership” (David Stearn, Jewish New Testament Commentary). Following Moses into the sea, marked the entrance of B’nei Yisrael into their new life, freed of slavery; yet, now bound to the L’RD’s design for them, as conveyed to them through Moshe, who served as the L’RD’s spokesperson. After crossing through the Sea of Reeds, to the other side in safety, the Torah states, “they believed in AD’NAI, and in His servant Moses” (Exodus 14:31, TLV). This parallels belief in Yeshua, who said, “You have emunah (faith) in the L’RD. Also in me have emunah (faith)” (Yochanan 14:1, OJB). On a symbolic level, being immersed “in the cloud and in the sea,” represents being cleansed of their past as slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, while gaining entrance into a new life of serving the L’RD. Regarding immersion in water, Jewish proselytes completed their conversion by way of immersion in water; this signified their entrance into their newfound faith and religion. To begin anew is akin to being born anew. “A convert who just converted is like that of a child just born” (Yevamot 62a, sefaria.org). A parallel can be drawn to the new life given to someone who is espoused to the truths proclaimed by scripture, concerning the nature, identity, and role of Messiah. Such was the stark conversion of the one who asked, while reading the words of Isaiah 53, “Please tell me, who is the prophet talking about?” (Acts 8:34, TLV). And, Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, who believed in the Messiah, inquired about being born anew. Yeshua said, “Omein, omein, I say to you, unless someone is born anew, he is not able to see the Malchut H’Shem (the Kingdom of G’d)” (Yochanan 3:3, OJB).