God leads us by fire.

Exodus 13:17-22
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” 18 But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.” 20 And they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. 21 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. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

God has always and will always lead His people.

God’s way doesn’t always make sense to us, but it is always best for us.

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

God = unlimited knowledge of all things

Us = limited knowledge of a few things

The fire was visual and verbal.

The Jews had a fire in the sky, because they didn’t have the Scriptures.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Progressive revelation means that we who live in the new covenant era are blessed to know more about God’s plan and its outworking than those who lived under the old covenant. That does not mean, however, that we ignore the old covenant revelation, for Scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35). We need the Old Testament as much as we need the New Testament to know our Creator and how to love and obey Him.
— R.C. Sproul

When Moses was given the written Word of God, the people didn’t need fire in the sky.

The Word in your hand is better than the fire in the sky.

Lamps and lights are both fires that lead our viewpoint and our path.

Hebrews 1:1-2
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Progressive revelation culminates in the finality of the person of Christ and the canon of Scripture.

John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus = the Bible in human flesh

Bible = Jesus on paper

Matthew 3:11
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

Jesus sent us the fire of His Spirit to now lead and guide us by illuminating Scripture.

John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Treasure, study, surrender, and share the Word.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.