The climate of the land of Israel is not exactly friendly. Soaring temperatures in arid regions, or during the long and rainless summer, expose its inhabitants to the perils of heatstroke. Glare from the sun is often injurious to the eyes and a significant cause of eye diseases. In this land where the sun rises with a “burning heat”[1] and is said to “strike”[2] by day, the roof of the house is seen more as a shield from the sun[3] than a shelter from rain. Travelers seek relief from the “heat of the day” [4]in the shade of trees[5] or the shadow great rocks.[6]

Our life’s journey through the mundane wilderness is often in want of protection from the scorching of trials and temptations. Not that Providence fails to protect His own, but we often stray from the loving care of God. He does allow, also, in His infinite wisdom, earthly heat to drive us back to the comfort of our heavenly shade.

Loving protection

When God created the earth, its climate was perfect for human habitation. The sun gave illumination sans the burning heat, the sky itself a natural canopy. Our ancestors were always naked, even when strolling beyond the shady boughs of Eden, or while lying in the open on the tender grass carpet. Greeting the sun’s soft rays with absolutely no need for clothing, they were safely kept under the shade of God.

But alas, as soon as man had need for clothing, occasioned by sin, he was banished from Eden, and could no longer walk with his Creator “in the cool of the day”.[7] Carefree life was replaced by toil and burden in the “heat of the day”.[8] Away from the cooling shade of Eden’s trees, his sweaty brow was confronted by thorns and thistles,[9] often associated with fire, dryness and heat.[10]

Nevertheless, God remains a refuge for those who seek rest in Him. The Song of Songs describes idyllic living reminiscent of Eden, when the church is in fellowship with her heavenly Spouse:

Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down in his shade with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. [11]

Sojourning in the fallen world with Jesus as Companion and Guide, Christians can find rest within their souls, [12]a foretaste of the sweet return when their journey ends.

Of rocks and trees

Surveying the Hebrew Bible for a given word, one often gets to appreciate the beauty of the biblical language. The word tsêl is “shade” or “shadow”, as well as “protection” or “defence”, [13]so God not only protects His people from the harshness of the sun in the shadow of trees but also shades them from their enemies, being Himself a rock and a strong tower.[14]

Of the LORD’s anointed, it is said: “Under his shadow we shall live among the nations”. [15]Also in another scripture: “A king will reign in righteousness… as a hiding place from the wind, and a cover from the tempest… as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land”.[16]Though anointed human kings in Israel’s history were not always successful in protecting the people, Jesus the Anointed now fulfils these very sayings, and in every nation under heaven, we come under His divine protection. He keeps us from burning temptations as we live in this vile world,[17] from hot music, hot fashion, hot idols.

Further back in time, God had delivered the chosen race out of the “iron furnace”[18] of Egyptian bondage and led them through the wilderness, and for four decades, he constantly shaded them with a cloud by day.[19]Pressing towards the land of promise, they encountered foes not small in number, some of no small stature. But at each instance, God dispersed the adversaries like He dissipates heat in the shadow of a cloud.[20]Perhaps the Psalmist drew inspiration from here when he wrote in his song of ascents:

The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand.[21]

Every year, ancient pilgrims all over Israel travelled to Mount Zion with this song on their lips, as they recalled their fathers’ wilderness journey towards the promised land, in which they now enjoyed permanent shelter.

Of hand and wings

Isaiah the gospel prophet[22] prophesied of better things to come for His chosen ones within the land of God:

then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain. [23]

The chosen nation dwelling in her own land was shaded by God’s own hand, just like Moses of old, who was not only sheltered in the cleft of the rock, but covered with God’s hand.[24] All of God’s goodness and divine glory passed by while Moses hid in the shadow of His hand. Likewise, while the hand of the LORD performed mighty acts in the heavens and on earth, He covered His people with His hand:

And I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of my hand, That I may plant the heavens, Lay the foundations of the earth, And say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’[25]

These scriptures point to the spiritual reality of God’s tender care for Israel, and the peaceful rest in Canaan[26] foreshadow our salvation in Jesus Christ. The church is now the “Israel of God”,[27] a spiritual gathering of God’s firstborn on Mount Zion, within the gates of the heavenly Jerusalem.[28]

David, the sweet psalmist of Israel,[29] had awesome insight into the spiritual fellowship we enjoy in the house of God, and his songs exude such worshipful delight:

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.[30]

I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.[31]

Rocks and trees shelter from the blazing sun, but the hand of God and the cover of His wings, provide comfort and assurance that accompany His protection. For this reason, wings are a favourite motif in the Psalms:

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.

Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty… He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge. [32]

How much more should members of the church, the privileged body of Christ, recipient of the promises, one Spirit with the Lord, covet the sacred space under shadow of the Almighty!

All embracing

Israel, hidden in the shadow of God’s hand, is His Prince, [33] His firstborn.[34] Like a polished shaft in God’s quiver[35], Israel is to go forth with God’s word to win the nations. Jonah, prophet of Israel, had succeeded to bring the people of Nineveh to repentance, but instead of beckoning them to take refuge beneath the Almighty’s wings, the disgruntled prophet sat under the shade of a plant miraculously provided by God, hoping to see Nineveh’s destruction. God took away Jonah’s shade but spared Nineveh. [36]

Moab was an enemy of God’s people, forever barred from entering the assembly of the LORD.[37] But nothing could stand in the way of God when He willed that Moab become a hideout for His fleeing people:

Make your shadow like the night in the middle of the day; hide the outcasts, do not betray him who escapes. Let My outcasts dwell with you, O Moab; be a shelter to them from the face of the spoiler…[38]

Nothing stood in the way of God too, when He chose to admit a woman of Moab into His holy assembly. Strange it might have seemed to Jewish minds (the likes of Jonah), the sovereign One allowed the Moabite widow of a Hebrew man, to be remarried to a rich landlord in Bethlehem, and enjoy the full benefits of an Israelite. Stranger yet, before the power of the Most High overshadowed Mary the mother of Jesus, [39]the God of Israel had long spread His wings over an earlier ancestor of the Messiah - Ruth the mother of Oded, the grandmother of King David, [40] Ruth the Moabitess:

The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.[41]

While Gentiles continue to fall into God’s embrace, those who were first invited to the banquet of salvation refuse to heed the gospel call:

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! [42]

Backslidden Israel is a cut-off branch,[43] but when God finally heals his backsliding, he will be re-attached to the olive tree. His branches will spread over the remnant Jews, who will be restored to their spiritual estate:[44]

Those who dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall be revived…

If Peter’s shadow could restore health to the infirm,[45] the shadow of the Almighty shall be a fountain of life.[46]

Conclusion

The blazing heat in Israel is used by Isaiah for an eschatological message. As the world heads towards the inevitable, when “the elements will melt with fervent heat”,[47] the prophet describes the blessed state of the church, later echoed by John: “They shall neither hunger nor thirst, neither heat nor sun shall strike them.”[48]

For now, the battles rages hot against the church, but God extends His arm, and spans His pinions above us. His strength answers to our distress, His shade keeps the heat at bay, and the blast of the terrible ones is replaced with our song of salvation.[49]

[1] Js 1:11; according to Thayer’s Greek Definitions, the “burning heat” (kausōn) in this verse can refer to a very 

dry, hot, east wind, scorching and drying up everything.

[2] Ps 121:6; Is 49:10; Rev 7:16.

[3] Gen 19:8; the phrase “shadow of my roof” is used rather than “shelter” , even when spoken in the evening, 

hence the roof’s functionality is apparently linked with the sun by default.

[4] Gen 18:1; Jer 36:30; Mt 20:12.

[5] Judg 9:15; Songs 2:3.

[6] Is 32:2.

[7] Gen 3:8.

[8] Mt 20:12.

[9] Gen 3:17-19.

[10] Ex 22:6; Ps 118:12; Is 5:6, 7:18-19, 9:18, 10:17, 27:4, 33:12; Jer 4:3; Nah 1:10; Heb 6:8.

[11] Songs 2:3

[12] Mt 11:28-29.

[13] In Num 14:9, tsêl is translated “defence” in the KJV, RV & ASV, and “protection” in the NASB, NKJV, NIV 

& ESV; in Eccl 7:12, the word is rendered “defence”, “protection” or “shelter” in popular English versions.

[14] 2 Sam 22:3; Ps 18:2.

[15] Lam 4:20.

[16] Is 32:1-2.

[17] Jn 17:11,15-17.

[18] Deut 4:20; 1 Kgs 8:11; Jer 11:4

[19] Num 14:14; 1 Cor 10:1.

[20] Ref: Is 25:5.

[21] Ps 121:5.

[22] So called because of the abundant messianic prophecies and gospel themes in the Book of Isaiah.

[23] Is 4:5-6.

[24] Ex 33:22.

[25] Is 51:16; compare with Is 49:2-5, where Israel in the shadow of God’s hand is used as a metaphorical 

reference to Christ.

[26] Jos 21:44.

[27] See Gal 6:16 in the light of Gal 4:22-31 & Ex 4:22.

[28] Heb 12:22-24.

[29] 2 Sam 23:1.

[30] Ps 36:7-8.

[31] Ps 61:4

[32] Ps 17:8, 57:1, Psa 63:7, 91:1,4.

[33] “Israel” means “Prince with God”; Is 49:2 is an allusion to Christ.

[34] Ex 4:22.

[35] Is 49:2.

[36] Job 4:5-11.

[37] Deut 23:3.

[38] Is 16:3-4.

[39] Lk 1:35

[40] Ruth 4:13-17.

[41] Ruth 2:12.

[42] Mat 23:37; Lk 13:34.

[43] Rom 11:17,19,20.

[44] Hos 14:4-7.

[45] Acts 5:15.

[46] Ps 36:7-9.

[47] 2 Pet 3:10.

[48] Is 49:10; Rev 7:16.

[49] Is 25:4,5,9.