Highly evolved Extraterrestrial life in the form of UFOs with or without a cloud effect, most likely the former?
Moses & the pillars of cloud and fire. 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. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people (Exo. 13:21,22).
Presumably, the cloud by day covered the children of Israel to protect them from the scorching desert sun, and the fire by night gave light and heat in their camp. http://www.tedmontgomery.com/bblovrvw/C_5c.html
When Israel was marching through the wilderness, Yhwh, wrapped in a pillar of cloud, preceded the people in order to show them the right way. During the night the cloud turned into a pillar of fire (Ex. xiii. 21; xiv. 19, 24; Num. xiv. 15; Deut. i. 33; compare Ps. lxxviii. 14; Neh. ix. 12, 19). On one occasion the pillar of cloud moved behind the Israelites in order to shield them from the pursuing Egyptians (Ex. xiv. 19, 24). http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=548&letter=C
