The LORD said to Moses, Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever. Then Moses told the words of the people to the LORD. Exodus 19:9 God spoke from the mountain, followed by Moses going up the mountain to get the two tablets of Gods instructions. Did the cloud that led Israel to Mount Sinai join with the cloud on the mountain or did it just stand by waiting for the events on the mountain? We dont know, but I would speculate that the cloud and fire on the mountain served in place of the cloud closer to the camp. In other words, the cloud by day and fire by night may have dissipated until the events at Mount Sinai were completed. One of the last events at Mount Sinai was the construction of the tabernacle. The pillar again played a significant role. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Exodus 40:34-35 Between the LORD giving the Torah at Mount Sinai and the erection of the tabernacle, there was a very significant negative event that we should consider. While Moses was on the mountain, a group of Israelites rose up against the LORD and made the golden calf. Moses returned with the tablets, threw them down in his anger, and those who participated were put to death (about 3,000 of them). There is a lot of commentary on how this tragedy occurred. How could they have done this, having just left Egypt with all of its judgments, crossing the Red Sea, and witnessing God speak from atop the mountain giving them the Ten Commandments? How could they make the golden calf with the cloud (even though it was on the mountain) still present with them every day? Remember, the light in the camp at night was still there. We can extend that question to other mistakes that took take place in the wilderness. The cloud was present every day, yet it didnt seem to deter their unbelieving behavior against Moses or the LORD. It seems that the presence of the cloud became common place in the minds of the Israelites and did not seem to register as significant. I find this disturbing because many of us today regard the Holy Spirit (Gods presence to lead us) in the same manner as Israel did the cloud. There was a daily routine to the presence of the cloud, especially when Moses would receive instructions from the LORD. Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and the LORD would speak with Moses. When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent. Exodus 33:9-10 Throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up. For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel. Exodus 40:36-38 Once the tabernacle was constructed, the cloud remained over the tabernacle. When the cloud moved the tabernacle was disassembled and moved until the cloud came to rest. This entire description is given to us again in the book of Numbers. Now on the day that the tabernacle was erected the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony, and in the evening it was like the appearance of fire over the tabernacle, until morning. So it was continuously; the cloud would cover it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. Whenever the cloud was lifted from over the tent, afterward the sons of Israel would then set out; and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the sons of Israel would camp. At the command of the LORD the sons of Israel would set out, and at the command of the LORD they would camp; as long as the cloud settled over the tabernacle, they remained camped. Even when the cloud lingered over the tabernacle for many days, the sons of Israel would keep the LORDs charge and not set out. If sometimes the cloud remained a few days over the tabernacle, according to the command of the LORD they remained camped. Then according to the command of the LORD they set out. If sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning, when the cloud was lifted in the morning, they would move out; or if it remained in the daytime and at night, whenever the cloud was lifted, they would set out. Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out. Numbers 9:15-22
Posted on: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 09:09:37 +0000
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