When construction of the tabernacle was complete, it was erected and placed into functional service. The day it was erected, a cloud covered it, and the Lord's glory filled it. The combination of these two occurrences prevented Moses [or anyone else] from entering the tent on this occasion.
From that moment forward, the cloud over the tabernacle provided a unique reminder and guidance system for Israel as they made their wilderness journey from Mount Sinai to the land of Canaan. In the daylight hours, it appeared as a cloud. In the darkness hours, it appeared as a fire. Thus anytime an Israelite looked at the tabernacle, day or night, he or she was visibly reminded God's presence was among them.
If the cloud lifted, it was God's instruction to break camp and move to a new location. The new location was signified by the settling of the cloud. If the cloud remained over the tabernacle, this was God's instruction for Israel to remain camped at that location. The cloud might remain at a location one day or many days. It was from this cloud's movements that Israel received God's commandments concerning His instructions for remaining at a location or changing locations. In some way Moses was involved in the process of interpreting the cloud's messages.
The cloud served a prominent role in the formation of the nation of Israel. The Israelites left Egypt at night after the deaths of the Egyptians' oldest sons. The Israelites ate the first Passover meal in Egypt in full preparation for travel (Exodus 12:11). They could leave Egypt at night [at Pharoah's insistence--Exodus 12:29-36] without aid of artificial lighting [can you imagine driving herds and flocks at night, traveling at night without vehicles, and walking at night without flashlights?] because God provided them with light and guidance through a cloud and a "pillar of fire" [a bright cloud??] (Exodus 13:21). At first they traveled away from Egypt by traveling night and day.
The cloud served another purpose. After Israel left Egypt, Pharaoh once again regretted his decision and changed his mind. When this Egyptian king learned Israel was in the wilderness (Exodus 14:3.4), he took his army and pursued Israel with the intent of capturing them and returning them to slavery (Exodus 14:5-14). The army moved much quicker than the mass of Israelites. The Egyptian army was close enough for the Israelites to see them. The Israelites were filled with fear--they knew the reality of their situation! God used the cloud that led them to separate the Israelites from the Egyptian army (Exodus 14:19, 20).
The Israelites understood the cloud signified God's presence. It was Moses' practice to enter a tent to talk with God. In this way God gave Moses continual instructions for the Israelites (Exodus 33:7-11). The Israelites understood when the cloud descended on that tent of meeting God and Moses were talking. [Remember, the tabernacle was erected in Exodus 40.]
After the tabernacle was erected, the cloud continued its function. The tabernacle existed for the function of sacrificial worship. The cloud (1) continually reminded Israelites of God's presence and (2) provided them guidance (Numbers 9:15-23). The Israelites understood in the matter of guidance the cloud represented the Lord's command.
The presence of the cloud represented God's presence in the nation of Israel to more than just the Israelites. The cloud and the pillar of fire represented God's presence in Israel to other people as well. The cloud confirmed that the nation of Israel had a special relationship with the Lord. Read Numbers 14:14. Moses used the visible presence of the cloud and pillar of fire in his argument that God should not destroy the Israelites for refusing to enter Canaan that first time they came to the border of the promised land.
When the elderly Moses reminded the Israelites of their special relationship with God, he referred to the cloud (Deuteronomy 1:32, 33).
Nehemiah records part of the process of renewing Israel as a nation following the Babylonian captivity. After a remnant of Israelites returned to the Jewish homeland, they were exposed to the Law's instructions (Nehemiah 8:9). On one occasion, they stood "in place" for a fourth of a day listening to some Levites read the Law. They spent an additional fourth a day confessing and worshipping God (Nehemiah 9:4). As the Levites reminded these people of God's powerful acts that brought them into existence as a nation, they recalled God's leadership by the cloud (Nehemiah 9:12).
Isaiah signified a renewal of Israel by the coming of a cloud over Mount Zion (Isaiah 4:5).
In the New Testament, Paul strengthened the reality of the baptism occurrence to the person who became a Christian. He did this by referring to the cloud that led Israel from Egypt (1 Corinthians 10:1, 2). The crossing of the Red Sea forever separated Israel from slavery in Egypt. Just so, baptism declares an irrevocable separation. When Israel crossed the Red Sea with walls of water on each side and the cloud over them, they were baptized. As they were irrevocably separated from their Egyptian slavery by their baptisms, those who become Christians are irrevocably separated from the slavery to evil by their baptisms.
Just as the cloud represented God's acceptance of the tabernacle in Exodus 40:34-38, the cloud represented God's acceptance of the temple Solomon built in 1 Kings 8:10-17. God specifically stated His acceptance of the temple in 2 Chronicles 5:11-16.
Through David's desire, Solomon built a temple God did not request. The temple represented David's desire, not God's instruction. Yet, God accepted the temple as His place of worship among the Israelites. Many blessings came from God to Israel because the temple existed and functioned.
For Thought and Discussion
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 10