Cloud by Day, Fire by Night

“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.” (Exodus 40:34-38, ESV).

Moses followed God’s instructions in erecting the Tent of Meeting, the tabernacle covering it, and the furnishings. It went wherever the Israelites traveled in the desert toward the Promised Land. A miraculous cloud representing the very presence of God led the people. It appeared first as they left Egypt (Exodus 13:21). It came between them and the Egyptian army that pursued them at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:20). And after the tabernacle was completed the building was filled with the cloud. God’s glory and protection were demonstrated in a visible way. Not only did Moses and Aaron see these manifestations, but “all the house of Israel” had the cloud by day and the fire by night in their sight. Day and night, these visible signs of God’s presence were with the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land. Try to picture the sojourners—we’re told in Exodus 12:37-38 that there were about 600,000 men plus women and children and “other people” who went with them out of Egypt—well over a million people, seeing a cloud by day and a fire by night, ever present, ever leading, God with them, the hope of deliverance and victory! The magnitude and majesty of it all boggles the imagination! God was working in history to accomplish His purpose! What is our present “cloud by day” and “fire by night”? In the New Testament God gave believers a promise of His presence with them. Jesus made this promise: “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:16-18, NIV). And that promise fulfilled is recorded in Acts 2:2-4: “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit…” Just as the cloud by day and the fire by night was indicative to the Israelites that God was with them, so the Holy Spirit who comes to each believer represents God’s covenant relationship to be with, to guide and to empower. Praise be to God!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Sunday, November 7, 2010