Exodus 40:34-38 AMPC
Then the cloud [the Shekinah, God's visible presence] covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle! [35] And Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud remained upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. [36] In all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the Israelites went onward; [37] But if the cloud was not taken up, they did not journey on till the day that it was taken up. [38] For throughout all their journeys the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.
Peering through the curtains this morning, the rain clouds have replaced the bright sky of yesterday! It's a dreary start. What bliss to dive under the warm duvet. Alas! The day awaits, many tasks to accomplish.
We usually associate clouds with dull days and gloominess.
Not so in this passage!
The Cloud which covered the Tabernacle was a sign of God's actual Presence and Glory.
All the Israelites could see it and know that the Lord was living in their midst. Can you imagine that?!
There had been a great deal of skilful and intricate craftsmanship involved in creating the Tabernacle. The work was carried out exactly as God instructed - it was His Design.
Yet the glory was not in the work of man's hands, but in the Cloud of the Presence of the Lord. The Cloud covered what man had made.
What can I learn from this?
Whatever I do, be it ever so skilful - the glory must go to God.
Then He can dwell in me and people will see Jesus in what I do.
In the New Testament we're told that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself
We each need to be reconstructed according to God's design & plans for our lives, so that the Cloud of His Presence can fill and cover us by the Holy Spirit.
I love the part in verse 38, where , at night, God's Cloudy Presence burned like fire to illumine the darkness.
So for us, in these dark days, may the fire of the Holy Spirit burn bright through the Cloud to encourage, not only ourselves, but those who are desperately in need of hope and we know that Jesus IS the Hope of the nations.
That Cloud of God was a sign of divine guidance. When the Cloud lifted it was time to move on.
We too can have that guidance and more so in the face to face relationship we enjoy.
Perhaps that Presence of the Lord has lifted from your life, telling you it's time to move on. It could be physically or spiritually. We can get too comfortable with the status quo, but God is always creative, moving forwards. Let's look for the Cloud and where it is headed.
God hasn't left you, He's simply moving on ahead leading you to pastures new.
Prayer
Father thank you for the good Cloud of Your Presence. Please help me to see through the gloom where You are leading.
תגובות