I Had Some Dreams There Were Clouds in My Tabernacle

Exodus 40: 34-38

Apparently God was pleased with the finished product- His glory filled up the tabernacle. As a result, Moses couldn't enter it. I'm guessing this has more to do with the power of God than the girth of the glory.

The form of the glory was a cloud. When the cloud covered the taberacle, it was a sign that they weren't to travel that day. They would look to the tabernacle every day- if the cloud hovered, they stayed put- if the cloud had lifted, they set out.

By day the cloud would cover the tabernacle and at night the cloud would encompass fire in sight of the Israelites.

What strikes me here is that God was close enough to His people that they could literally see His presence. In a sense we can too. The glories of nature, the beauty of kindness, the majesty of art- but these are byproducts, or perhaps even metaphors. The Israelites actually SAW God's presence. He's in the cloud! He's right here with us! Fear not!

I wonder if there were doubters there too- how do we know that this cloud is God? It's a cloud- it's just smog. Would a sign like this increase faith- or simply make our doubt less excusable?

We have no cloud- well we do, but not like that cloud. But may God still be our gage to move or stay put.