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)
Imagine seeing and
experiencing what
these Israelites saw.
God was visibly leading
them with a cloud
that settled on the
tabernacle by day and
then with a fire filling
the tabernacle by night.
So as the cloud moves,
you move. As the cloud
stops, you stop. As the fire
moves, you move. As the fire
stops, you stop. God is taking
you, collectively as a people, by the hand
and guiding you every step of the way. His glory
is on display right in front of you at all times.
This theme of God dwelling with us is particularly
relevant as we think about the coming of Jesus.
We’re reminded of the words of the apostle John:
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son
from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
Jesus is the Word made flesh, the One who came
to dwell among us. In the original, the word for
“dwelt” is an allusion to God’s dwelling among His
people in the tabernacle. Today, God’s dwelling is
not merely a building. In Jesus, the glory of God
has come to us.
We often think that we’re at a disadvantage
because Jesus is no longer physically present with
us. However, Jesus told His original disciples that it
was to their “advantage” that He go away, for only
then would He send them the “Helper,” or Holy
Spirit (John 16:7). God has done so much more
than give us a cloud or a fire to follow.
We have the Holy Spirit of God,
the glory of God, dwelling
inside us right now, and
He’s leading us, guiding
us, directing us, and
transforming us into
the image of Christ.
PRAYING IN
LIGHT OF TODAY’S
PASSAGE
Praise God that He
has come to us in Jesus
Christ and that Christ’s
Spirit now dwells within us.