The Cloud Over the Tabernacle

Q: What does the Bible say about the cloud over the tabernacle?

The cloud over the tabernacle signifies the glory and presence of God, representing His leadership and grace. In Exodus 40, the cloud that covered the tabernacle is not an ordinary cloud; it embodies the Shekinah glory of God. This cloud is critical because it symbolizes God's presence, guidance, and blessing among His people. Without this cloud, the tabernacle would merely be an elaborate structure, but with it, it becomes a place of divine encounter and worship. When the cloud was lifted, the Israelites followed it, showcasing their dependence on God's direction through the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

Q: How do we know the Holy Spirit is represented by the cloud?

The cloud represents the Holy Spirit as it led the Israelites and illuminated their path, reflecting God's continuous presence and guidance. Throughout the narrative in Exodus, the cloud embodies the presence of God, paralleling the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers today. The Holy Spirit leads, provides light, and remains with God's people, allowing them to navigate their spiritual journeys. The cloud signifies that God is actively involved in guiding His people, just as the Holy Spirit actively leads and teaches believers to understand that Christ is the only way to the Father. This connection underscores the significance of the Holy Spirit's role in salvation and daily living.

Q: Why is the cloud important for Christians?

The cloud is vital for Christians as it represents God's grace, guidance in faith, and assurance of His presence. The cloud over the tabernacle symbolizes God's unwavering grace and presence, which is fundamental for believers. Just as the Israelites depended on the cloud for direction and sustenance through their journey, Christians rely on the Holy Spirit as their guide. This cloud assures us of God's commitment to lead and protect His people, signifying that His grace prevails even amid our failures. Understanding the significance of this cloud encourages believers to trust in God's provision and to walk in faith as He maneuvers through the challenges of life.

Q: What does sovereign grace mean in relation to the cloud?

Sovereign grace refers to God's unmerited favor, exemplified through the consistent presence of the cloud, which signifies His grace towards His people. Sovereign grace encapsulates the doctrine that God, in His sovereignty, extends grace to those He chooses without any merit on their part. The cloud represents this grace, as it was a constant source of protection and guidance for the Israelites despite their manifold provocations and sins. This beautiful imagery reminds believers today that their salvation and continual walk with God are rooted in His sovereign grace, which assures them that the Holy Spirit will not forsake them but consistently leads them in the way of righteousness. It emphasizes that our relationship with God is maintained not by our efforts but through His grace alone.

Q: How does the cloud teach us about faith?

The cloud teaches faith by exemplifying how believers should look to God for guidance and trust in His leading. The cloud is a powerful illustration of how faith operates in the life of a believer. Just as the Israelites had to look to the cloud for direction—following it during their journey—Christians are called to rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance in their lives. Faith that is active acknowledges God’s leadership, with believers moving, resting, or acting upon His commands. This dependence upon God's guidance showcases that true faith is not merely intellectual acknowledgment but an active relationship characterized by trust and obedience, as evidenced through the journey of God’s people in the wilderness.

Exodus chapter 40. Lord willing, this will be the
last message I bring out of Exodus. We've been in here for years,
three years, I think. I'll preach again some time out
of it, but I think this will be the last for right now. Now, I want to speak upon the
cloud over the tabernacle. Now, in chapters 24 through 31,
or 25 through 31, we're given instructions regarding the tabernacle. And then in chapters 35 through
40, you read about the actual construction of the tabernacle.
They did exactly what God told them to do. And finally the tabernacle
is reared up and let's begin reading in verse 33 of Exodus
chapter 40. And he reared up the court round
about the tabernacle and the altar and set up the hangings
of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. Then a cloud covered. the tent of the congregation,
and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was
not able to enter into the tent of the congregation because the
cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the
tabernacle. Now, this cloud we read of, was
not a cloud made of vapor, but the substance of this cloud was
the glory of the Lord. Now what all that means I can't
explain, but it was no ordinary cloud. It was the Shekinah glory
of God. And it filled the tabernacle,
and this cloud was actually just as significant as the tabernacle
itself. As a matter of fact, without
this cloud, all the tabernacle was, was an expensive tent. But with this cloud, this signified
the glory of God. Look in verse 36. And when the
cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children
of Israel went onward in all their journeys. But if the cloud
were not taken up, if it just stayed right on the tabernacle,
then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up
for the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day and
fire was on it by night in the sight of all the house of Israel
throughout all their journeys. Now this cloud would abide over
and fill the tabernacle. Now, This cloud signifies many
things. Turn with me to Exodus chapter
13. Exodus chapter 13, this is the first time this cloud is
mentioned. And I, I must admit that I didn't
understand that or see the significance of this cloud before preparing
this message. This cloud was just as significant, just as
important as the tabernacle itself. Look in verse, uh, Exodus 13,
verse 20. And the Lord went before them
by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them the way, and by night
in a pillar of fire to give them light to go by day and night. He took not away the pillar of
cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night from before
the people." Now that's the first mention of this cloud. And this
cloud represented God's glory. It represented God's presence.
It represented God's blessing. It represented God's favor. It
represented God's leadership, God's light. And more than anything
else, this cloud represents God, the Holy Spirit. Now, I think
it's very interesting that right after the Passover, they observe
the Passover in Exodus chapter 13, and then they're given this
cloud to enlighten them. And that reminds me of the Lord
Jesus Christ. He said, I go away. After his
death, the Holy Spirit came to the church in an unusual way.
So this cloud, while it represents many things, I think it mainly
represents the Spirit of God. And the cloud would abide over
and fill the tabernacle just like the Lord Jesus had the Holy
Spirit without measure. And on numerous occasions, the
Lord was said to speak through this cloud. I think that passage
of Scripture is very interesting that we open the service with
in Exodus chapter 14, where the Lord looked at the Egyptians
through the cloud and that cloud was the Lord Himself. And they
said, let us flee from the face of the Lord when they talked
about that cloud. For the Lord fights against the Egyptians
for Israel. Now in that passage of Scripture,
in Exodus chapter 13, verses 21 and 22, there are three things
that this cloud is said to do. Let's read them again. And the
Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead
them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them
light, to go by day and night. He took not away the pillar of
cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night from before
the people." Now, there are three things this cloud is said to
do. Lead, give light, And thank God for this, it doesn't go away.
It doesn't go away. It never leaves. You see, it's
a cloud of grace. It leads in the way. It leads the way and leads in
the way. It gives light and it will never
go away. Now it leads in the way. Christ
is the way. And God the Holy Spirit leads
us in the way. He teaches us that Christ is
the way. Christ is the way to God. I can't
get to God. The only way I can get to God
is if I'm in the way. And Christ brings me to God.
He is the way to the Father. The way God can accept me, the
way I can come into God's presence and be accepted is through the
Lord Jesus Christ. No other way. Now, I know that. I see it in the Bible. I see
that Christ is the way to God. And I bet everybody in here would
agree with that. Yes, I believe Christ is the way to God. But
I need more than to know the way. I need to be led into the
way. I need to be placed in the way.
And that word led, I looked it up in the Hebrew dictionary and
it said transport, to transport. I need to be transported in the
way. I need to be brought out of the way of works and the way
of my own understanding and placed in the Lord Jesus Christ. And
that's what God the Holy Spirit does. Christ Jesus is the way. God the Holy Spirit teaches me
that, but not only does He teach me that, I understand that the
only way God can accept me is through the Lord Jesus Christ.
I understand that. I understand that the only payment for my
sin is His shed blood. I understand that. I understand
that His righteousness, His obedience, His law-keeping is my only way
before God. I understand that. But you know,
just knowing that really doesn't I'm thankful for that knowledge,
but not only do I know that, I'm actually placed in the way
by God the Holy Spirit to where I'm in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I'm in Him. That means when He goes to the
Father, you know who else goes to the Father? I do. I come to
the Father by Him. That doesn't simply mean pleading
Him or behind Him or alongside of Him. When He comes to the
Father, being in the way, being in Him, God the Holy Spirit has
placed me in Him. I come into the very presence
of the Father. Turn with me for a moment to
Numbers chapter 9. Numbers chapter 9, beginning
in verse 15. And on the day that the tabernacle
was reared up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely the tent
of the testimony, And at even there was upon the tabernacle,
as it were, the appearance of fire until the morning. So it
was always. The cloud covered it by day and
the appearance of fire by night. And when the cloud was taken
up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel
journeyed. And in the place where the cloud abode, there the children
of Israel pitched their tents. And the commandment of the Lord,
the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the
Lord they pitched. As long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle,
they rested in their tents. And when the cloud tarried long
upon the tabernacle, many days, then the children of Israel kept
the charge of the Lord and journeyed not. And so it was when the cloud
was a few days upon the tabernacle, according to the commandment
of the Lord, they abode in their tents. And according to the commandment
of the Lord, so they journeyed. And so it was, when the cloud
abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken
up in the morning, then they journeyed. Whether it was by
day or by night, the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. Or
whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the
cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children
of Israel abode in their tents and journeyed not. But when it
was taken up, they journeyed. At the commandment of the Lord
they rested in the tents. At the commandment of the Lord
they journeyed. They kept the charge of the Lord. At the commandment
of the Lord by the hand of Moses. Now you see that cloud. represents
faith. I look to Christ. When he moves,
I move. Where he goes, I go. If he says rest, I rest. If he
says move, I move. That's faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ. That's the way, the way of faith. People of the way are
people who actually do, in reality, trust the Lord Jesus Christ as
their salvation before God. Now, I'm somebody right now I'm
relying, I'm trusting the Lord Jesus Christ as my salvation
before God. And what a blessed thing it is
to actually be in the way. The Holy Spirit, this cloud,
places us in the way. Now look back in Exodus chapter
13, verse 21. And the Lord went before
them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them the way. and by
night in a pillar of fire to give them light to go by day
and by night. Now this cloud gave light. Now there are two things required
to see something. What are they? First, light. If I don't have light, I can't
see. But you know, you can have all the light in the world and
you still can't see unless you're given a seeing eye. It takes
a seeing eye and light to see. God the Holy Spirit gives me
the seeing eye and God the Holy Spirit is the light that enlightens
me. I see by the light of the Spirit
of God that Christ is the way to God. I've been talking about
Him being the way and you know what? I see that. It's not a religious
cliche. I see that Christ Jesus is my
way to the Father. As He comes to the Father, so
do I. I come to the Father by Him.
When He comes to the Father, I come because I'm in Him. He's
called the way of righteousness. I see that. His righteousness
is my righteousness before God. I see that. I understand that.
I glory in it. I rejoice in it. He's called
the way of peace. And I see that by the light He's
given me. I see that He is my peace before God. You know, trusting
His righteousness, I have peace. He's called the new and the living
way. That means freshly slaughtered,
living as opposed to dead. I see that Christ is the way
to God. This is not just a religious
cliche with me that I've memorized. I see that He is my righteousness
before God. I see He is my peace before God.
I see there's no other way. God is holy. I'm sinful. There's
no other way. And I see that. I see that. I
see, I understand enough about myself to know that if God left
me to myself, there's no evil that I would
not do or be. I see that. And the only reason
I see that is God has showed it to me. He's my light. I see
By the light of God, by the light of the gospel, I truly see that
Christ Jesus is my way to God. He is my righteousness before
God. He is the light and he's the
light that leads me in the way. And I love this part. Look in
verse 22 of Exodus chapter 13. We see how He led them in the
way and that He is the light. But oh, how I delight in this.
He took not away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar
of fire by night from before the people. He never took this
pillar away. He never took God the Holy Spirit
away from them. Look back in Exodus chapter 40.
There's a couple of verses of Scripture I want you to look
at. Verse 38. For the cloud of the Lord was
upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night in the
sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys. Turn to Nehemiah chapter 9. Nehemiah
chapter 9. This passage of scripture was
a great blessing to me. Verse 18, Nehemiah 9, 18. Yea, when they had made them
a molten calf and said, this is thy God that brought thee
up out of Egypt and had brought great provocations. I don't suppose there's ever
been a more wicked deed other than the crucifixion of our Lord
Jesus Christ than when they made that golden calf. And they wrought
great provocations. This was a big sin. This was
a horribly evil thing that they did. They wrought great provocations. Yet, verse 19, thou in thy manifold
mercies forsook us them not in the wilderness. The pillar of
cloud departed not from them by day to lead them in the way,
neither the pillar of fire by night to show them light and
the way wherein they should go." You see, this cloud was a cloud
of grace. Now, the only thing that could
keep this cloud from leaving them after these great provocations
is grace. And I can't tell you how much
how dependent I am upon the grace of God to keep from leaving me. Because these great provocations
that they've committed, in my heart I believe I've committed
just as bad of provocations and you have too. There's no question
in my mind about that. And the only thing that keeps
God from removing himself, which you can see why he would. He's
holy. He's glorious. But the only reason he doesn't
is because this is a cloud of grace. He forsook them not. That pillar of clouds stayed
there. He kept them in the way. That light stayed there. They
were made to continue to look to the Lord Jesus Christ. Complete,
unmerited favor. Oh, my soul, this cloud is a
cloud of grace. Now, we believe in sovereign
grace. Now, what's meant by that word? What's meant by that word? Now,
this cloud, remember, what was the substance of this cloud?
I don't understand this. This is so mysterious. But it
was the glory of God. That's the substance of this
cloud, the Shekinah glory of God. And it would go into the
temple. Moses couldn't get in. It would
just fill the temple and it was so glorious and powerful. get
in. Well, what's the glory of God?
Exodus 33, 18 and 19, Moses is praying for the children of Israel
after the golden calf incident, after they'd sinned so greatly.
And he said, show me your glory. And he said, I'll make all my
goodness pass before thee. His goodness is his capacity
to save somebody like that. I'll proclaim my name before
you and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious. And
I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy. His glory is his
grace. That's how God defines his glory. Turn with me to Romans 5. I just
thought of this scripture. I thought if anybody would want
to understand what is meant by sovereign grace, this is the
scripture I think I might take them to. Somebody says the word sovereign's
not in the Bible. It's not, but the doctrine's certainly there.
God is sovereign, and His grace is sovereign. The word trinity
is not in the Bible either, but the trinity is certainly taught
in the scriptures, isn't it? Sovereign grace. Now, how would
I define, or how would the Bible define sovereign grace? Now,
remember, this cloud is a cloud of grace. That means He won't
leave me. That means He will not Thank God for that. He said, I'll never leave thee
nor forsake thee. I look here in Romans chapter
five, verse 20. Moreover, the law entered that
the offense might abound, overflow, but Where sin abounded, in the
very place that sin abounded, where sin did overflow, grace
did much more abound, that has sin hath reigned unto death. Now, what's that mean? Anybody
that sins, they can't prevent death. If you sin, you're gonna
die. Why is it that everybody dies?
Because they sin. Sin reigns unto death. You can't
stop death. Think how powerless you are to
stop death. You can't do it, can you? I mean, it's gonna come
and there's not a thing you can do about it. Sin reigns into
death in the same manner. Look at this verse of Scripture,
verse 21. Even so, in the same manner, just as everybody that
sins, death reigns in them, in the same manner, grace reigns
through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now, in the same manner that sin reigns unto death, grace
reigns. Everybody that God has grace toward, everybody that
He gives His favor toward, everybody that He saves by His grace, His
grace must save them. They must be saved. Grace reigns. Sovereign grace. The reign of
grace. Grace reigns through righteousness,
the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life
by Jesus Christ our Lord. Now, that is A cloud of grace. Now turn back over to Exodus
chapter 14. I want to read some more about
this cloud. Exodus 14, verse 10. This is Israel before the Red
Sea. And when Pharaoh drew nigh, The
children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians
marched after them. And they were sore afraid, and
the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. And they said
unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast Thou
taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast Thou dealt thus
with us to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word
that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we
may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us
to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.
And Moses said unto the people, fear ye not, stand still and
see the salvation of the Lord. And he will show to you today
for the Egyptians whom you've seen today, you shall see them
again no more forever. The Lord shall fight for you
and you shall hold your peace. Now look down in verse 19. And
the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed
and went behind them. And the pillar of cloud went
from before their face and stood behind them. And it came between
the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. And it was
a cloud and darkness to them. The Egyptians saw nothing but
darkness. They saw no light here, but to Israel, it gave light
by night to these so that the one came not near the other all
the night. Now this cloud, first of all,
it was before them and then it was behind them. And isn't it
wonderful to have the Lord before you and behind you? That's a
glorious thing. And it was light to the children
of Israel and it was darkness to the Egyptians. Now the same
gospel that you believe. Somebody else sees no beauty.
They see no glory. It's just words. It's darkness. No understanding. That's the
way the unbeliever responds to the gospel. It's darkness to
them. They don't understand. God hasn't given them any light.
But to the true Israelite, to the believer, this is light. Now what was the difference between
the Egyptians and Israel? The cloud. The cloud made a separation
so they couldn't get toward each other. The cloud was the difference.
The cloud was the separation. Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit,
He's the difference between a believer and an unbeliever. What's the
difference between me and somebody that doesn't believe? Christ. That's it. No other answer
can be given. That's the difference. Who makes
you to differ from another? And what do you have that you
didn't receive? Now, if you received it, why do you glory as if you
didn't receive it? Now, this cloud was said to be
before them and behind them in protection. Now, I love thinking
about this concept. I look forward to Christ as my
own. I look to him and I look behind
and Christ is behind me, causing me to look forward. I look forward
to judgment as I look to Christ. The thought of standing before
God in judgment doesn't scare me. I have confidence. I look
forward to judgment as I look to Christ and I look behind me
and see that it's because he has put all my sins away and
that's why I can look forward to judgment. I look before me
to God enabling me to persevere and I look behind me and I see
that he has preserved me. I look forward to the Lamb slain. And then I look backwards to
the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. You see, faith
is both a look forward, I look to Christ, and it's a look behind. Just like Abraham. You remember
when in Genesis chapter 22, God said, look behind you. He looked
behind him and found a ram. You know, salvation, while it's
before us, it's always behind us. It's already done. It's already
finished. It's not something I gotta look
forward to. It's behind me, and that's what I look forward to.
This cloudy pillar, this glorious manifestation of the glory of
God, it was before them and it was behind them. Now Psalm 105.39
says He spread a cloud for a covering. Talking about that cloud and
evidently this cloud, we don't have a picture of it obviously,
but evidently it was a mushroom. It would go up and it would protect
the children of Israel in the desert. The sun would come down,
but they were always in the shade, always in comfort. The rays of
the sun came down and hit the cloud, but it didn't hit the
children of Israel. Now, I see the gospel right there.
God's wrath comes down on the Lord Jesus Christ, and it doesn't
hit me. I'm protected in the shade of
this cloud. And what comfort there is there.
I love the comforts of the gospel. The comfort of knowing that all
my sin was taken care of by Christ. And I am never going to have
to give an account for my sin. Turn with me to Isaiah chapter
4. This cloud is mentioned. Isaiah chapter 4. It's the every
believer. Verse 5. And the Lord will create upon
every dwelling place of Mount Zion. That's talking about me
and you, my dear friends. Every believer. Every believer
has this cloud. And upon her assemblies a cloud,
and a smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For
upon all the glory shall be a defense." This cloud is a defense, a place
of safety. And there shall be a tabernacle
for a shadow in the day, and from the heat, and for a place
of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain. Now there's one last scripture
I'd like to look at regarding this cloud. Would you turn to
1 Corinthians chapter 10. And it's interesting. I preached
through first Corinthians recently, and I never saw this verse one. Moreover, brethren, I would not
that you should be ignorant. How the, all our fathers were
under the cloud. Well, we know that and they all
pass through the sea, but look at this next statement. They
were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They were baptized into this
cloud. That means they were immersed
into this cloud. Not only was the cloud over there.
Not only was the cloud in front of them and behind them, but
this passage of Scripture says they were actually baptized into
that cloud. They were immersed into that
cloud. They became in that cloud. Now,
baptism. What a beautiful, simple illustration
of the gospel. I love baptism. When somebody's baptized, they're
saying this. Here's my hope of salvation.
When Jesus Christ lived, I was in him and I lived too. Baptized
into Christ. When Jesus Christ obeyed the
law, I was in him and I obeyed the law too. I did it. That's me. When Jesus Christ
the Lord died and suffered the wrath of God, I was in Him. My
sins were paid for. I died. When Jesus Christ was
raised from the dead, when He walked out of that tomb, you
know who else walked out of that tomb? I did. I was in Him. As Jesus Christ ascended back
to the Father, into the very presence of God, you know who
else did? I did too. Every believer went
right with Him. as he is now in the presence
of God. You know who else is there? I
am. I was baptized into that cloud.
I was immersed into that cloud. All of the company of God's elect
were placed in that cloud, in the Lord Jesus Christ. We were
baptized into Him, immersed into Him. Just as the manna was Christ,
just as the rock was Christ, the cloud was Christ. And I've been baptized. I've been immersed into that
cloud. In the Lord Jesus Christ, He's a cloud of grace. He's never
gonna leave me. He's a cloud that leads me in
the way. He places me in the way. He won't
let me go. He gives me light concerning
who I am. He doesn't take this light away.
I'm always made to see my need of the Lord Jesus Christ. And
boy, that's a blessed place to be. Tomorrow's Thanksgiving. Well, today's Thanksgiving. What
an everyday is Thanksgiving to thank the Lord for His grace
toward me. I'm so very grateful for the
cloud, the Lord Jesus Christ, His Spirit, and his grace. Happy Thanksgiving. Let's pray
again.

The Cloud Over the Tabernacle

What does the Bible say about the cloud over the tabernacle?

How do we know the Holy Spirit is represented by the cloud?

Why is the cloud important for Christians?

What does sovereign grace mean in relation to the cloud?

How does the cloud teach us about faith?

Sermon Transcript

About Todd Nibert

Comments

Joshua

Articles

Featured Authors

Podcast

Sermons

Featured Preachers

Books

Browse by Format

Music

Recent Comments

About

Legal

Subscribe

Account

Articles

Featured Authors

Podcast

Recent Comments

Sermons

Featured Preachers

Books

Browse by Format

Collections

Music

About

Legal

Subscribe

The Cloud Over the Tabernacle

What does the Bible say about the cloud over the tabernacle?

How do we know the Holy Spirit is represented by the cloud?

Why is the cloud important for Christians?

What does sovereign grace mean in relation to the cloud?

How does the cloud teach us about faith?

Sermon Transcript

About Todd Nibert

Comments

More from Todd Nibert

Related Sermons

Same Scripture

Articles by Todd Nibert

Joshua

Where this book stands in the tradition

Plato

Augustine

The Western Christian Tradition

This Book