Exodus 33:9

The "cloud" accompanying the presence of the Lord is a common occurrence in the Old Testament. Why was this cloud so consistently linked to God’s manifested presence? Because it was necessary to protect fallen man from the pure presence of God.

Fallen, sinful man cannot survive in the pure presence of God. The Lord, in His love and mercy, sent the cloud to protect Moses. But even with a cloud between them, the relationship between Moses and God was an extraordinary one.

And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

And Moses said unto the Lord, see, thou sayest unto me, bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou will sent with me. Yet thou has said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.

Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sigh, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight and consider that this nation is thy people.

And he said, my presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

And he said unto him, if thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

Now did you catch the exchange between Moses and God? God said to him, My presence shall go with there. In response, Moses was saying. "That’s good, Lord, because if your presence doesn’t go with me, I don’t want to go."

Moses understood something about the presence of God that most believers today don’t. He knew God’s presence was the only thing that would carry them all the way through to the Promised Land. He had the wisdom to realize that without the power and provision which comes from abiding in God’s, he might as well not even try to walk down the block, much less walk through the wilderness.

One thing I have noticed about the presence of God: it wets your appetite for more. Spend a little time in God’s presence and soon you won’t be satisfied with just a little taste now and then. You will want more the sweetness of His presence. More of His power. More of His glory.

Exodus 33:18

And he (Moses) said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.

Moses was no longer satisfied to fellowship with God from the middle of a dense cloud. After he had experienced a little of God’s glorious presence, he wanted more! He was saying, "Get this cloud out of the way, Lord! I want to see your glory! I want to see your face!

Did God reject Moses request and rebuke him for being so presumptuous? No!

God will always be jus as eager for your fellowship as you are for His-even more so. Remember, it was God who set Adam in the garden to be able to enjoy close, intimate communion with Him. It was man who put up the wall separation between the two of them.

God will always grant you fellowship to the degree that you can handle it without being harmed. Look at how God responded to Moses’ request to see His glory.

Exodus 33:19-23

And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee, and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

And he said, thou canst not see my face for there shall no man see me and live.

And the Lord said, behold, there is a place by me and thou shalt stand upon a rock:

And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover thee with my hand while I pass by.

And I will take away mine hand, and thou shall see me back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

That cleft in the Rock is a foreshadowing of the ultimate Rock, Jesus.

1 Corinthians 10:4

And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drink of the spiritual Rock that followed them, that Rock was Christ.

It is in Him that we are able to experience God’s goodness and glory.

We see Moses and the cloud of glory one more time on the stage of history. Nearly 2,500 years after the events we just spoke about.

Matthew 17:1-5

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart.

And was transfigured before them: as His face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him.

Then answered Peter and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good to be here: if thou will let us make here three tabernacles: one for thee and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them….

Once again we find Moses on a mountain in the midst of a cloud. But this time something is different. This time God is present on the earth in human flesh. Peter, James and John had been looking into Jesus’ face for months. They have even touched Him. God had become as accessible to the as He was to Adam before the fall, just as He had been foreshadowed by the rock in Moses’ time.

On this mountain, however, as the curtain between heaven and earth was momentarily peeled back, the glory began to shine forth as in the former days. So, once again, the cloud descended to protect fallen man.

Matthew 17:5-6

…..and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, his is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him. And when the disciples hear it, they fell on their face, and were so afraid.

Earthly manifestation of God’s glory did not end that day on the mountain. A few months later, following Jesus death, resurrection and ascension to heaven, an event occurred that was unprecedented in the history of the world. It was an event that would make the glory, presence and power of God available to you and me.

Acts 2:1-4

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

On this remarkable day, the Spirit of Almighty God was poured out upon man. To that point, the Holy Spirit had only rested upon man within man, indwelling them twenty-four hours a day and supercharging them with the power of God.

Moments after the event just described had occurred, the apostle Peter preached a Holy Ghost – inspired sermon to explain what had taken place.

Acts 2:14-18

Pentecost brought a whole new dimension to experiencing the presence of God. In fact, it almost brings us full circle to where Adam was before the fall. Adam had the life of God inside himself; so too can we, as a believer, we have the life of God in us.

Copyright © 2000
Rev. Glen Prince - The Potters House Church of Raleigh, N.C.
All rights reserved.
Revised: February 03, 2000