Exodus 40:34-38

The Cloud of God's Glory

v. 34. Then a cloud covered the Tent of the Congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle, shut off from the gaze of sinful men by the screen of cloud. So Jehovah Himself consecrated the Sanctuary by this manifestation of His glory in the sacred cloud, even before it was consecrated by the priesthood.

v. 35. And Moses was not able to enter into the Tent of the Congregation, not even he, the friend of Jehovah, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. This shows that the people had now again received the full pardon of the Lord, since He once more dwelt in their midst with His gracious presence.

v. 36. And when the cloud was taken up from over the Tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys;

v. 37. but if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. The people broke camp and moved onward only with the moving of the cloud.

v. 38. For the cloud of the Lord was upon the Tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight, before the eyes, of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. Thus did the presence of the covenant God accompany them in all their journeyings, and the Tabernacle served to hold before the congregation the object of its calling and the certain fulfillment of the promises to the patriarchs.