Nu 10: The Cloud

       Numbers 10: trumpets for gathering Israel and the pillar of fire & cloud. The leaders of the tribes are the same leaders as in Numbers 7. Moses invites his father-in-law to come with them, since he knows the wilderness well.

       Imagine being led by the very visual presence of the LORD in the form of a pillar of fire/cloud.

            19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:

            20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

       Why did the LORD choose to show Himself in a cloud? One might be tempted to speculate, but here are the reasons we find in scripture.

1. In the context of Numbers 10, the pillar of cloud/fire was to lead Israel.

         Ex 13:21-22 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a 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 the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

       See also Ex. 40:36-38; Nu. 9:17-22; De. 1:33; Neh. 9:19; Ps. 78:14.

 2. The pillar was for defense. At the Red Sea, the LORD divided the pursuing Egyptians from the children of Israel.

            Ex 14:19-20 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the 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, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

         Ex 14:24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,

         Ps 105:39 He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.

         Isa 4:5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.

3. The cloud was evidence of the LORD’s glory.

         Ex 16:10 And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.

       See also Ex. 40:34.

 4. It validated the authority of a person.

         Ex 19:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.

       See also Nu. 16:42.

         Mt 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

         Mr 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

         Lu 9:34-35 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

 5. It represented the LORD’s presence.

         Ex 34:5 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.

       See also Le. 16:2.

6. It was practical: light at night.

         Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 

7. It was also impractical!

         Ex 40:35 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.

         1Ki 8:10-11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

       See also II Chron. 5:13-14.

8. The LORD acted when the cloud was present.

         Ex 14:24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,

         Nu 11:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

       See also Nu. 12:5-10.

9. It was a witness to other peoples.

       Nu 14:14 And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.

       Perhaps this is a little “fleshly,” but I do enjoy the idea of the presence of God being impractical. Sometimes we have agendas, even good and holy agendas, which are superseded by God’s better and holier plan. When God shows up, wonderful things can happen.

        Maybe you'll get to experience some of God's style of impracticality some time soon.