Too Much for Even Moses
The book of Exodus opens with the account of God’s chosen people leaving Egypt. It’s an epic tale of plagues, crossing a sea on dry ground, and the pursuing Egyptian army being drowned.
It demonstrates God’s power and his provision in awe-inspiring magnificence, foreshadowing his glory.
The rest of the book of Exodus talks about God’s expectations for his people and his standards for the construction of the tabernacle as a place for them to worship him.
The section concludes with an account of the people who bring about the tabernacle’s completion, under Moses’s direction, as commanded by God.
Nearing the conclusion in the final chapter of Exodus, the text simply says, “Moses finished the work.” But that’s not the end of the story. Instead, it merely sets up the climatic conclusion.
A cloud covers the tent of meeting and God’s glory fills the tabernacle. This isn’t just any cloud. It’s a cloud representing God’s glory. It’s intense. It’s so strong that Moses can’t even enter the tent of meeting.
The Bible says this is “because the cloud has settled on it.”
We may think of a cloud as being a gathering of vapors, intangible and undefined, even ethereal. But this cloud is anything but that simple understanding.
It’s so concentrated that Moses can’t navigate it. It’s a barrier that keeps him out, away from God’s glory.
Remember that this is the same Moses who encounters God at the bush that is on fire but does not burn out (Exodus 3:4-6).
Some four decades later, Moses ascends Mount Sinai and spends forty days with God. They speak to each other. When Moses returns, his face is radiant. The people are so afraid of his glow that Moses puts a veil over his face (Exodus 34:29-35).
We’d think that these two experiences—along with all Moses’s other interactions with the Lord—would prepare him to enter the tent of meeting to experience God’s glory in an up close, personal way.
But Moses cannot. God’s glory is so powerful that Moses cannot approach it.
This should leave us in awe at the overwhelming enormity of God’s being. The manifestation of God’s glory is enough to keep Moses at a distance.
This is the God we serve. Let’s never forget this.
[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is Exodus 38-40, and today’s post is on Exodus 40:33-35.]
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.
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