FIRE-CLOUD

“On the day the tabernacle was put up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, that is, the tent of the testimony; and in the evening, over the tabernacle was what appeared to be fire, which remained until morning.”
Numbers 9:15

If you remember back to our time in Exodus, you may remember that the people of Isra’el were led by a cloud during the day and a fire during the night. It seems as though after the people to led to Mount Sinai the two disappeared. We are not told for sure, but that would seem to make sense as they were parked at the mountain’s base for approximately thirteen months. But here in Numbers we see the return of the fire-cloud.
In actuality, the cloud was never gone. After the two led the people out of Egypt to Sinai, they then rested atop the mountain where Moshe went to receive the Torah. It was here that Moshe bathed in Adonai’s presence, receiving the instructions for the tabernacle and ceremonies. But now that the tabernacle was completed in Adonai’s pattern, God would speak to Moshe there as opposed to on the mountain top. Naturally, then, the fire-cloud came down and rested over the Tabernacle.
In verse 17, we see once more the leading of the fire-cloud. When the cloud lifted, the people of Isar’el were to close camp, including taking down the tabernacle, and follow the cloud’s leading. This move could lead them to a new place daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly. Their mission was to follow it. In a sign, or movement, for Adonai, the people had to be ready to go. This reminds me on Exodus 12:11, where they were to eat with their shirt tucked in, being ready to move at the drop of a hat (or head covering).
We would be at a loss, however, if we did not connect the dots here. The people of Isra’el had to obey or get left behind. Failing to follow the fire-cloud was sin. How many times have we in turn been in the same position? How many times have we hesitated to follow Adonai’s leading and were left behind? Maybe we missed the opening that we were to go through. I want to encourage you as I myself am being encouraged in reading this that we must obey. We must be willing to heed Him when He leads. He desires our obedience – doesn’t He deserve it?

Numbers 9:15 – 10:10