What is the meaning of Exodus 40:35? “Moses was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting” • Moses, who had ascended Sinai and spoken with God “face to face” (Exodus 33:11), now finds himself stopped at the doorway. • His inability highlights God’s absolute holiness: even the covenant mediator cannot stroll in uninvited (cf. Leviticus 16:2). • The moment underscores that access to God is always on His terms, not ours—an idea later echoed when only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year (Hebrews 9:7). • So the verse begins with a dramatic pause: Moses, representing the people, must wait until God makes a way. “because the cloud had settled on it” • The cloud first appeared in Exodus 13:21–22, guiding Israel by day; here it settles, marking God’s permanent dwelling among His people. • Similar scenes recur when the cloud descends on Sinai (Exodus 24:15-18) and later on Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 8:10-11). • The settled cloud signals that God has accepted the tabernacle exactly as He commanded (Exodus 25:8-9). • It also serves as a visible boundary: when the cloud rests, everyone—including Moses—stops (Numbers 9:15-19). “and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle” • God’s glory—His overwhelming, radiant presence—fills every corner, leaving no room for human intrusion (Isaiah 6:1-4). • The filling consummates the Exodus journey: Israel now has a holy center for worship and guidance (Exodus 29:45-46). • This glory will later depart because of sin (Ezekiel 10:18-19) and return in the person of Jesus, “the Word made flesh” who “tabernacled among us” (John 1:14). • In Christ, believers have confidence to “enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19-22), fulfilling what Moses could not yet do. Implications for Israel’s worship • Order: The cloud lifted to signal travel and settled to signal rest (Exodus 40:36-38). • Reverence: Priests ministered according to strict patterns (Leviticus 9:23-24). • Assurance: God was not distant; He literally dwelt in the camp (Deuteronomy 31:6-8). Foreshadowing fulfilled in Christ • Just as the cloud protected and guided Israel, Jesus leads believers “as the light of the world” (John 8:12). • The once-for-all sacrifice of Christ removes the barrier Moses faced, granting continual access (Ephesians 2:18). • The Church now forms a living temple, “being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:21-22). Personal application • Approach God with awe, recognizing His holiness. • Rejoice that Christ has opened the way Moses had to respect from a distance. • Seek God’s guidance as Israel watched the cloud, trusting His timing for movement and rest (Proverbs 3:5-6). summary Exodus 40:35 shows the moment God’s visible presence settled into the tabernacle, barring even Moses until God prescribed further steps. The cloud and glory affirm His holiness, His nearness, and His initiative in providing access. What Moses awaited, believers now enjoy fully through Jesus, whose once-for-all sacrifice opens the way into God’s glorious presence. |
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