Moses Enters the Cloud
Jump to: SubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
Biblical Context:
The event of Moses entering the cloud is a significant moment in the biblical narrative, occurring during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. This event is primarily recorded in the Book of Exodus, specifically in Exodus 24:12-18. It marks a pivotal moment in the establishment of the covenant between God and the people of Israel, as Moses ascends Mount Sinai to receive the tablets of the Law.

Scriptural Account:
In Exodus 24:12, the LORD instructs Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and stay there, so that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction." This divine invitation underscores the importance of the Law as a foundational element of Israelite identity and religious practice.

Moses, accompanied by his assistant Joshua, ascends the mountain. The narrative emphasizes the holiness and solemnity of the occasion, as the glory of the LORD settles on Mount Sinai. Exodus 24:16-18 describes the scene: "And the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered it, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop in the eyes of the Israelites. Moses entered the cloud as he went up the mountain, and he remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights."

Theological Significance:
The cloud represents the divine presence and glory of God, often associated with His holiness and majesty. The imagery of the cloud and consuming fire conveys both the mystery and the awe-inspiring nature of God's presence. Moses' entry into the cloud signifies his unique role as mediator between God and the Israelites, a role that prefigures the ultimate mediation of Christ in the New Testament.

The forty days and forty nights Moses spends on the mountain are symbolic of a period of testing and preparation, a theme recurrent in biblical narratives. During this time, Moses receives the Ten Commandments, which serve as the moral and legal foundation for the Israelite community. This period also highlights the importance of divine revelation and the necessity of obedience to God's commandments.

Covenantal Implications:
The event of Moses entering the cloud is integral to the establishment of the Sinai Covenant. It underscores the conditional nature of the covenant, which requires the Israelites to adhere to the laws given by God in order to maintain their special relationship with Him. The giving of the Law is a manifestation of God's grace, providing a means for the Israelites to live in accordance with His will.

Moses as a Type of Christ:
In Christian theology, Moses is often seen as a type of Christ, prefiguring the ultimate revelation and mediation of Jesus. Just as Moses ascends the mountain to receive the Law, Christ ascends to heaven to fulfill the Law and establish a new covenant through His sacrifice. The cloud, representing God's presence, is echoed in the New Testament during the Transfiguration of Jesus, where a cloud envelops Him, and the voice of God affirms His Sonship (Matthew 17:5).

Conclusion:
The event of Moses entering the cloud is a profound moment in biblical history, rich with theological and covenantal significance. It highlights the holiness of God, the importance of divine revelation, and the role of Moses as a mediator, all of which are central themes in the unfolding narrative of God's relationship with His people.
Subtopics

Iconoclasm: Destroyed by Moses

Miscegenation: Moses

Moses

Moses is a Herdsman for Jethro in the Desert of Horeb

Moses with Aaron Assembles the Leaders of Israel

Moses with his Wife and Sons, he Leaves Jethro to Perform his Mission in Egypt

Moses: 120 Years Old at Death

Moses: A Levite and Son of Amram

Moses: A Type of the Messiah

Moses: Along With Aaron

Moses: Appoints Joshua As his Successor

Moses: Benedictions of Last Benediction Upon the Twelve Tribes

Moses: Benedictions of Upon the People

Moses: Body of, Disputed Over

Moses: Character of Called the Man of God

Moses: Character of Complainings of

Moses: Character of Faith of

Moses: Character of God Spoke To, As a Man to his Friend

Moses: Character of Impatience of

Moses: Character of Magnanimity of, Toward Eldad and Medad

Moses: Character of Magnified of God

Moses: Character of Meekness of

Moses: Character of Obedience of

Moses: Character of Respected and Feared

Moses: Character of Unaspiring

Moses: Commissioned As Leader of the Israelites

Moses: Composes a Song for the People of Israel on Their Deliverance from Pharaoh

Moses: Crosses the Red Sea; Pharaoh and his Army are Destroyed

Moses: Death and Burial of

Moses: Discovered and Adopted by the Daughter of Pharaoh

Moses: Face of, Transfigured

Moses: God Reveals to Him his Purpose to Deliver the Israelites and Bring Them Into the Land of Canaan

Moses: Has the Vision of the Burning Bush

Moses: Hidden in a Small Basket

Moses: His Controversy With his Wife on Account of Circumcision

Moses: His Loyalty to his Race

Moses: His Rod Miraculously Turned Into a Serpent, and his Hand Was Made Leprous, and Then Restored

Moses: His Virility

Moses: Institutes a System of Government

Moses: Jealousy of Aaron and Miriam Toward

Moses: Joined by his Family in the Wilderness

Moses: Joins Himself to Jethro, Priest of Midian

Moses: Learned in all the Wisdom of Egypt

Moses: Meets Aaron in the Wilderness

Moses: Mourning For, Thirty Days in the Plains of Moab

Moses: Not Permitted to Enter Canaan, But Views the Land from Atop Mount Pisgah

Moses: People Complain Against Moses and Aaron

Moses: Present With Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration

Moses: Prophecies of

Moses: Rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram Against

Moses: Receives Comfort and Assurance from the Lord

Moses: Rejected by Pharaoh; Hardships of the Israelites Increased

Moses: Renews his Appeal to Pharaoh

Moses: Reproves Aaron For: Irregularity in the offerings

Moses: Reproves Aaron For: Making the Golden Calf

Moses: Secures the Deliverance of the People and Leads Them out of Egypt

Moses: Takes the Life of an Egyptian Taskmaster

Moses: Unbelief of the People

Moses: Under Divine Direction Brings Plagues Upon the Land of Egypt

Mutiny: Israelites Against Moses

Patriotism: Moses

Related Terms

Inheritance (263 Occurrences)

Jubilee (25 Occurrences)

Equally (21 Occurrences)

Estates (4 Occurrences)

Domain (5 Occurrences)

Portions (49 Occurrences)

Patrobas (1 Occurrence)

Benefits (12 Occurrences)

Chimham (4 Occurrences)

Sale (12 Occurrences)

Nero

Receives (43 Occurrences)

Equal (70 Occurrences)

Possessions (84 Occurrences)

Due (93 Occurrences)

Sold (92 Occurrences)

Patriarchs (6 Occurrences)

Portion (227 Occurrences)

Besides (178 Occurrences)

Moses' Early Life
Top of Page
Top of Page