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This afternoon I was reading about all the times that God sent His manifest presence in the form of a cloud. There were also many other visible appearances of Gods divinity in the Old Testament, such as when He appeared to Abraham when he was 99 yrs. old to tell him Sarah was going to have a son, He appeared to Moses in a burning bush, He appeared as a man when Jacob wrestled with an angel, and He appeared as the fourth man in the fiery furnace just to name a few. But reading about all the times He appeared in a cloud caught my attention.
There were times when the Shekinah Glory Cloud came over the people and they were overwhelmed by its power. Some people were not even able to stand in that tangible presence. In the book of Exodus 40:35, after Moses completed the tabernacle, he and Aaron consecrated themselves by washing their hands and feet and putting up a curtain at the court gate. The power of God was so strong that Moses was not even able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled it.
Solomon’s temple was also designed to commune with God. 2 Chronicles 5:3-14 tells the story of Solomon completing the temple, the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Most Holy Place by the priests. Solomon then dedicated the temple to the Lord. The Levites, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, their sons and relatives clothe in white linen gathered together to worship. They had cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets.
In 2 Chronicles 7:1-3, we read about the awe-inspiring moment when the glory cloud of God's presence filled the Temple after Solomon finished praying. The anointing of God's glory was so powerful that the priests were unable to continue their service and the people sang in unison, “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever”. No one was even able to speak under this Shekinah glory cloud of God’s presence. I looked up the word Theophany. The definitions was “as a veil covering”.
As I read further, it said that it a“Theophanic cloud”. That word is derived from the word “Theophany” which means: An appearance of God to a human; a divine manifestation of God to a person, or a manifestation of a deity to man in a form that, though visible, is not necessarily material. And another definition says: It’s an intense manifestation of the presence of God that is accompanied by an extraordinary visual display.
This is the same cloud which is the anointing that hovers over us when we are worshipping in a corporate setting, and this is the same glory cloud that will rest over us in our own homes if we press in for it. The Holy Spirit will come into our homes and visit us in the form of the Shekinah Glory cloud, or He could visit us just as He visited Moses through a burning bush. That fire Moses saw was the manifest fire of God.
When Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, John and James, He began to pray, as He was praying His face and clothes lit up and suddenly became as bright as a flash of lightening. Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. This was the Shekinah glory cloud of God. A voice came from that cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” The disciples looked over to Jesus and He was alone. Moses and Elijah were taken up into that Shekinah glory cloud (selah)
I pray that you receive this revelation. The Holy Spirit wants to visit you. This cloud is the actual presence of God. When He comes into the room, you will feel His presence overshadowing you, although you may not see Him, you’ll know Him.. And we as believers under the New Covenant, are carriers of His glory. We are now His tabernacle, and His glory rests upon us and dwells within us. We have been transformed to be the bearers of His light and love, and it is a privilege to share this with the world.
Ex 40:34-38
Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 36 Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would [d]go onward in all their journeys. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
Exodus 40:34-35
Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
1 Corinthians 3:16.
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Elaine Tavolacci