Awesome Hands – Part 127: “The Cloud guides us all”

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Awesome Hands – part 127

"The Cloud guides us all"

January 5, 2018

Our study today takes us to the heart of Israel’s divine guidance. Being that we are spiritual Jews, understanding that we are also led day and night by the Lord, is crucial to us understanding that everything which happens to us is for a purpose in the Lord’s kingdom.

Our verse for consider today are found in Numbers 9.

Num 9:23  At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

There is obviously some context to this verse, and that context gives us some insight on what the Lord is doing with His people “by the hand of Moses”.

Num 9:15  And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.
Num 9:16  So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.

We have all heard about the cloud that the Lord used to guide the Israelites out of Egypt. We also know that this same cloud was used to protect the Jews form their enemies. So, can we conclude that this is still true today? If so, how do we know if we are being directed by this same cloud?

The first time we see the cloud come into our focus, as it pertains to relating to4 the Lord, is found in Exodus.

Exo 40:33  And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.
Exo 40:34  Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

The ark of the covenant was covered with the cloud, and the “tent of the testimony” was covered. What is it we can learn about this cloud aside from what appears on the surface?

H6051

‛ânân
aw-nawn'
From H6049; a cloud (as covering the sky), that is, the nimbus or thunder cloud: - cloud (-y).
Total KJV occurrences: 87

H6049

‛ânan
aw-nan'
A primitive root; to cover; used only as denominative from H6051, to cloud over; figuratively to act covertly, that is, practise magic: -    X bring, enchanter, Meonemin, observe (-r of) times, soothsayer, sorcerer.
Total KJV occurrences: 11

That can’t be right can it? The root of cloud is linked somehow to magic? Well we certainly know that the cloud was supernatural in nature, so that makes some sense. Look at how the root is used in scripture.

H6049
‛ânan
Total KJV Occurrences: 11
observed, 2
2Ch_33:6 (2)
soothsayers, 2
Isa_2:6 (2), Mic_5:12
bring, 1
Gen_9:14
enchanters, 1
Jer_27:9
meonenim, 1
Jdg_9:37
observe, 1
Lev_19:26
observer, 1
Deu_18:10
observers, 1
Deu_18:14
sorceress, 1
Isa_57:3

This all seems a bit out of place to my natural man? How can it be that the cloud that guided the Israelites and crushed the Egyptians be connected to, and have the same Hebrew root meaning, soothsayers, enchanters, sorceress and observers? Observers of what?

In order to better understand the answer, we are going to read some of these verses in their entirety.

2Ch 33:6  And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
2Ch 33:7  And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

Isa 2:6  Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.

Mic 5:12  And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:

Jer 27:9  Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:

Lev 19:26  Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.

Deu 18:10  There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

Deu 18:14  For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

Isa 57:3  But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore.

Here in Isaiah, we find some verses which will tell us just what the Lord thinks of the hearts of those who are at the root of the words we are reading.

Isa 57:1 (ESV) The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;
Isa 57:2  he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness.
Isa 57:3  But you, draw near, sons of the sorceress, offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.
Isa 57:4  Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit,
Isa 57:5  you who burn with lust among the oaks, under every green tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
Isa 57:6  Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a grain offering. Shall I relent for these things?
Isa 57:7  On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifice.
Isa 57:8  Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your memorial; for, deserting me, you have uncovered your bed, you have gone up to it, you have made it wide; and you have made a covenant for yourself with them, you have loved their bed, you have looked on nakedness.

Ahh yes, this doesn’t sound anything like the cloud the Lord have as a symbol for the Israelites to follow or does it?

If we remember how faithful the Jews were, to the Lord, while in the wilderness, then our questions will be abated. Oh yeah, that’s right, the Jews were not faithful at all to the Lord! In fact, they were quite treacherous to the Lord just the same as we all are! These verses are also in the ESV translation.

Gal 4:9  But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
Gal 4:10  You observe days and months and seasons and years!
Gal 4:11  I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

Luk 11:29  When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.

1Co 1:21  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
1Co 1:22  For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,
1Co 1:23  but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
1Co 1:24  but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Why is it the Lord used a cloud, a supernatural sign, “in the heavens”, to guide and protect His people? The answer is easy to say but hard to understand.

The Lord uses His cloud to deceive!

1Co 10:1  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Co 10:2  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Co 10:3  And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Co 10:4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

The cloud is Jesus Christ. What then can we also see happens when a cloud comes to hide or reveal a thing?

Luk 9:32  But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
Luk 9:33  And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
Luk 9:34  While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
Luk 9:35  And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Luk 9:36  And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

When the cloud passes, from which the voice comes, Jesus is found alone.

Luk 21:26  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luk 21:27  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luk 21:28  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Ahh, there it is again. This example listed in Luke is something we have all heard many times over. We rejoice in knowing that the Lord shakes the powers of the heavens. We rejoice in knowing that the second coming of Jesus will be on a cloud and we look up to the sky. How many Christians have come and gone believing Jesus will come back riding on a physical cloud, a physical sign which we can all see?

This alone is not a bad or evil thought, but the cloud Jesus comes back on NOW is a SPIRITUAL cloud and not something we physically see.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Given everything I have said already, what can we take away from these thoughts? Even while the Jews were tempted the Lord in the wilderness He was their shelter and guide. He illuminated their path, even at night, by being a fiery pillar in the cloud.

Psa 27:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psa 36:9  For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

Psa 121:5  The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

Joh 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Not only did God guide the Israelites, He did so in all things and that is really what this study is about.

In death we are led, while much of our lives appear to be in darkness:

Psa 48:14  For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

Luk 1:79  To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

1Th 3:11  Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.

In light we are led as well:

Joh 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Joh 10:4  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

We should all take comfort in knowing that no matter what our plans in life are, the Lord is guiding every detail. No matter what valley we are crawling through or what mountain we are trying to scale, the Lord is guiding us the entire way even when we think we are going to take control of our own lives and do things our way.

Peter that He would do the same:

Joh 13:36  Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
Joh 13:37  Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
Joh 13:38  Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

Ultimately, the reason that the cloud was instituted for the physical Jews, and why the spiritual cloud is spiritually instituted today for Jews within, is to show us that the Lord is in control, looking out for us and has determined the route of our life for us.

Just as the Lord guided the Israelites through the wilderness, even while they tempted Him over and over, we too are guided through all aspects of our lives to ultimately be led to perfection after we are resurrected from the dead.


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