Exodus 40:38: “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.”

March 17th, 2026 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Moses received detailed information on the building of the tabernacle. He delivered it to the people, directed the work, and in Exodus 40 everything was finished. It was time for the priest to enter the tabernacle. But when they tried, they found they couldn’t enter it because a cloud of God’s overwhelming presence had filled the tabernacle. This cloud would become known as the Shekinah. No man can see God with human eyes and live, so His presence was in this cloud, and it gave the people something they could look at and follow.

This cloud or Shekinah glory of God is an interesting study in Scripture. It is mentioned almost 400 times. It was the Shekinah cloud and fire of God that led the children of Israel across the Red Sea, and for 40 years through the wilderness. It seems that at the center of this cloud was a continually burning fire. In the New Testament the Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians that “Christ in you, [is] the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). God wants to both fill and direct our lives.

Notice the Book of Exodus ends with these words, “throughout all their journeys.” This book closes with great hope because God was with them. Even though Israel was in the middle of a barren wilderness, were going to face fierce enemies in the Promised Land, and were weak and often murmuring and rebellious, God was going to be with them. This gave them great confidence. So also we should have great confidence because Jesus has promised to never leave or forsake us—His church. If we will wait on Him, relying on His guidance and waiting for His initiation, then we have every right to be filled with confidence and an expectation of coming good from His hand.

“LORD, we also desire for You to be with us ‘throughout all our journeys.’ Please fill us and direct us with Your presence this day.”

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Exodus 40 KJV

¹ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, ² On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. ³ And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. ⁴ And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof.  ⁵ And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle. ⁶ And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. ⁷ And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein. ⁸ And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate. ⁹ And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that istherein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy. ¹⁰ And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy.  ¹¹ And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it. ¹² And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. ¹³ And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. ¹⁴ And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: ¹⁵ And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. ¹⁶ Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he. ¹⁷ And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up. ¹⁸ And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars. ¹⁹And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses. ²⁰ And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark: ²¹ And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses. ²² And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail. ²³ And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses. ²⁴ And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward. ²⁵ And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORDcommanded Moses. ²⁶ And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail: ²⁷ And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses. ²⁸ And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle. ²⁹ And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses. ³⁰ And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal . ³¹ And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat: ³² When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses. 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. ³⁴ Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. ³⁵ And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. ³⁶ And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:  ³⁷ But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. ³⁸ For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.