The Cloud Moves
Read This Week: Exodus 40
In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.
– Exodus 40:36-38 NIV
Exodus 40 is not one of the most dramatic chapters in our Journey to Freedom study. There are no plagues, no parting seas, just many instructions about furniture placement and priestly attire. But beneath the surface of this meticulous setup of the Tabernacle lies a blueprint for something timeless and relevant to us even today. It shows us how structure, intentionality, and presence transform the routine of our daily lives into moments in which we can worship and honor God.
By the end of the book, the Israelites have been through a lot. They’ve endured slavery, a dramatic escape, and a rollercoaster of faith and failure in the wilderness. God gave Moses the Tabernacle plans back in chapters 25-31, and after a golden calf detour, the people finally get it together in chapters 35-39 to build it. Chapter 40 represents the conclusion of construction and the setup. Once the assembly instructions are made final and carried out, the presence of God moves in. The children of Israel set up the tent, placed the ark, hung the curtains, arranged the table, lit the lamps, burned the incense, anointed the altar, washed up, and dressed Aaron and his sons. It’s repetitive and detailed, but we soon realize this isn’t just logistics or particulars. It’s about creating a space where a holy God can dwell with His imperfect but loved people.
To reiterate a point from previous chapters, the order in Exodus 40 isn’t just busywork; it’s foundational. The Tabernacle wasn’t thrown together haphazardly; every pole, curtain, and basin had a place and purpose. This reflects a more profound truth to glean from and apply to our Christian walks: chaos doesn’t invite connection, but intentionality does. God didn’t need a tent to exist, but the Israelites needed a tangible way to relate to Him. The structure gave them that. It also challenges us to think about our lives and seek order where chaos may occur. It could be a cluttered lifestyle, a packed schedule, neglected relationships, or an inability to serve. The Bible encourages us to bring order to these things; however small the step, it can make room for something greater. It’s not about perfection; it’s about purpose. It could motivate us to clear the calendar, be intentional with family and friends, or have that conversation we’ve wanted to have. Small acts of order can become spaces to get closer to God and others and be on mission where the Lord is moving.
The pinnacle of the chapter comes in verse 34, then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. After all the work, God’s presence arrives, so strong that Moses can’t even enter. This culmination of all the instructions and work is the payoff. It is the whole point of the blueprints and obedience. Where it gets practical for us is the understanding that diligence and discipline invite presence. God’s people didn’t sit back and wait for Him to appear. They built something, and He filled it. It’s not that we earn God’s attention (or life’s rewards) but that we create room and places for Him to move and work in us. What we are building right now could welcome something bigger.
One last subtle undertone in our journey through Exodus that we see here is that the Tabernacle isn’t permanent. It’s portable and designed for people on the move. The cloud lifts and shifts, signaling when it’s time to go (v. 36-38). This reminder alerts us that even the most sacred setups in life can be temporary. Jobs change, seasons end, kids grow up. The challenge is to invest fully in the moment without clinging to it forever. Practically, this means holding things loosely. We should build the Tabernacle and pour our hearts into it, but we shouldn’t be surprised when the cloud moves. The Scriptures invite us to trust that the God who fills the tent will guide our lives as we move ahead.
Exodus is about transformation. Wood, fabric, and oil aren’t inherently holy until they’re arranged with purpose and met by God’s presence. The same goes for us. Our routines, work, and small faithfulness acts are foundational. They can become something more when we offer them up with intention and the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We should live in freedom and be deliberate to see what Jesus will do. Remember, the cloud moves, and we can be ready if we follow God.
Exodus Chapter 40 Verse 1 -2
And the Lord said to Moses, on the first day of the first month. You shall set up the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting [of God with you].
Exodus Chapter 40 Verse 15
And you shall anoint them as you anointed their father, that they may Minister to Me as priest; for their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.
Exodus Chapter 40 Verse 34
Then the cloud, [the Shekinah, God’s visible presence] covered the Tent of Meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle! Revelation 15:8
Exodus Chapter 38 Verse 38
For throughout all their journey’s the cloud of the Lord was upon the Tabernacle by day and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.
~The Finished Project~
God Is Saying To Me:
I have freed the Israelites from the bondage of sin. I have freed you too. Your freedom did not come free. Neither did the Israelites. Jesus gave His life and bore your sins so that you can be in His presence. Your body and soul are now mine. You are the temple where the Holy Spirit dwells. Therefore, you must be holy, living a life that is holy and obedient to My will, My word and My direction.
What This Means To Me:
1. From God’s specific directions to Moses regarding the assembly of the Tabernacle, He wants you to arrange your life according to His perfect order.
2. As directed to Moses from God, He wants your body to be holy and anointed for the Holy spirit’s use.
3. From God’s directions to Moses, the anointing of the priests foreshadows the fact that God wants us to always be available as one of His priests too. God wants us to be obedient and stay out of bondage. God’s glory is now in our body by the Holy Spirit.
4. The ‘holy pillar of light’, that guided the Jews reveals that God will guide us when we are obedient
5. God’s Holy Cloud guided the Jews throughout their journey. He reveals that by faith from us, He will guide us and we do not have to worry because He will never leave us or forsake us. Sin may get in the way at times but nothing can destroy His love for us.
Thank you God for all that you did and continue to do for your children. I love you Father God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. ❤️❤️❤️
Exodus 40 – The Glory Fills the House
This is the breathtaking finale to the book of Exodus. After all the detailed instructions and the obedient work of the Israelites, the Tabernacle, God’s church the dwelling place for God, His house—is finally complete. And then… the glory of the Lord fills it.
God gave Moses clear instructions, and Moses set everything in place exactly as the Lord commanded. The people came together, bringing offerings, using their skills, and giving their best. They followed every detail God gave through Moses—and then boom—the cloud of God’s presence covers the tent of meeting, and His glory fills the Tabernacle.
This was God’s love ❤️
Even after all their ups and downs—their failures, fears, and moments of rebellion—God still wanted to dwell with them. He didn’t abandon them. He called them, corrected them, forgave them, and brought them into a deeper relationship with Himself. His glory came down not because they were perfect, but because they were His. He honored their obedience. He filled their work with His presence. He blessed them.
And for us today, we are even more blessed. Through Jesus, we have a relationship with Father God. He calls us to listen and respond, to walk closely with Him, because He has a purpose for us to do something with Him. And even when we fail at times, He still loves us and wants to dwell with us.
Now, through Christ, we are the temple—His Spirit lives within us. We don’t have to wonder if He is with us. We can know He is—with no doubt.
How do we know?
Because when we choose to speak kindly—even when it’s hard—there He is.
When we forgive someone who hurt us,
When we ask Father God to help, lead, and guide us, He will!
When we cry out in weakness and receive His strength—
There He is.
When we pray, serve, give, and trust—He is present in it all.
Jesus made the way for us to walk with God not just occasionally, but continually. Because we believe in Jesus, God lives inside our hearts. His presence is not just something we visit—it’s something we carry everywhere we go.
That’s why we must keep our hearts open to Him.
Soft. Willing. Obedient. Faithful.
Because He is faithful.
It’s important to stay in His presence to walk in the Soirit with Him!
He is with us.
He is in us.
He is for us—every step of the way.
Thank You, Father God, that we get to walk with You.
Thank you so much for Giving us Jesus and Your Holy Spirit ️❤️❤️
Thank you for Your Love ❤️
I love you
Exodus 40:9-15
You Are Anointed: Set Apart for God’s Purpose
God is looking for hearts that are open to Him—hearts that are fully His.
His presence no longer lives in a physical tabernacle—it now lives in us.
In Exodus, God instructed Moses to anoint the Tabernacle, the furnishings, and the priests so that His presence could dwell there. And once it was all anointed—everything changed.
The anointing was more than a ritual. It was a physical act with spiritual meaning. It marked something—or someone—as chosen and empowered for divine use.
What Did the Anointing Represent?
Consecration – Being set apart, fully dedicated to God.
Empowerment – God’s Spirit coming upon something or someone for a divine assignment.
Presence – The anointing made room for God to dwell among His people.
Connection to the New Covenant
Today, we don’t need oil poured on us to be anointed. But Pastors do anoint people in person as God leads.
We are anointed by the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you…?”
– 1 Corinthians 6:19
“You have an anointing from the Holy One… the anointing you received from Him remains in you…”
– 1 John 2:20, 27
“God anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts…”
– 2 Corinthians 1:21–22
What Does This Mean for You?
If you’ve said yes to Jesus, you are anointed.
You are set apart, blessed, and holy.
You are not common—you’re called.
You have a specific purpose, different from the world around you.
You are part of a royal priesthood. You are chosen, not by chance, but by God
Being holy doesn’t mean being perfect—it means being dedicated to God and His ways.
You have influence.
You carry peace, hope, and truth—not just for yourself, but for others.
You are meant to share the good news, speak truth in love, and live in a way that shows others who God is.
You Are Anointed to…
Live a holy life
Serve others with purpose
Walk with confidence, knowing God is with you
Be aware of His presence, wherever you go
Refuse to blend in with ungodly ways
Speak truth with love, as God leads you
Aaron and his sons couldn’t serve without being anointed.
And you can’t fulfill your calling without realizing that you’ve already been anointed.
You Are the Temple
You don’t have to beg God to come close—He’s already inside of you.
He walks with you, goes before you, and surrounds you.
You just have to become more and more aware of Him.
So today—when you speak with kindness, when you forgive, when you stand for truth, when you serve, when you cry out for help—He is there.
Wherever you go, He goes with you.
You are anointed. So go out with Father God, Jesus and His Holy Spirit and bless someone with Him❤️
That’s what blesses His Heart ❤️❤️️
Have you learned to go through the process in different areas of your life with God?
There’s definitely a process—and sometimes it’s easy, other times not so much. Sometimes it’s short, and other times it takes a while. But when you learn to go through things with the Lord, something changes. He draws you closer, and you begin to know Him in a deeper way. You start to understand His ways, see His provision, and even experience His miracles. You become stronger, and you learn to trust Him more.
For me, I’ll be honest—I don’t always love going through the process. But I’m so grateful that God is patient with me. He gives me grace, teaches me His ways, and continues to grow me into the son He created me to be. It’s a journey, and it’s definitely a process—but when you walk through it with God, it’s good.
1. It’s vital that we listen and do all that God says—even down to the very minute detail.
2. Don’t be a hearer only—make sure you do what God instructs, and do it well.
3. God wants you to draw close and do everything with Him. He says it’s better when we do it together.
PODCAST
This Week in the Life: Exodus 40
For the best experience, we suggest you listen to the first song, the message, and then the second song.
1. Sunday Worship – First Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250406-Worship1.wav
2. Sunday Message: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250406-Message.wav
3. Sunday Worship – Second Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250406-Worship2.wav
Join the Party Line Live – Schedule: https://reachchurch.org/connect
This week in Exodus chapter 40 I got a song
Trusting
Let’s come together to worship our Lord let’s come together to worship our Lord trusting and believing relying on our Lord, our Lord is holy the earth is filled with his glory. We are blessed yes blessed we live in the presence of the Lord, the presence of the Lord, becoming closer in our relationship. We are walking with his spirit in us given others. Hope love, encouraging words from our Lord let’s come together to worship our Lord let’s come together to worship our Lord trusting believing relying on our Lord amen.
Our Lord is filled with love, Grace and mercy he loves when we live in his presence and always know wherever we go. We have the presence of the Lord amen.