Search the Community

“On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud lifted up from above the Tabernacle of the Testimony.” Numbers, 10:11, Tree of Life Version The Children of Israel had been encamped at the foot of Mount Sinai. The first journey made by B’nei Yisrael occurred on the twentieth of Iyar, ten days shy of one year, from their arrival at Sinai on the first of Sivan. The departure was well organized, ahead of time, for the sake of an orderly procession. First the tribe of Judah, then, as they began to march, the tabernacle would be disassembled, and placed in the care of the three Levite families. Two of the families followed the tribe of Judah; the third Levite family followed the tribe of Reuben. The rest of the tribes followed in formation, according to the Jerusalem Talmud, either in the shape of a diamond, or in a straight line, tribe by tribe. “The cloud of AD’NAI was over them by day when they advanced from the camp” (Numbers 10:34, TLV). Thus, during their three day journey, the L’RD’s Presence in the form if a Cloud, sheltered them from the heat of the day. “Whenever the cloud lifted up from above the Tent, then B’nei-Yisrael would set out, and at the place where the cloud settled, there Bnei-Yisrael would encamp” (Numbers 9:17, TLV). “Yet in Your great compassion You did not abandon them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud by day did not depart from above them, guiding them in the way, nor the pillar of fire by night, illuminating the way they should go.” Nehemiah 9:19, Tree of Life Version Consider how G’d’s Presence guided the B’nei Yisrael, during the wandering in the desert. “In a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night You go before them” (Numbers 14:14, TLV). This points toward the L’RD’s role in our lives to guide us in the right direction, to be a compass in an uncertain world, and a light in the darkness, as well as a refuge from the tumults of life. We may always seek His presence by recalling Him to mind, “I have set AD’NAI always before me. Since He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8). The more we engage in connecting to the L’RD, through prayer, the reading of scripture, and performing tov mitzvoth (good works) in Messiah, the more aware we may become of His Presence. Even so, through Messiah, we are given the active presence of the Shechinah, also referred to as the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) to guide us in our lives. “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper so He may be with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him. You know Him, because He abides with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17, Tree of Life Version). Most assuredly, this is what was envisioned by chazal, based on an interesting interpretation of the verse, “Make me a mishkan (sanctuary) that I may dwell within you” (Leviticus 25:8). “Don’t you know that you people are G’d’s temple and that G’d’s Spirit lives in you.” 1 Corinthians 3:16, CJB