We are in chapter twenty-four of Exodus with our word for today. עָנָן cloud, clouds, cloud-mass. It is used 87 times in the Old Testament, 4 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of a visible collection of smoke, dust or gases that is visible. We see it in reference to judgment and destruction. Ezekiel 30:3,18 For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near; it will be a day of עָנָ֔ן clouds, a time of doom for the nations. Zephaniah 1:15 A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of עָנָ֖ן clouds and thick darkness. There are two uses referring to incense used in worship. Ezekiel 8:11 The smoke of the עֲנַֽן cloud of incense went up. All the other uses we find God’s presence there in a special way. Here are a couple examples. Exodus 16:10 And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared בֶּעָנָֽן in the cloud. Leviticus 16:2 The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear בֶּֽעָנָ֔ן in the cloud over the mercy seat. Our word is also used in the sense of a visible mass of water or ice particles suspended at a considerable altitude. A good example of this is the location of rainbows which are a sign from God of his promise. Genesis 9:13-16 I have set my bow בֶּֽעָנָ֑ן in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I בְּעַֽנְנִ֥י עָנָ֖ן [literally to cloud with clouds] bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen בֶּעָנָֽן in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is בֶּֽעָנָ֑ן in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth. Most of the uses are of God making his presence known in a special way. Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went up before them by day in a pillar of עָנָן֙ cloud to lead them along the way. Exodus 33:9 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of הֶֽעָנָ֔ן cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 24:15-18 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and הֶעָנָ֖ן the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and הֶעָנָ֖ן the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of הֶעָנָֽן the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered הֶעָנָ֖ן the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Like we saw yesterday with the mountain of God our word for today is seen in the same way affirming Jesus being God himself present with God the Father. Luke 9:34-35 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” We also see a cloud at Jesus’s ascension after his death and resurrection. I’ll close with this passage that also contains the promise of Jesus second coming. Acts 1:9-11 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
