Hidden In The Cleft

Hidden In The Cleft

Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” (‭Exodus‬ ‭33‬:‭21-23‬ NIV)

This place that is near God cannot be a physical location. God told Moses that this place of safety was in the cleft of a rock, and on a rock. Moses then was on top of the mountain and God descended upon the mountain and hid Moses just as he said he would. But this place of safety could not constantly be near God unless He literally lived on a mountain of rock.

1 Peter 2:4, 1 Corinthians 10:4, Matthew 21:44, Romans 9:33, and Acts 4:11 all speak of Jesus either being a stone, rock, or boulder.

Psalm 18:2, 27:5, and 61:2 speak of God being a rock, tent, or a shelter.

The only safe hiding place near God in under the shelter of Jesus Christ. He is our hiding place, our shelter, our cleft, and our tent of meeting.

Questions for the kids
1. Why would we need a hiding place from God?
2. How is Jesus our tent of meeting?
3. Is there another person who is present in the tent of meeting other than God and Jesus?