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I collect postcards with interesting images on them. One of my favorites is a beautiful green forest in the background with a path at a crossroads. In the foreground is a simple sign that reads “This Way”. Clear, right? Not really. Because the shape of the sign points both left and right, it is hard to know which way we are to go. Ahead? Left? Right? The sign is not very clear. 

Now, imagine a cloud completely filling the sanctuary. Just like the special effects in the movies. It comes from the ark and flows across the altar, slowly filling the space as we watch. We can see the cloud and even see through the cloud in places, but we can also feel it. Not in the same way that we feel the cool dampness of fog, but we can feel a physical presence that pushes against us, gently pushing us out the door of the sanctuary. It follows us outside, and as the sun sets, we can see the cloud begin to glow, not with the reflected light of the sunset, but with a steady internal light.  

We can only imagine this tangible proof of God’s presence, the pillar of cloud that travelled with the Israelites by day and the pillar of fire by night. We know that the cloud has more of a physical presence than just fog because it prevents Moses from entering the Tabernacle, the Mishkan, when it resides there [Exodus 40:35]. This tangible proof of God’s presence with the Israelites was always visible to them and guided them. When the cloud dwelled in the Mishkan, the camp stayed in place, but when the cloud lifted, they knew it was time to pack up and get ready to move. In this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Beha’alotecha we read:  

On the day that the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the Tabernacle, the Tent of the Pact; and in the evening it rested over the Tabernacle in the likeness of fire until morning. It was always so: the cloud covered it, appearing as fire by night. And whenever the cloud lifted from the Tent, the Israelites would set out accordingly; and at the spot where the cloud settled, there the Israelites would make camp… Day or night, whenever the cloud lifted, they would break camp. Whether it was two days or a month or a year – however long the cloud lingered over the Tabernacle – the Israelites remained encamped and did not set out; only when it lifted did they break camp. In a sign from the  Eternal they made camp and on a sign from the  Eternal they broke camp; they observed the  Eternal’s mandate at the  Eternal’s bidding through Moses. [Numbers 9:15-23] 

The Israelites have not only a tangible sign of God’s presence, but also Divine guidance through the wilderness.  

Notwithstanding all the jokes about why they spent 40 years in the wilderness, God is guiding them. In fact, according to Rabbi Samson Rafael Hirsch, that is the whole purpose of the journey, so the Israelites get used to listening to God, even when it seems counter-intuitive. 

So with Divine guidance, would they need to engage the services of a guide? Think back to the sign that I mentioned as I started this evening. The sign is clear and not clear at the same time. 

This week we also read of Moses’ negotiations with Hobab [who may or may not be also known as Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law]. Moses asks Hobab to come with them and share in God’s generosity as they set out for the land. Hobab is reluctant, saying that he wants to go home. Moses then says: 

Please do not leave us, inasmuch as you know where we should camp in the wilderness and can be our guide. So if you come with us, we will extend to you the same bounty that the Eternal grants us. [Numbers 10:31] 

It seems that Moses wants a guide for the journey through the wilderness. In the end, does Hobab join them? We never get an explicit answer. We do know that the Israelites continue their travels. Assuming that Moses has been successful in getting a guide, just who is guiding this group? God or Hobab? 

Both are leading the Israelites through the wilderness. Moses and the Israelites need both Divine guidance and a practical, relatable human guide. They need God to show them where to go in a general way as they form a relationship with God. They need Hobab to show them the details. The pillar of cloud can go everywhere and anywhere. People can’t. The Israelites need Hobab to show them how they will follow the path of the cloud, what dangers to avoid, and everything else that a guide would know.  

In other words, there is a partnership between God and humanity. We need to act as well as trust in God, because we never know when our own actions will be God’s answer to our prayers. We are only human, after all. 

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Watch the entirety of Friday’s service here. 

Temple Talk is a recap of sermons given from the Bimah for those who missed a Sermon or who wanted to revisit the words spoken at a previous sermon.