Exodus 33:9
And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.
As Moses entered the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended and stood at its door or entrance, and the Lord talked with Moses there. The tabernacle was a temporary structure standing outside the camp where the penitent could come to confess sins and seek God's mercy. This meeting came during a crisis for Israel after repeated murmurings, when Moses pleaded to see God's glory and needed assurance that the Lord would go with them, for without God's presence they could expect no victory.
The descending pillar was the visible token and symbol of God's glory, marking God's presence and confirming that God was meeting and communicating with Moses. It was Jesus Christ enshrouded in the pillar of cloud who spoke with Moses from within it, as He had spoken from the burning bush, and the cloud's glory came from Him. The cloud's darkness veiled the brightness of God's presence so that people could endure its manifestation, which was God's way of drawing near to humanity.
The people saw the pillar from their tents and responded with worship, joy, weeping, bowing, and humble reverence. Its appearance assured the repentant people that God had met with Moses and that Moses was pleading for them and his intercession was accepted, giving them hope that they would not be destroyed. The sign set Moses apart from the unfaithful Israelites, to whom God would not reveal Himself in the same way.
The truth given there is to be respected and obeyed, expressing unchangeable principles flowing from the heart of Infinite Love, with only blessings following reverent obedience. The Speaker is the Lord as Judge, Lawgiver, and King under whose watchcare and rule all people stand, so there can be no sinless departure from His principles. The crisis calls for humility rather than hardening the heart against God.