God's glory in Israel's history was His visible presence that set Israel apart as His covenant people.
God's glory appeared as the cloud and pillar of fire that led Israel, protected them at the Red Sea, and filled the tabernacle. It also descended on Mount Sinai in fire and thunder when God called Israel into covenant relationship as His peculiar treasure. Les Feldick teaches that this visible presence was unique to Israel and demonstrated God's sovereign choice of the nation.
Exodus 19:5 — God tells Israel that if they obey His covenant they will be a peculiar treasure above all people, showing the covenant context in which His glory appeared at Sinai.
Isaiah 66:22 — God promises Israel's seed and name will remain in the new heavens and new earth, showing that the significance of Israel's heritage is permanent.
The Bible records the covenant offer God made to Israel at Sinai: "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine" (Exodus 19:5). In that same context, God's presence came down on the mountain in fire and thunder, and the cloud of His glory later filled the tabernacle. This visible manifestation of God's presence was tied directly to Israel's identity as His chosen people. The Scriptures also promise continuity for Israel: "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain" (Isaiah 66:22). This promise indicates that Israel's standing before God is not temporary, even though the glory-filled cloud of the wilderness era is not visible in the same way today.
Les emphasizes that God's glory was not a distant idea. The cloud that led Israel was "the very presence of the glory of God" and is called the Shekinah glory. It was the same cloud that stood between Israel and the Egyptians at the Red Sea, became a pillar of fire at night, and later came to rest over the Holy of Holies and filled the tabernacle. Les says the cloud was not an accident; it was the absolute presence of God and served as Israel's guiding light as they traveled. At Sinai, Les points to fire and thunder on the mountain and notes that rocks there show evidence of a unique burn, backing the biblical account. That revelation of God's glory accompanied God setting Israel apart. Les explains that Exodus 19 shows God lifting Israel out of the mainstream of humanity to place them in covenant relationship as His favored people. The temple and the Law were all part of this same heritage; the Law was given only to Israel, not to the Gentiles. Les also contrasts that past display with the present: because Israel is so far from God today, there is no way God could manifest His presence with them as He did in earlier times. Yet Israel's position is permanent—Les points to Isaiah 66:22 to show that Israel's seed and name will remain before God even in the new heavens and new earth.
Les teaches that the cloud over the tabernacle was not a weather phenomenon but the very presence of God. The same cloud that protected Israel from the Egyptians at the Red Sea and became a pillar of fire at night later settled over the Holy of Holies and filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud lifted, Israel moved; whenever it stopped, they camped and set the tabernacle so the Holy of Holies was under the cloud.
Les says God brought Israel to Mount Sinai and manifested Himself with fire and thunder on the mountain. He points to burned rock formations there as evidence that the biblical fire was real. At the same time, God offered Israel the covenant of Law, telling them that if they obeyed, they would be a peculiar treasure above all people (Exodus 19:5).
Les is clear that Israel's present condition is not the same as the exodus or tabernacle days. Because Israel is so far from God, there is no way God could manifest His presence with them as He did then. But the promise of Israel's future remains: their seed and name will stay before God in the new heavens and new earth.
Israel's Perpetual Heritage
Les reads Isaiah 66:22 to show that Israel's seed and name will remain before God in the new heavens and new earth, proving that God's covenant purpose for Israel is permanent.
The Cloud as Shekinah Glory
Les explains that the cloud over the tabernacle was the very presence of God's glory, the Shekinah glory, and that the same cloud protected Israel from the Egyptians and became the pillar of fire by night.
The Cloud as God's Guidance
Les teaches that the cloud was the absolute presence of God, resting over the Holy of Holies and guiding Israel's movement whenever it lifted and stopped.
Temple and Law as Israel's Heritage
Les connects the permanent temple built by Solomon and the giving of the Law to Israel's heritage, noting that the Law was given only to the nation of Israel.
Sinai's Fiery Revelation
Les describes God's manifestation at Mount Sinai with fire and thunder, citing burned rock formations as evidence that God's glory was truly present there.
A Distant Presence Today
Les contrasts the tabernacle era with the present, explaining that because Israel is far from God today, His presence will not manifest over their temple as it did in earlier days.
The Favored Covenant Nation
Les teaches that God sovereignly set Israel above all other nations as the chosen, favored covenant people, giving them a unique role in God's program for humanity.
The Covenant of a Peculiar Treasure
Les reads Exodus 19 and explains that God lifted Israel out of the mainstream of humanity and placed them into covenant relationship as His favored, chosen people.
Exodus 19:5: Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
This verse is the covenant context for God's glory at Sinai and shows why Israel's position was unique among nations.
Isaiah 66:22: For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
This promise shows that Israel's identity and covenant standing will endure into the eternal future.
According to Les Feldick, the Shekinah glory was the visible presence of God in the cloud that filled the tabernacle. In the wilderness it appeared as the pillar of fire and the cloud that protected Israel from the Egyptians at the Red Sea.
Yes. Les explains that the Law was never given to the Gentiles; it was given to the nation of Israel, although its obligation covered the whole human race.
No. Les points to Isaiah 66:22, where God says Israel's seed and name will remain before Him even in the new heavens and new earth.
Watch the Teaching: 8 Privileges God Gave Only to Israel — Romans 9:4 Explained