In the Cleft of the Rock
The imagery of the Cleft of the Rock, has inspired Christian
hymn writers, and we all can think of the notable hymn, “Rock of Ages.” God
is transcendent, and He provides, a means for His people
to experience His presence, safety, and care.
And the LORD said, “Here is a
place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory
passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you
with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall
see My back; but My face shall not be seen”;
Ex. 33: 22.
The cleft of the rock symbolizes a
place of safety, harmlessness, security, well-being, welfare and protection. In
the harsh, grating, grinding, raspy, strident and rugged terrain of the Sinai
Peninsula, a cleft would provide shelter from the elements of demolition,
felling, dismantling, ruination and destruction.
This is a very beautiful, vivid, graphic, realistic, striking and endearing image. This is because one can be protected both by the hand of God and hidden away in the rock of refuge. This sort of protection can only be provided by God.
Strong's Hebrew: 5357. נְקִיק (naqiq) -- Cleft, crevice, fissure
The word
denotes natural crevices, ravines and clefts characteristic of Israel’s
limestone terrain. Such fissures provided shade, shelter and hiding places for
humans and animals.[i]
Strong's Greek: 803. ἀσφάλεια (asphaleia) -- Security,
safety, …
ἀσφάλεια gathers the ideas of firmness, reliability, and immunity from
threat. In Scripture it moves along two main axes: (1) material or
circumstantial security and (2) intellectual or spiritual …[ii]
We humans after the Fall in the
Garden, are not able to protect ourselves, with our ingenuity. With the
promises and special protection, God
rewarded the desire of Moses to see His glory as much as humanly possible. This
demonstrates that God rewards the seeking heart; anyone who wants to follow Him
in Christ Jesus. This is the marvelous
experience for Moses. But, this cannot be compared to the revelation of
God given to us in Jesus Christ for us in the New Testament.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are
not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both
soul and body in hell; Matt. 10: 28.
Strong's Greek: 5590. ψυχή (psuché) -- Soul, life, self, inner being
5590 psyxḗ
(from psyxō, "to breathe, blow" which is the root of the English words "psyche,"
"psychology") – soul (psyche); a person's …[iii]
Strong's Hebrew: soul - Bible Hub
Strong's
Hebrew: 5315. נָ֫פֶשׁ (nephesh) -- a soul,
living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion. ...[iv]
Soul and the body are two distinct
principles. Everyone can see our body, but not our soul which is the immaterial
part of the body. Soul is the intellectual property endowed to humanity. It
consists of mind (our thoughts), will, intellect,
emotions, volitions and the choices we make. Heart and the brain can think and this constitutes
the thought processes. No wonder the thief wanted to plunder our souls which is
the intellectual property endowed to humanity from above!
The body may be slain and the soul escapes; and the soul
being immaterial the murderers of the body are not able, to have power, to
injure it. Our soul can be secure in the Lord if we are in Christ.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind; Matt 22: 37.
The discovery that the heart has an
intrinsic nervous system — sometimes called the “heart’s little brain” —
challenges the belief that thinking only happens in the head. These sensory
neurites don’t just receive commands; they process information and initiate responses. They influence how the autonomic nervous system behaves, and therefore
how the entire body perceives the world.[v]
“If we pollute that
wellspring, the infection will spread; before long, hidden appetites will
become open sins and public shame.” (Wiersbe)
It is worth noting, the Greek words for mind.
Strong's Greek: 3563. νοῦς (nous) -- Mind, understanding, intellect
Strong’s
Greek 3563 (νοῦς, nous) designates the seat of thought, perception, judgment,
purpose, and moral reasoning. It embraces …[vi]
Strong's Greek: 1271. διάνοια (dianoia) -- Mind, understanding, thought
...
Strong’s
1271 (διάνοια) embraces the inner faculty of perception, reflection and moral
judgment. It may be rendered “mind,” …[vii]
Now look at
the Hebrew word for mind; Pleaser note that heart and mind are interchangeably used,
and it is our pattern of thought,
perception and reflection with understanding.
Strong's Hebrew: 3820. לֵב (leb) -- heart, hearts, mind
לֵב (leb)
-- heart, hearts, mind.[viii]
The heart-brain connection represents a
fundamental aspect of our physiology, with the heart’s rhythm playing a pivotal
role in shaping brain function. This connection not only influences our
emotional and cognitive experiences but also opens new avenues for
understanding how different bodily systems interact.[ix]
Recent studies show that the heart contains nerve cells and plays a crucial role in mental health, particularly in the coexistence of cardiovascular and mental illnesses. Researchers propose that every physical change, like a heartbeat, is linked to a mental process, forming integrated brain-body states that affect emotions and stress levels.[x]
*[ For further clarification please visit the following 2 blogs: Matter of the heart is heart itself and Personal inside of e believer vs. nonbeliever: Diagrams]*
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of
it are the issues of life; Prov. 4: 23.
“As Satan keeps special
watch here, so must we keep special watch as well. If the citadel is taken, the
whole town must surrender. If the heart is captured, the whole man—affections,
desires, motives, pursuits—will be handed over.” (Bridges)
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Matt. 15: 19.
They aren’t accidents or mere
“mistakes”; they reveal how corrupt we are in our fallen nature. “The heart is the source of man’s true character, and therefore of his
purity or impurity…it is not merely the seat of emotion, but the true person as
he really is, not just as he appears outwardly.” (France)
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people; Jer. 31: 33.
“These four things are happening at the same time, whenever God draws near to his people – revealing and concealing, blessing and protecting, all happening together at one and the same time. You cannot separate these things.” (Lloyd-Jones)[xi]
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and
we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of
grace and truth; Jn. 1: 14.
God is grace, and truth. Not one without the other. Not the other apart from the one. In His government there can be no lowering of the simple and severe standard of Truth; and there is no departure from the purpose and passion of Grace.” (Morgan)
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a
mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from
glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord; 2 Cori. 3: 18.
When we turn to our Lord, God
removes the veil because of His tremendous grace, and His promises are true. Our
faces would be greatly illuminated strongly
by the light of Christ; which will change our lives, us from the
inside out.
There may be another thought here
also: “Now as mirrors, among the Jews, Greeks, and Romans, were
made of highly polished metal, it would often happen, especially
in strong light, that the face would be greatly illuminated by
this strongly reflected light; and to this circumstance the
apostle seems here to allude.” (Clarke)
Strong's Greek: 3339. μεταμορφόω (metamorphoó) -- To transform, to ...
Summary
Strong’s Greek 3339 charts a movement from sight of divine glory to sharing in
that glory. It anchors sanctification in …[xii]
The best and the most enduring
change comes to a person through Christ and His Spirit alone; and this depends
on the time he/she spends with the Lord. We are being transformed; and this
process of transformation is called ‘metamorphosis’.
And I will give them one heart, and I will put a
new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and
will give them an heart of flesh: Ez. 11: 19.
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life; Jn. 6: 63.
The term "cleft of the rock" appears in the Bible
as a significant symbol of divine protection, refuge, and revelation. It is
most notably referenced in the Old Testament, where it serves as a powerful
metaphor for God's sheltering presence and the intimate encounters between God
and His people; - Topical Encyclopedia.
O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely; Sn. Sol. 2: 14.
The cleft of the rock symbolized in Song of Solomon is a
place of intimacy and seclusion. This is the place where the beloved seeks the full
presence and beauty of his bride. This is the imagery often interpreted for
Christ and His Bride. In Christian marriages, we are called to be imitators of
this love.
The representation of Christ's love for His Church, has an intoxicating effect on believers; to have a deeper relationship with Christ in His Spirit. The symbol and theme navigated throughout conveys, divine protection, intimacy, and revelation: In the Cleft of the Rock!
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest
prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth; 3 Jn.
2.
[i] Hebrew word for cleft - Search
[ii] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com ›
greek
[v]
The Heart
That Thinks Before the Brain
The Heart That Thinks Before the Brain -
drtraster.substack.com
Nov 7, 2025 · The discovery that the heart has an intrinsic nervous system — sometimes called the “heart’s little brain” — challenges …
[vii] I.Bid.; Greek word
for mind - Search
[x] The heart thinks along with the mind |
Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
Sep 25,
2025 · There is growing evidence that the heart, which also contains nerve
cells, has a strong influence on thinking and feeling.
[xi]
https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/exodus-33/
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