Paul told Timothy that God dwells in light unapproachable: whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power eternal. Amen.
Although man cannot see God and live; in Exodus thirty-three, Moses made a request to God: “I beseech Thee, show me Thy glory.”
God said, “Thou canst not see My face: for there shall no man see My face and live.” Then the Almighty said, “Behold there is a place by Me, and thou shalt stand upon a Rock: And it shall come to pass, while My glory passeth by, that I will put thee in the cleft of the rock, and cover thee with My Hand, while I pass by. And I shall take away mine hand, and thou shalt see My back parts: but My face shall not be seen.” As God passed by, Moses saw the departing glory of God.
According to the Apostle John the chief Priests asked of Pilate that the legs of the three on the crosses might be broken to hasten their death. “The soldiers came and brake the legs of the first that were crucified with Him, but when they came to Jesus they saw that He was dead already, and they brake not His legs. Howbeit, one soldier pierced His side and straightway there ran out blood and water.”
It is no stretch of the imagination to say that Jesus is the rock that was cleft for us. Paul referred this in First Corinthians ten: “There was a Rock that followed Israel in the wilderness, and that Rock was Christ.”
Then again Peter referred to Jesus: “A living stone rejected indeed of men, but with God elect and precious.” He also called him a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence, for they stumble at the word being disobedient.
Jesus referred to Himself as the rock when He said, “He that falleth on this stone shall be broken in pieces: and on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.” Then again: “Upon this rock I will build My Church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it,”
Standing in the cleft of that Rock was the only place where Moses could see the departing glory of God. The Christian who accepts the biblical terms of pardon is standing in the cleft of the rock; and as they visualize the opening of the side of Jesus at the communion table; at that time is looking upon the glory of God as much as anyone can see it this side of the Jordan.
Fanny Crosby expressed it well in her well known gospel song: “A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, A wonderful Savior to me He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock where rivers of pleasure I see. He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock that shadows a dry thirsty land; He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock and covers me there with His hand.” As we eat of the loaf and drink of the cup we look upon Him whom they have pierced.