The most important part of the exodus happened when the glory of the Lord filled the Tent of Meeting.
From the beginning, God’s purpose was not only to rescue Israel from slavery. He wanted to bring them into a close relationship with himself. Their greatest need was to know God personally.
Without God’s presence, the promised land would not truly be a place of blessing. But now it would be different. The same glory that appeared on Mount Sinai was now with Israel. It would not stay behind. It would travel with them wherever they went.