Hebrews 11:39-40 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Chapter 11 of Hebrews is that faith chapter. Listed therein is a long line of men and women who displayed faith. Referenced were many others whose examples were only hinted at in order to keep that epistle shorter than the Old Testament itself. Great men and women of faith who by all rights can declare mightier works by faith than I can, for sure. Yet they received not THE promise. I emphasize THE because there are many promises of God but THE promise here referred to is only one and that being the greatest.

So how does this reflect on clouds? Having read Hebrews, do you not know what follows?

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Rain is not provided without clouds. This great cloud of witness that encompass us round about are the vehicle of that rain. Their faith is a sign of the promise of rain. We who live in the better thing God has provided cannot flow as rivers of living waters without that rain. Whereas we do not see the Son in these times, it is the Son who is seated above who has caused those clouds to grow to so great a height that they can no longer withhold the rain.

While they could not be perfect without us, neither can we be perfected without them.