And God Led the Way
Scripture: Numbers 9:16-22
This was the regular pattern—at night the cloud that covered the Tabernacle had the appearance of fire. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. 18 In this way, they traveled and camped at the Lord’s command wherever he told them to go. Then they remained in their camp as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle. 19 If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed and performed their duty to the Lord. 20 Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days, as the Lord commanded. Then at the Lord’s command they would break camp and move on. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and lifted the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and moved on. 22 Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on..."
Observations:
In the wilderness, the Israelites made it a regular practice to be near the Presence of God, who manifested Himself over the Tabernacle in the form of either a cloud or a pillar of fire show let them know that He was with them. Every time God was ready to lead them in a new direction, the entire group picked up everything they owned (houses, families, sheep, belongings, and the house of God) and they made a conscious choice to follow wherever God led them. Some days God's Presence moved and remained in one place for a week; other times a month, or a year; sometimes only a day! But for some reason, the people of God thought it worth the effort to physically move from place to place and endure the inconvenience and hassle that went along with it, simply to stay close to God.
Application:
There's nothing in life more important than God's Presence. Today, because of Christ, God's Presence dwells in each of us through the Holy Spirit and makes a relationship with God possible. But even though we no longer need clouds or fire to recognize God's leading, one thing we can always be assured is that God has called each of us to follow Him regardless of the cost even to the point of laying down our lives (Matthew 16:24). But since the overwhelming majority of our days won't require out right martyrdom, if we truly desire to live in relationship with Christ, we must always be ready and willing to "deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow [Him]" no matter how, where, or when He asks us to: go, share, change, give, surrender, repent, forgive, commit, etc. There's really no price we will ever pay that will not be well worth being near to God and being obedient to His will. While His will may often be out of our way or directly opposed to our own plans, we must always return to the place where we genuinely pray, "not my will, but Yours be done."
Prayer:
Father, thank You for the privilege we have to draw close to You and for Your Spirit to dwell in us. We give you control over all we are today and ask for nothing more than to live in obedience to Your will. We choose today to follow You no matter what the cost. Let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done in our lives today. Amen.
Daily Bible Reading Plan
This was the regular pattern—at night the cloud that covered the Tabernacle had the appearance of fire. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. 18 In this way, they traveled and camped at the Lord’s command wherever he told them to go. Then they remained in their camp as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle. 19 If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed and performed their duty to the Lord. 20 Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days, as the Lord commanded. Then at the Lord’s command they would break camp and move on. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and lifted the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and moved on. 22 Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on..."
Observations:
In the wilderness, the Israelites made it a regular practice to be near the Presence of God, who manifested Himself over the Tabernacle in the form of either a cloud or a pillar of fire show let them know that He was with them. Every time God was ready to lead them in a new direction, the entire group picked up everything they owned (houses, families, sheep, belongings, and the house of God) and they made a conscious choice to follow wherever God led them. Some days God's Presence moved and remained in one place for a week; other times a month, or a year; sometimes only a day! But for some reason, the people of God thought it worth the effort to physically move from place to place and endure the inconvenience and hassle that went along with it, simply to stay close to God.
Application:
There's nothing in life more important than God's Presence. Today, because of Christ, God's Presence dwells in each of us through the Holy Spirit and makes a relationship with God possible. But even though we no longer need clouds or fire to recognize God's leading, one thing we can always be assured is that God has called each of us to follow Him regardless of the cost even to the point of laying down our lives (Matthew 16:24). But since the overwhelming majority of our days won't require out right martyrdom, if we truly desire to live in relationship with Christ, we must always be ready and willing to "deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow [Him]" no matter how, where, or when He asks us to: go, share, change, give, surrender, repent, forgive, commit, etc. There's really no price we will ever pay that will not be well worth being near to God and being obedient to His will. While His will may often be out of our way or directly opposed to our own plans, we must always return to the place where we genuinely pray, "not my will, but Yours be done."
Prayer:
Father, thank You for the privilege we have to draw close to You and for Your Spirit to dwell in us. We give you control over all we are today and ask for nothing more than to live in obedience to Your will. We choose today to follow You no matter what the cost. Let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done in our lives today. Amen.
Daily Bible Reading Plan
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