Numbers 9:15-23 On the day that
the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the
testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of
fire until morning. (16) So it was always: the cloud covered it by day
and the appearance of fire by night. (17) And whenever the cloud lifted from over the
tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud
settled down, there the people of Israel camped. (18)
At the command of the LORD the people of Israel set out, and at the
command of the LORD they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the
tabernacle, they remained in camp. (19) Even when the cloud continued over the
tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the LORD and did
not set out. (20) Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the
tabernacle, and according to the command of the LORD they remained in camp;
then according to the command of the LORD they set out. (21)
And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when
the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and
a night, when the cloud lifted they set out.
(22) Whether it was two days, or
a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle,
abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but
when it lifted they set out. (23) At the command of the LORD they camped, and
at the command of the LORD they set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at
the command of the LORD by Moses.
Once more we have the recording of
the cloud and the pillar of fire appearing above the tabernacle. The people of
Israel would have a daily reminder of God’s presence amongst them, a reminder
that would have greatly encouraged and reassured them. What did they need to
fear when they had the presence of the living God amongst them?
The pillar of cloud and fire had more
than one purpose, for it was also the means by which God led the people on
their journey to the Promised Land. When the pillar of cloud or fire rose up
from over the tabernacle the people knew it was time to move, to journey closer
to the land. Every time the pillar came to a rest, they would stop in that
place, set up camp and remain there until the pillar rose up again.
Why did God use such a means to guide
the people? I believe there are two reasons. Firstly, it was a means through
which God reminded the people of Israel that He was their leader, they were to
listen to His voice and to walk in the way that He led them in. One would hope
that after having done this for the entire journey from Egypt to Israel, these
principles would have been firmly imbedded in their minds and lives. Its
purpose was to teach this truth to the people so that when they did live in the
land, and the pillar was no longer visible, they would continue to look to God.
They were to look to God, and they were to walk in the way God set out for
them.
In all likelihood there would have
been some amongst the Israelites who would have known the way to the Promised Land,
it is not as though they had no clue as to where they were going. They could
have relied upon their own knowledge and taken the route they thought best. But
here they are being taught not to rely upon human strength and wisdom, not to
follow their own ways, but to rely upon God and follow after Him.
Secondly, the pillar rising up,
leading them and settling down again would have taught the people of Israel to
wait upon God and to trust in God’s timing. There would have been some in the
camp who would have thought it best to get to the Promised Land as quickly as
possible, stopping for brief rests and then continuing on. Some may have grown
impatient as to how long they were spending in a certain place, wondering why
they were not going anywhere.
As sinful human beings we can be very
impatient and impulsive, We are not good at sitting and waiting, at being still
and listening for God’s voice to lead and guide us. We want instant results, we
want to get from A to B the quickest way possible, we don’t want to have to
wait years for something, we want it now. However it was vital for the
Israelites to learn to look to God, trust in God and to wait upon God and God’s
timing. When they did finally arrive in the Promised Land they did not find it
completely abandoned and everything left on sliver platters for them. It would
take time, effort, hard work and sacrifice to take possession of the land, and
impatience, impulsiveness would only bring the whole nation into compromise.
They needed to wait upon and look to God, trusting that God would make it clear
to them when and where they were to move.
These are truths that we also need to
learn, for we too can trust more in our own wisdom and ways, than in the way
God desires to lead us. We also are impatient and impulsive, we live expecting
God to keep up with us. We can rush into decisions, situations or sins without
having taken the time to seek after the wisdom and guidance of God. We may not
have a pillar of cloud or fire to guide us, but we do have God’s Word, God’s
Spirit and the gift of prayer. We need to take hold of these means, setting
them before us every day, constantly looking to them, consulting them so that
we might know what God’s will and way for us is and when the time is right for
us to move, or if we need to be still for a little longer. We need to fix our
eyes upon God, rather than allowing our impatience, impulsiveness to get the
better of us and lead us astray.
God is the one who knows both us and
the future completely. We don’t even know what is around the next corner, and
therefore we often make decisions not knowing what their future consequences
are, or if they will lead us in a path that brings us closer to God. Therefore
it is imperative that we spend much time before God in His Word and in prayer,
before we make any decisions, or before we set out on a particular path. We
need to pray for God’s wisdom and guidance, for His peace and protection
against our own foolishness, impatience, impulsiveness and sinfulness, as well
as from the world. Once we have firmly fixed our hearts and minds upon God,
sought Him in prayer and meditated much upon His Word, only then should we set
out on our path, or make our decision, trusting that God will lead us.
All-knowing and all wise Father, we thank You today for You have not left
us to wander through life without any direction, purpose or guidance. Your Word
teaches us that You have marked out the path for us and all of our days are
written in Your book. We pray that You would help us to walk according to the
path You have set out for us, and that we would use Your Word to help us know
the path, for Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. May we
place our trust in You, fix our lives upon You and walk faithfully and
obediently. Encourage us to this task in the difficult times, by reminding us
that Your path is the path to life, joy and peace, Your path leads us into Your
perfect and eternal kingdom. Thank You that we know the end of our journey, but
may we be faithful throughout the journey itself. Amen.
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