“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. So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.” (Numbers 9:15-23 ESV)
The Lord was with the Israelites through a cloud. He told them what to do by the action of the cloud. It it was over the tabernacle, they remained where they were. If it moved, they moved. They focused on that cloud and followed its lead. As Christians, do we have this focus? Do we sit tight and wait on the Lord when we are awaiting an answer? Do we go into action when the answer comes?
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.” (Colossians 1:15-23 ESV)
This passage speaks of Jesus. He has been since the beginning, there at creation, the head of the church, through which all people can be reconciled to the Father through Him. We owe it all to Him. The Israelites followed God through the movement of the cloud. We, as Christians, can follow God, though our faith in Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Lord,
Thank you for always leading up. Help us all to remember to be still when we are in a period of waiting, unable to see what comes next. Help us to also remember that you know what is best for us and to trust that it will all work out for our good and your glory.
~Kellie
Sixty-six books in a year 