Numbers 9:15-19 - On the day the
tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till
morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. That is how it continued to be; the cloud
covered it, and at night it looked like fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from
above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud
settled, the Israelites encamped. At the LORD's command the Israelites set out,
and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the
tabernacle, they remained in camp. When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a
long time, the Israelites obeyed the LORD's order and did
not set out.
It must have been an amazing thing to look
upon…this pillar of a cloud that contained God’s very presence. How comforted
they must have been by God’s presence in the middle of the camp. They could
look up at any time during the day and see the pillar of a cloud resting on the
tabernacle…and as they settled in to rest and sleep for the next day’s work…they
could but look toward the tabernacle and see the glow from the pillar…transformed
at night to look like a glowing fire.
They camped and moved at the command of the
Lord….asking no questions…they just knew they had to follow the cloud…to obey
the God who had brought them out of captivity in Egypt. It didn’t matter…one
night….two days…a week…a year…they settled when the cloud stopped…and moved
when the cloud moved. They packed and moved when the cloud moved…unpacked and
camped when the cloud stopped.
I couldn’t help but think that life would
be easier if I had my own pillar of cloud to follow. God knows how much I
struggle with knowing whether or not I am just where he needs me to be. I am beginning
to believe that my struggle with where to be…is just Satan…the author of confusion…who
convinces me to chase rabbits…just to get me off track what God wants me to do.
I guess what it really boils down to is that I just have not learned to use
what he did give me….when he rose to his father in Heaven and gave us the Holy
Spirit to guide and direct our movements here on Earth.
God manifested himself to Jesus as a dove
when he was baptized into his ministry. The Spirit walked with him and helped
him to have the courage to complete the hard task of dying on that cross for
our sins. Jesus prayed and spoke with
his father often…and he called on the many scriptures he had studied and placed
permanently in his heart as a child. And
as Jesus spoke with the disciples after his resurrection...his words to all of
us were recorded John 14:26 … “But the Counselor, the
Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things
and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
Father…I thank you once again for reminding
me that you are always with me…that you have sent your spirit to live within my
heart and guide me in my daily tasks. Help me to learn to use it more
completely…to learn to listen to the soft voice of God as he speaks through his
comforter. Help me to pray for your guidance and place more of your word inside
my heart permanently…so I can more quickly decide what you have planned for me
to do. Teach me father…all things…especially how to recognize Satan the next
time he waves a rabbit in my face that looks like something you want me to do.
Help me to be that turtle…and wait on you to move that cloud…so I will follow
you…and be exactly where you want me to be. Amen.
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