Guided by a Cloud

Scripture

Numbers 9:15-23

¹⁵On the day the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant; and from evening until morning it was over the tabernacle, having the appearance of fire. ¹⁶It was always so: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. ¹⁷Whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, then the Israelites would set out; and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the Israelites would camp. ¹⁸At the command of the LORD the Israelites would set out, and at the command of the LORD they would camp. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they would remain in camp. ¹⁹Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the Israelites would keep the charge of the LORD, and would not set out. ²⁰Sometimes the cloud would remain a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the LORD they would remain in camp; then according to the command of the LORD they would set out. ²¹Sometimes the cloud would remain from evening until morning; and when the cloud lifted in the morning, they would set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they would set out. ²²Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, resting upon it, the Israelites would remain in camp and would not set out; but when it lifted they would set out. ²³At the command of the LORD they would camp, and at the command of the LORD they would set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by Moses.  (NRSV)

Devotion

Christians often think of Israelites' 40 years in the wilderness as a sort of aimless, non-stop wandering.  That is not what the Bible describes at all.    The Book of Numbers explains that it was a journey of fits and starts as the Israelites learned what it meant to be God's Chosen People.  What's more, God himself led them across the wilderness.  Each morning, the Israelites would look to the tent holding the tabernacle (where God rested each evening).  If the pillar of clouds had moved off of the tent, then they would pack up the camp and follow it.  But if stayed where it was, the people settled in for the day.  They would stay where they were until God showed them where to go next.--even if it took days...or weeks...or months.  They literally traveled not only in the direction that God wanted them to go but at the pace God set.

Such a strange journey must have been hard on people...especially when it seemed as if they were stuck somewhere for a while or as if God had changed the direction they were headed.  But what were they to do?  They were wandering through the wilderness.  They had to trust that God would get them through the wilderness and into the Promised Land.  And so they were patient.  They watched, they waited, and they followed.

I don't know about you, but I have certainly feel like I' am spend a looking to God to lead me through the wilderness.  Our world is full of dangerous situations, difficult issues, and competing claims about what we should do to help and protect one another.  Since February, I have stayed up at night worrying about how to handle a pandemic, systemic racism, car problems, church budget issues, terminal illnesses of people I love, and even the effects of a tornado.  I count myself blessed that there hasn't been even more thrown at me.   With all the problems that keep arising, it can hard to even figure out what to even focus on....much less what to do or where to go. 

Frankly, if I was left to figure things out on my own, I would never make it out of the wilderness. That's why I am so glad that God is here to guide us.  We may not get to see a physical cloud like the Israelites, did, but we have other ways of discerning where God is leading us.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God uses Scripture, prayer, and our connections with one another to show us when to move and where to go.  When we trust God enough to follow his guidance, we will find our way out of the wilderness.

I'm not saying that following God is easy.   We can get frustrated and impatient when we really want to rush forward with something but the the Holy Spirit says to stay where we are for a while.  the Holy We can angry when it seems like God is making us switch directions or leading us somewhere we don't want to go.  All these feelings are part and parcel of being human.  The important things is that even when we don't necessarily like what God is directing us to do, we keep trusting in the Lord.  We may bit understand why God leads us in certain ways, but we can be assured that they will take us to a good destination..

Do you feel as if you are in the wilderness?  Are you unsure of which way to go?  If so, I invite you to look for evidence of God's guidance.  You may not see a pillar of cloud or fire, but the Lord will show you where to go, when to leave, and how to get there.  With God to lead us, we will make it to the Promised Land that awaits us.

Prayer

God, thank you for always being here to guide us.  Help us see the direction you would have us go and trust you enough to follow your will.  May your glory be revealed to us as we continue our journey through life.  Amen.