-February 12, 2022-
Good morning, happy Saturday,
“At the command of the Lord the children of Israel would journey, and at the command of the Lord they would camp; as long as the cloud stayed above the tabernacle they remained encamped.”
(Numbers 9:18).
All through Israel’s journey through the wilderness, which lasted forty years, the Lord’s presence was with them in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire at night. The Lord told them to stay where they were encamped until the cloud or the fire moved. When it moved, they had to pack up the tabernacle and all their possessions and moved on. Even if they stayed a long while in one spot, or were there a short time, they waited on the Lord for the Lord’s guidance.
Numbers 9:19-20 says, “Even when the cloud continued long, many days above the tabernacle, the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not journey. So it was, when the cloud was above the tabernacle a few days: according to the command of the Lord they would remain encamped, and according to the command of the Lord they would journey.” Obedience was the key to following the Lord’s guidance. Often, our flesh wants to run ahead of the Lord and take action on our own or to lag behind when the Lord shows us to move forward.
In Psalm 32:8-9 tells us, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.” The horse is strong and impulsive and must be held back. This teaches is to surrender to the Lord’s will and not move until He directs to. The mule is stubborn and must be prodded to get going. We too can be stubborn and resist the Lord’s will. In both cases the Lord is patient with us.
In the NT we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He leads us through prayer, the Word of God, godly counsel, circumstances, and other people. It takes much patience and grace to sit still, listen to the Lord, and not step out until it is God’s will. We don’t see a visible cloud or fire to guide us. God is never in a hurry. We may have to wait days, weeks, months, or even years. God’s ways are not our ways, neither are His thoughts our thoughts.
There is a wonderful Christian song by the Maranatha singers that says, “I must wait wait wait on the Lord. I must wait wait wait on the Lord and learn my lessons well in His timing He will tell me what to do where to go and what to say.” There is so much to learn in patiently waiting on the Lord. We may get too comfortable and God wants to move us, or we may get tired of where we are. It may be regarding a job or promotion, getting married, having children, or any other decision.
May the Lord help us to follow His guidance. There is no safer or better place than in the center of God’s will. Let us learn to wait on Him to lead us. The hymn writer Fanny Crosby wrote, “All the way the Savior leads me —What have I to ask besides? Can I doubt His tender mercy, who through life has been my guide? Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell! For I know, whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.”
Have a blessed day waiting patiently on the Lord and His guidance. He will lead us, we must obey and follow Him. Stay safe and healthy.
In His grace and guidance,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 