Numbers 9:15-23
The Cloud and the Fire (Exodus 13:21, 22; 40:34–38)
15 Now on the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the Testimony; from evening until morning it was above the tabernacle like the appearance of fire. 16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. 17 Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, after that the children of Israel would journey; and in the place where the cloud settled, there the children of Israel would pitch their tents. 18 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. 19 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.
20 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. 21 So it was, when the cloud remained only from evening until morning: when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they would journey; whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud was taken up, they would journey. 22 Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey.
23 At the command of the LORD they remained encamped, and at the command of the LORD they journeyed; they kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
The people of God followed Him at His leading in His time, patiently dismantling, packing up, and picking up the mobile tabernacle-temple and moving to where He guided them in the same cloud (Exodus 13:21-22) that led them safely out of Egyptian bondage through the Red Sea of their baptism (1 Corinthians 10:1-2) into Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4) who was with them through their journeys. He hovered over the tabernacle at all times just as His Spirit did in the beginning of creation (Genesis 1:1-2). The LORD covered that holy place of atonement with that constant cloud in the daytime which became like fire at night so they could always see that and be reminded of His presence with them to lead them through their sojourning until they reached the promised land. Likewise we have His Spirit living in us to lead (Isaiah 30:21) our feet in the direction He desires for us to travel in our lives with Christ. We also can learn from this time how we are to rely on His presence to find rest and assurance of our calling and election (2 Peter 1:10) and find the strength and confidence to follow wherever and whenever He leads us by His divine command and unction. We may stay in a place for years or even weeks before we are led as Israel was with Moses in this time, but we should learn to trust and follow along life’s narrow path either way at His command as they did by keeping their eyes on the cloud and fire of His presence and guidance. Are we willing to follow Jesus Christ like this (Matthew 16:24, John 10:27, 12:26) by God’s leading?
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