Day 45/365- Number 9:17-23

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 9:17-23 ESV)

This has always been one of my favorite passages. I can't imagine what it would have been like to have seen this. How simple was this? When God's presence moved, they did. When his presence stayed, they stayed. Whatever he did, they did. This was so obvious & seems to be easy to follow. Can you imagine setting everything up & then moving the next day?

I get jealous of OT people sometimes. It seems like their access to God was so much greater than ours. God met with Moses face to face. God spoke to his people audibly. God's presence led them so obviously. I mean, can you imagine trying to pick a school & just waiting for the presence of God to hover over the right one? Or what about a spouse? When you see the cloud resting over that person, you just go for it. What about that job offer? Over & over again I get jealous about how the presence of God led his people.

And then I remember. I have the same thing. Actually, maybe better. Jesus said in the gospels that it was to the advantage of the disciples if he went away. Advantage? What kind of advantage is that? How is that positive? How in the world can that be good?

It was to their advantage because when he went away, he was going to send his Spirit to dwell not just with his people but IN them!

If they were here I'm pretty sure that these OT people would be jealous of us! The Holy Spirit is so under appreciated, under trusted, & under loved in the lives of Christians. How do we choose that school? How do we choose our spouse? How do we follow God's leadership?

We move when he does. We stay when he does. We simply must obey the Spirit inspired Word & the Spirit of God living inside of us. Easy? No! But if we would trust & look to the Holy Spirit more we would see God's direction more clearly in our lives.