A GUIDING PRESENCE

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

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. Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the Lord's command they would encamp, and then at His command they would set out. Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out.

Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. At the Lord's command they encamped, and at the Lord's command they set out. They obeyed the Lord's order, in accordance with his command through Moses.

Numbers 9:15-23

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

The people of Israel had been counted, organized in tribes for encampment around the tabernacle, and spiritually led by the Levites who were assigned for their duties by God. As we see in today’s passage and our continued study of Numbers, chapter 9, it was time for the Israelites to journey from Sinai to the Promised Land of Canaan.

Up to this point, we have seen the Lord provide His people all the guidance they needed to live the way He expected and they would now put it into practice as they journeyed. But there was only one issue. The Israelites needed directions to where God wanted them to be.

Enter God and His holy guidance system that had a special cloud at its heart, a cloud that was nothing short of holy.

As we see in our passage for today, this divine, holy cloud that covered the tabernacle (or Tent of the Testimony) looked like any other cloud during the day but when night came, it transformed to look like fire, a fire that would light up the dark sky. This ensured that God’s place of worship would never be in the dark.

Okay, so how would the Israelites know when to move?

The scriptures tell us that this happened whenever the "cloud lifted from above the Tent", a signal for God’s people to follow the cloud until it settled. At that location, the Israelites would set up camp and remain there "as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle". They wouldn’t pick up and set out again until the cloud once again lifted and moved them to the next stopping point,

In essence, we need to see that the Lord was guiding every step of His people, expecting that they would remain obedient to His leading.

Today, we may not have a cloud that helps lead us from place to place or tells us what to do but we do have the Lord’s Holy Spirit dwelling within that serves the same purpose, to be a guiding presence for all believers. Here’s what God’s word tells us about this guiding Spirit:

"…do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit." Mark 13:11

"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:20-21

Here we see how the Holy Spirit can help us find the right words to say as we journey through each day the Lord has granted. I don’t know about you but I find this to be a great comfort to know the Lord is willing to place His words in our mouths to make sure we speak in ways that honor and glorify Him.

Perhaps there is no time that this is more important than when we are boldly going forth to minister in the Lord’s name. Although sometimes answering this call to evangelism can be scary, we gain courage and strength through knowing that we aren’t carrying out our Great Commission responsibilities on our own. This is because Jesus promised His followers that He would be with them until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20b) and through the Holy Spirit, He always makes good on that promise. Look at these additional words from our Savior:

"All this I have spoken while still with you. 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." John 14:25-26

Friends, when it comes right down to it, life is one big learning process and the only way we can stay ahead of the learning curve is to surrender to the Lord’ will and way through the Holy Spirit who illuminates all things, whether when we’re reading the scriptures or praying over matters we need help with. Through it all, we learn that our Lord is always there to guide, teach, and lead us, all the while reminding us of all that Christ commanded.

"God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and Savior that He might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him." Acts 5:31-32

The scriptures are clear that the moment anyone places their belief in Jesus, they receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Like the disciples on Pentecost, this activation allows a Christian to be able to go forth and effectively make disciples, just as Christ commanded (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus affirmed this before His ascension in the first chapter of the Book of Acts:

“So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:6-8

With this, do you feel and sense the Spirit’s leading within your life?

My prayer is that you have fully felt His guiding presence in your life, a presence that ensures you are pursuing the Lord’s desires instead of your own. For the truth of the matter is that without the Spirit, we are powerless but through Him, we can do all things because of Christ who strengthens and empowers us by His Spirit, the Spirit he sent to us (Philippians 4:13).

Indeed, the Holy Spirit is a rich gift and blessing from the Lord, one that helps us guard the Gospel which God entrusts to all who believe in His Son. Consider these words from Second Timothy, chapter 1:

"What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." 2 Timothy 1:13-14

Brothers and sisters, Satan would like nothing more than to steal away us the Gospel message which includes God’s plan for salvation, the “good deposit” that He has implanted into our hearts and minds. This includes the “the pattern of sound teaching” grounded in “faith and love in Christ Jesus”. People go to great lengths to protect their worldly treasures but what we’re reading about in these passages is something of immeasurable wealth and worth, something we should protect with all that we are, no matter the cost.

In the scriptures for today, we saw how the Lord showed the Israelites that He was willing to guide and lead them to the place He wanted them to be. All they needed to be was obedient to Him.

Today, nothing has changed except the means by which the Lord is leading and guiding His people. And while we aren’t moving or staying put in tandem with a cloud, we are directed by something even better, the Holy Spirit who always leads us in the ways of Jesus, the One who is the Way and the Truth and the Life. both now and forever.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.