Have you ever gotten a notification on a device that you’re running low on, or ran completely out of, storage space in “the cloud?”
Numbers chapter 9 has an amazing story about a cloud—well before the days of the Internet and file sharing!
On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. 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 (Number 9:15-17).
This was the most wonderful and important cloud ever. It was the cloud of the presence of God that hovered like a covering over the tabernacle. This cloud was a visible sign that the Lord God Almighty, the Creator and ruler of all that is, had set his love on these people and had chosen to dwell with them.
The Lord of lords would not be a distant monarch with little attachment to his people. No, he chose them so he could be with them. The glory of his presence, therefore, hovered above the tabernacle, a constant reminder of the amazing grace of his presence.
But it is important to recognize that the cloud above the tabernacle was not just a cloud of presence; it was also a cloud of guidance. The God who dwelled with his people was the supreme guide of his people.
The cloud of God’s pres¬ence wasn’t stationary. It moved, and, when it moved, the people of God were called to follow and move with it. They had to disassemble the tabernacle and their personal dwelling places, pack up their things, and follow.
This cloud of presence and guidance moved not at a regular or predictable pace but according to the will of the Lord. When he decided to move, his people had to willingly move with him. When the cloud remained, they had to stay in that place.
The children of Israel were called not only to celebrate the presence of the Lord but also to submit to his guidance: “At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out” (9:23).
The guidance of the cloud wasn’t advice. The movement of the cloud represented the command of the Lord. For the children of Israel, the way to recognize and celebrate the Lord’s presence was to follow his commands. The cloud represented not only the grace of his presence but also the call to submit to his rule.
The grand mystery of the Christian life is that we celebrate the grace of God’s love and presence and accept his claim on our lives and the call to submit—at all times and in every way—to his commands.
The way to live in light of the grace of the constant presence of the Lord is to willingly and joyfully submit to his commands.
A Prayer for Today: Lord, may I be a person who willingly and joyfully submits to all of your commands. Even when I don’t understand what you may be doing or where you may be calling me in the future, may I always trust you and the good plan you have for me and the trajectory of my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
P.S. – you may have noticed that the last four weeks have come sequentially from the first four books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. Each of these Wednesday’s Words have been adapted from my new devotional, Everyday Gospel.
I wrote a new 365-day devotional, like New Morning Mercies, but with a twist—or, a bonus. Everyday Gospel follows a Bible-in-a-year reading plan, and each of my entries is inspired by the assigned Scripture reading for the day.
If you read Everyday Gospel while following the Bible reading plan, you will journey from Genesis all the way through Revelation. Get a copy of Everyday Gospel for yourself and others and join me as we discover how all of Scripture connects to all of life!
You can get Everyday Gospel as a stand-alone book, or the Everyday Gospel Bible embeds all 365 of these entries directly into an ESV version. The Everyday Gospel Bible also includes introductions to each book of the Bible, plus 120 sidebar comments throughout and topic articles at the back. Today’s Wednesday’s Word pulled some of that from my summary of Leviticus.
Discussion Prompt for Children:
• How can we know that God is always with us? How does it make you feel, knowing that the Lord is always with you and always cares about you?
• Why do you think it’s important for us to trust where God is leading and guiding us as his children?
• Why is a command different from advice?
Reflection Questions
1. Today, why don’t we need a cloud of God’s presence to show us that he is always near? How does God communicate his nearness to us now? In what ways have you felt or seen his nearness in your life? Be specific.
2. In what ways does the behavior of the people of God (by always following the cloud) disciple you and help you understand how you should respond to God’s guidance? How does God demonstrate his guidance for us today?
3. In what areas of your life is it difficult for you to submit to the guidance and calling of God? Why is it hard for you in those specific areas? How is your personal submission to God and his authority actually a grace in your life?
4. Where might God currently be calling you to “camp” and where might he be calling you to “set out”? Take a minute to pray and ask God for guidance and grace as he directs both the big and small aspects of your life, and pray for the grace to submit to his call and direction as you move forward each day under his love and care.
