In All Their Journeys

In All Their Journeys

And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.

                                                                                                            …Exodus 40:36-37

            “I am moving North today no matter what Moses says!  We have been in this desert long enough!  Pull up stakes woman! We’re getting out of here!” 

            Can you see someone trying to leave when it wasn’t time to pull up stakes?  I get restless at times and get ahead of God.  If we are honest with ourselves, most of us have one day or another.  Tugging on the tent material would be my first step, then pulling up the stakes and packing them in back packs for the journey. How did we get so much stuff?   

            “Gather up some of that quail and manna for our trip!” Bill said. 

            “But Bill, God instructed through Moses to not gather manna for the next day, that he would provide enough for us each morning.” 

            “Well there might not be any out where we are going!” He hurriedly adds, “I ‘m sure He will understand.”

            Questioning him further, “But what about the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, those can’t be duplicated?”

            Why would we think we’d act any differently than the Children of Israel?  We grumble and complain so much like they did. 

            When the cloud by day or pillar of fire by night moved, so would the Children of Israel, and not until then. When God acted …the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: No picking up stakes and moving onward was allowed without God’s instructions to do so.

            Let the Power of God move ahead of you just as the cloud did for the Israelites, preparing the way.  Tug at the heavy tent material and pull hard at the stakes, but sorry to say you won’t get far without him. 

            If we were to look at the grave sights of those in the wilderness wanderings, we might see many who dared to go ahead of God---on their own; actually left behind in the dessert; even generations.

            Go with God’s blessings moving onward in all your journeys. 

Father,

I am nothing on my own.  Teach me how to listen and obey your instructions.  Help me not to want to pull up stakes every time life is hard.  I wish not to be one of those casualties in the dessert.  I am weary! Please give me strength to keep going onward in all my earthly journeys, Gracious Father. In the Name of Your Son Jesus, I pray.