God’s Guidance.
(Number 9: 15-23)
One of the questions that I have been asked a great deal over the years pertains to God's guidance. It comes in different shapes and forms, but people often want to discern the will of God, particularly in specific situations. In fact, just this week, someone reached out to me with this very question. This individual, not a stranger but not someone I knew well either, felt compelled to seek my advice on discerning God's will.
From my experiences, these inquiries typically revolve around three main themes. Firstly, there are younger people contemplating romantic relationships, maybe even seeking guidance on whether to marry a particular person.
Secondly, there are questions concerning education or occupation. People often ask how to discern God's will regarding their career path or which educational direction to go in.
Lastly, there are inquiries about location, whether to move to a different city or area.
While there are certainly other issues people seek guidance on, these three topics have consistently been the focal points of inquiries I've received over the decades. In fact, I was asked one of these very questions as recently as this week.
Now, there's an interesting passage of scripture in the Old Testament where God guided the children of Israel. While it may seem initially that this passage is not directly applicable to us, there are principles buried within it that hold relevance for our understanding of how God guides his people.
So welcome to TBPDP.
So, what I want to discuss today is God's guidance, or to phrase it differently, how to discern God's will. I intend to explore this topic using insights taken from the second half of Numbers 9, examining the principals involved in determining God's will.
So today we turn to Numbers Chapter 9 and I'm going to be reading with verse 15.
15 On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. 16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. 18 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. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order and did not set out. 20 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. 21 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. 22 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. 23 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)
It is immediately obvious that there is some repetition in this passage, but let's walk through it together and I suggest we divide this part of the chapter into two sections:
The first describing the appearance of the cloud (verses 15 and 16), and the second beginning in verse 17, discussing the movement of the cloud and the people's response.
Verse 15 states, " On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire.."
Notice that it mentions the cloud lingering from evening till morning, with the appearance of fire. This imagery is significant as it represents the presence of the Lord.
It was in Exodus Chapter 40, were the cloud was first revealed as a symbol of God's presence and guidance for Israel.
Now, here, with the completion of the Tabernacle, the time had come for the Israelites to resume their journey. Moses re-states God's revelation of how He would lead them through their up and coming journey.
The cloudy pillar stood over the Tabernacle, indicates God's sovereignty over His people and providing them with protection, shelter, and a tangible sense of His presence, much like when He first appeared on Mount Sinai.
Verse 16 reiterates this point, stating that the cloud covered the Tabernacle by day and appeared as fire by night. This alternating appearance of ordinary cloud by day and fiery appearance by night signified God's continuous presence and guidance for the Israelites throughout their journey from Mount Sinai to the promised land.
Now, starting from verse 17, the narrative shifts to the movement of the cloud.
Verse 17 states, "Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped."
This description is straightforward: when the cloud moved, they followed; when it stopped, they camped. The cloud served as a visible symbol of God's guidance, prompting the Israelites to move or stay put accordingly.
That’s the way the children of Israel discerned God's leading was by observing His presence was in the cloud. God didn't explain His movements; rather, their duty was just to trust and follow.
Imagine being in their shoes, having just left Egypt and constructed the Tabernacle, and now being told to follow a cloud. I think it requires a lot of faith to believe that this cloud was indeed God's guidance.
Verse 18 reaffirms this, stating, "18 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."
This verse reiterates the simplicity of their obedience: they moved when the cloud moved and stayed when it stayed.
Next, verse 19 introduces the element of time. It explains that whether the cloud remained above the Tabernacle for a few days or many, the Israelites followed the same principle: they stayed put as long as the cloud was there.
The repetition in this verse emphasizes the importance of obedience regardless of the duration of the cloud's presence. Whether for a short or extended period, their response remained the same: obedience to God's guidance.
The following verses continue to clarify the situation that the Israelites moved whenever the cloud lifted, whether in the morning or at night.
This level of responsiveness meant they were prepared to pack up and follow the cloud even if it happened at midnight. This indicates their readiness to always obey, and the need to be ready at any hour.
Continuing with the emphasis on time, verse 22 specifies that whether the cloud lingered for two days, a month, or even a year, the Israelites remained camped in the same spot until the cloud moved.
This detail underscores the consistency of their obedience, regardless of the duration. Whether a brief stopover or an extended stay, their response remained the same: follow the cloud's lead.
The repetition in these verses is meant to drive home the point of their obedience by reiterating that their actions were in accordance with the Lord's command, emphasizing that they followed the commands given through Moses without deviation.
This final verse underscores the importance of obeying God's directives delivered through His appointed leader.
In conclusion, these verses highlight the meticulous obedience of the Israelites to God's instructions, a recurring theme throughout the book of Numbers. Their unwavering commitment to following the guidance provided through the cloud demonstrates their trust and obedience in carrying out God's will, as directed by Moses.
The recurring emphasis on obedience in these early chapters of Numbers holds a profound significance, especially considering the contrast with their later disobedience at Kadesh-Barnea.
One Bible commentary I read on this passage highlighted the sevenfold mention of obedience in this narrative, emphasizing the Israelites' responsiveness to the Lord's commands.
This frequency of repetition underscores the paramount importance of obedience in their journey. But of course as well as that this repetition is also meant to emphasize the purposeful nature of God's leadership, indicating that their experiences were not accidental but providential.
The use of the cloud, appearing as a cloud by day and fire by night, served as a tangible sign of God's guidance for the Israelites.
However, I feel I must point out that such direct guidance is not typical in contemporary times. Today, God reveals His will primarily through His Word.
For us today everything needed to discern God's will is found in His Word. Despite the common question of how to discern God's will, the standard answer remains unchanged: it will be revealed through diligent study and application of Scripture.
As a young Christian, one of the earliest teachings I received was about discerning God's will through a sense of peace.
Colossians 3:15 was often cited: "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts." My adice to anyone seeking the will of God in any situation is to study his word and look for a sense of peace.
Pray for peace, believing that if they felt peace about something then generally, they should lean in that direction. Peace is a sign of God's will.
However, I need to add the caveat that the true meaning of this passage doesn't suggest that the experience of peace is the method for determining God's will in specific situations. Instead, it advises us to let the peace of God act as an umpire in any decision we need to make, and that is slightly different. In other words, when faced with choices, we should prioritize the path of peace over conflict.
So, let's revisit my main premise: everything you need to know about the will of God is in the Word of God, although that is a useful aid for suggesting a direction it is not about experiencing peace in some subjective sense of peace.
Seeking wisdom in God’s Word is essential, but it can also be helpful to heed the advice found in Proverbs 11:14, which states that there is safety in a multitude of counsellors.
Seeking the input of trusted individuals, such as Christian family member, particularly parents, or mentors, can provide valuable perspectives.
Now, let's me for a moment address a phrase I hear people using frequently these days, and that is the common phrase: "The Lord led me to."
Many people use such language to describe their experiences, often citing subjective impressions or feelings as guidance from God.
However, relying solely on subjective impressions can be problematic. While impressions may sometimes align with outcomes, they can also lead to uncertainty and disappointment.
Here's the crux of the issue: there is no biblical basis for the idea that God guides us primarily through subjective impressions. Nowhere in Scripture does it suggest that God's will is discerned through vague impressions or feelings. Instead, the New Testament provides clear guidance on God's will, such as in passages like 1 Thessalonians 4:3, which states, "For this is the will of God, your sanctification."
In essence, the will of God is not shrouded in mystery, it does not require us to decipher subjective impressions. Rather, it is clearly revealed in Scripture, to everyone who approaches authentically and in submission to hat it says thereby it can offers us concrete guidance for our lives.
Such experiential phrases are a common spiritual practice these days, doesn't it? People talk about pray about things and whatever the Lord lays on your heart, that's what they will do." It has a certain ring of spirituality to it, doesn't it? But here's the question where in scripture does it tell you to make your decision based upon such thing.
But doesn't the idea of quote,” being led by the Spirit in" sound more appealing? I mean, saying "the Lord told me to do something sounds much more spiritual, right?
When people ask about things like what to wear in the morning or which path to take, how do I answer that? Well, the truth is, God doesn't work like that. Even if we assume the theory about God leading through subjective impressions and all that, it would mean you'd never learn to make decisions on your own. It would keep you in a state of immaturity.
Parents often make this mistake when raising their children. They start out teaching them to do things like holding their own bottle, tying their own shoes, and cleaning their own room. But when they hit about 13, puberty hits, and parents get terrified that their kids will make stupid decisions for the rest of their lives.
So instead of giving them more freedom, they clamp down. This ends up keeping them in childhood. I believe parents should continue the process of giving their children more and more freedom so they can learn to make wise decisions while still under their roof.
Many children from Christian homes hit their teenage years, and instead of getting more freedom, the parents clamp down, and the kids end up leaving home and going wild because they were never trained to make wise decisions under the guidance of their parents, even if it meant they made a few mistakes along the way.
God wants us to grow. He wants us to mature. So, He doesn't tell us every little thing to do. He gives us principles to follow, like loving one another, being kind, forgiving, and developing spiritual virtues.
You won't find passages in Ephesians, Colossians, or Philippians talking about the Lord giving you some kind of impression. Instead, you'll read about developing spiritual traits like kindness and forgiveness.
God is interested in developing these qualities in us, not in directing every move we make.
And let's face it, we're not going to make all the wise decisions all the time. Teenagers certainly don’t, and neither do adults either.
Making mistakes is part of life, and it's how we learn and grow.
But my main point is this: In the book of Numbers, God led the Israelites by a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. He doesn't do that anymore.
So, what do we have in its place? The answer is the Scripture. Everything we need to know about the will of God is in the Word of God, not in some subjective experience.
In Numbers chapter 9, there are two elements that remain relevant today.
First, when the cloud moved and the Israelites had to decide whether to follow it or not, that required faith.
Second, once they believed, they obeyed. These two elements—faith and obedience—are still essential today.
The Bible instructs us to walk by faith and to walk in obedience. Romans 6:16 emphasizes the importance of obedience, stating that “We are slaves to whom we obey, either to sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness”.
In my estimation too many messages focus more on obedience than on faith. Sometimes preaching aims to induce guilt to motivate obedience, but that's not the tone of Scripture.
While there are passages on obedience, faith is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. In fact, the word "faith" appears significantly more times than "obey."
For me this highlights the emphasis Scripture places on faith.
Consider this: What determines whether you would run out of a building if someone screamed "fire"? It's whether you believe them.
Similarly, in our spiritual lives, it's faith that determines our actions. We don't have to live by sight or subjective impressions; we live by faith in what God has said in His Word.
And we trust Him to empower by the Holy Spirit us to do what He commands.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites followed the cloud, but they had to believe in it and obey it. Today, we have the Scripture. We must believe in it and obey it. If we do, we'll be in the will of God, and He will guide us.
So, once again, everything we need to know about the will of God is in the Word of God. Our task is to believe it and act upon it, ensuring that we remain safely within the will of God.
A friend of mine took flying lessons and after qualifying the first time out on his own it was an incredibly cloudy day. He was not very experienced in instrument landing he had done it but never on his own and never on a day when he genuinely couldn’t see anything.
With all the clouds around him he became nervous, and he called the control tower, and a stern steady voice came back over the radio and said, “Just obey the instruments they will take care of you, just obey the instruments and the plane will land OK”.
If you too want to land safely then just pay attention and focus on the word of God and you will be in the will of God, and land safely in the place God wants to take you.