One of the challenges in the Christian life is the art of waiting. It is especially frustrating when we want to move ahead with our plans and hope that God will catch up. I have been waiting for God's direction regarding my next season of ministry and I have to confess it hasn't been easy. I have seen what appear to be potential opportunities that I would like to pursue, however deep down I know I need to wait for God to move. Recently, God reinforced my need to wait in a passage from the book of Numbers. In Numbers 9:15-23 Israel is making their way to the Promised Land. God's presence is manifested in the pillar of cloud that covered the Tabernacle during the day and the pillar of fire at night. In Numbers 9:17-18 we read, "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."NIV (italics mine) The Israelites remained in whatever place they were led until the cloud lifted from above the Tabernacle. They didn't try to continue the journey on their own or according to their time table. The Israelites waited for the Lord to move without knowing where their next stop would be or for how long. We read, "Sometimes the cloud was over the Tabernacle only a few days...Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening to morning...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." (Numbers 9:21-22 NIV)
We Follow When God Moves
What caught my attention was no matter how long or short the period of sojourn was, when God moved, the Israelites followed. What we sometimes fail to appreciate is the huge challenge that movement presented for the Israelites. There were thousands of people having to pack up their belongings and get ready to go. Additionally, the Tabernacle had to be taken down and set back up in the next place God led the people. I can only imagine that at times the Israelites may have become frustrated when their sojourn in a new place was only for two days and they had to pack up and move after having settled down. It has similarly been frustrating for me and somewhat disheartening that I find myself on the move just when I think I have settled for a long period of time into a new church community. However, like the Israelites I need to wait for God to move and sometimes the wait is short, sometimes long, and sometimes unexpected. The Israelites knew they would not ultimately be settled until they reached the Promised Land. Right now I don't have a sense of feeling settled but I must wait until God's cloud is "lifted" and then I need to move with Him.
Jesus Calls Us To Move
Jesus mirrors the same principle in the New Testament. He called His disciples then and now to "follow Me." Jesus' call is both literal and spiritual. Literally, we are to follow Jesus to whatever place He calls us to minister in his name whether inside or outside of the church community. Spiritually, Jesus calls us to follow His commands and emulate His way of life that we may deepen our relationship with Him and serve others. When a teacher of the law declared that he would follow Jesus wherever he went, Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (Matthew 8:18-20 NIV) Right now, I have no place to "lay my head" but I need to follow the Lord's pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. I need to stay wherever God has called me to serve for whatever length of time God determines and move when He determines, after that time is finished. It is easy to focus on the past and what was, versus looking forward to what God has for us in the future. Isaiah and Paul sum it up best, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV) "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Phillipians 3:13b-14 NIV) May we trust God to lead and guide us in His perfect timing.
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Sheree
