Set a Fire: Follow the Light of the World (Numbers 9:15-18, 22-23)
"No place I would rather be than here in Your love, here in Your love." – Will Reagan & United Pursuit ðŸ§
Dear lost loiterer,
Do you have no idea where you're heading? Don't know where you should be going?
I think everyone has been in the middle of a crossroad before, that spot where you’re given options and you don’t know which to choose.
The passage that we’re going to look at is how the Israelites were led in the wilderness. We’re in the book of Numbers, but this was already mentioned in Exodus. It’s told briefly in Exodus 40:34-38. Let’s see the more detailed account in Numbers.
Numbers 9:15-18, 22-23 (NASB)
15 Now on the day that the tabernacle was erected, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony, and in the evening it was like the appearance of fire over the tabernacle until morning. 16 That is how it was continuously; the cloud would cover it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. 17 Whenever the cloud was lifted from over the tent, afterward the sons of Israel would set out; and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the sons of Israel would camp. 18 At the command of the Lord the sons of Israel would set out, and at the command of the Lord they would camp; as long as the cloud settled over the tabernacle, they remained camped.
22 Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out. 23 At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out; they did what the Lord required, in accordance with the command of the Lord through Moses.
In this narrative, we see that the Israelites have been obedient at the leading of the Lord through Moses. They would stop and they would go faithfully. I imagine this to be very hard because in verse 22, it says whether the cloud stopped for “two days, a month, or a year,” they would also stop. The great thing I see about this is that they are following something they could physically see.
How do we apply this? Let's see how we are to be obedient to God.
How do we follow God's leading?
- Read the Bible
As I was planning on what I could write for our passage, I remembered this meme.
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| https://ifunny.co/picture/i-wish-god-would-just-speak-to-me-UjGDr4Mi8 |
(I recreated it in Animal Crossing: New Horizons as I usually do in this blog. Then I thought it would be fun to search for other related memes to recreate.)
God won’t just constantly give us visible clouds or any clear, specific direction to our situation. He gave us the Bible and His Holy Spirit to guide us, and that’s enough for us to be equipped. If you feel lost, follow the Light that is Jesus Christ. He says, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life (John 8:12).” It takes faith in Him to strengthen our walk in this life. The key lesson from our passage is on obedience. When God commanded for the cloud by day that turns into fire by night to be followed, the Israelites did so. In the same way, since God gave His commands to us through the Bible, let us abide by it. Let it be our guide in our every decision.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success. (Joshua 1:8)”
The Bible points its readers to Jesus. He says He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 15:6). If you’re looking for the right way, Jesus will save your day. We need the Bible to know who He is. He’s all about love, and that’s what He commands. He wants to establish the works of our hands.
- Surrender to Jesus
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| https://www.facebook.com/Christianfunnypictures/posts/pfbid02... |
We shouldn’t want to make our lives miserable by depending on ourselves. Just look at this guy who should have used the chair to tie his shoe easily. God sent His Son to lead us to Himself. Jesus came to save us. He says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)”
Sin is one of our burdens, and Jesus gave His life as the price for the world’s sin. Believe in Him, and you won’t have to work your way to heaven because no human can match His righteousness. It’s only through believing in Him that grants us eternal life. He’s the only way.
- Pray according to God's will
When we can’t wait to find answers to our questions, we might wish for God to tell us directly. We might pray for a sign. Some signs He would give us might just hit us hard.
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| https://www.facebook.com/Christianfunnypictures/posts/pfbid036... |
The Lord is faithful. He gives what is right for us. “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. (1 John 5:14-15)”
- Serve Him using His gifts to you
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| https://www.pinterest.com/pin/142074563224668392/ |
Let us look at what we're able to do. God blessed us with skills and talents for us to glorify Him through them. This last picture is a comic with the left parts from the original and the last part recreated in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. The case could be like Nim here who thinks he's good at everything, so he can't decide what to do. I've said in the beginning that there are times when we have a lot of options before us. When it comes to serving God, we could try whatever it is we think we can do, no matter if it seems like a small thing, as long as we get to help in furthering God's kingdom.
The apostle Paul urges believers to serve the Lord: “Never be lazy in showing such devotion. Be on fire with the Spirit. Serve the Lord.” This is in the International Standard Version, the version I found that uses the word “fire.” I want to use a vivid description of the devotion we should have for God.
Just like the fire at night the Israelites followed, we should burn bright for Christ. It’s because He Himself is the Light, and He commands us to be salt and light. That means because He brings us to the Father, we should also do the same in His name. This is the love that He teaches us, and this is the place to be. God’s love, ultimately shown on the cross, is what will make our paths straight. It’s what will change this world of hate.
For God, let’s burn with love. From this fallen world, let’s rise above. Let us be found under His care. Then He’ll teach us to be there–there for others, there for what matters. It’s our Creator who we should live for. This is His earth we’re using as our floor. Let His praises be heard. Let the light of His love fill this world.
Celina <3
Next: I Believe, Help Thou My Unbelief: Bible Verses For People’s Worries & Fears (Numbers 14:27-34)
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