God Will Guide Us Into All Truth!

INTERESTING FACTS : "It is impossible to enslave mentally or socially a Bible-reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom." Horace Greeley[1]

DAILY READING : [NUMBERS 7 - 9]

TEXT : Num 9:16 So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. Num 9:17 And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. Num 9:18 At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents. Num 9:19 And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not. Num 9:20 And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed. Num 9:21 And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. Num 9:22 Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. Num 9:23 At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

THEME : GUIDANCE

In the text above, as Moses directs the setting up of the Tabernacle, God then guides the children of Israel through the wilderness of Sinai. The Presence of God in the Tabernacle does this supernaturally. When the cloud of God's Glory moved in the daytime, then the children of Israel moved. When the fire of God's Glory moved at night, then the children of Israel moved. However, we notice in the text the periods of remaining in tents or travelling to parts unknown were not equal. The travels of Israel through the desert was a matter of days, months, or years as we read in verse twenty two. Israel was dependent on God for everything from food and water, to victory in war and guidance where to go. Nothing was done without God's aid. John Gill elaborates.

"Sometimes it tarried but half a day, sometimes a whole day, sometimes two days, at other times a whole month, and even a year; a full year, as the Targum of Jonathan and Aben Ezra; or a longer time, as the Vulgate Latin version, for in one place it tarried eighteen years, as Maimonides says (g); some say (h) nineteen years, as in Kadeshbarnea: remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not; so that, as the same writer observes, it was not because the children of Israel lost their way in the wilderness and wandered about, not knowing where they were, or which way they should go; hence the Arabians call the wilderness, the wilderness of wandering, nor that they were so long wandering in it as forty years, but because it was the will of God that should stay so long at one place, and so long at another, whereby their stay in it was protracted to such a length of time, according to his sovereign will: but when it was taken up they journeyed; though they had continued ever so long, and their situation ever so agreeable."

Therefore, we learn that Israel had to be constantly prepared, not knowing when God would call on them to go one way or the other at His command. No doubt, this took patience and faith. Our journey to the Kingdom is similar because we are equally dependent on God to carry us on eagle's wings as He did Israel. He must guide us through the desert of this world, which is our wilderness of wandering, and lead us to our Eternal home.

TRUTH FOR TODAY : GOD WILL GUIDE US INTO ALL TRUTH!

When Jesus departed and returned to Heaven, He told us he would not leave us as orphans - abandoned. He promised to give "another Comforter," the Holy Spirit who would guide us into all truth.

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." [Joh 16:13 - 14] Adam Clarke explains.

"He will guide you - He will consider your feeble infant state; and, as a father leads his child by the hand, so will the Holy Spirit lead and guide you. He shall not speak of himself - He shall teach nothing contrary to what I have taught you: But whatsoever he shall hear - Of the Father and me, that he shall speak, and thus show the intimate consent between himself, the Father, and Christ. It is one conjoint testimony, in which the honor and glory of the holy Trinity, and man's salvation are equally concerned. And he will show you things to come - He will fully explain everything that may now appear dark or difficult to you; will give you such a knowledge of futurity as shall, in all necessary cases, enable you to foretell future events; and shall supply every requisite truth, in order to make the new covenant revelation complete and perfect."

As Christians, we do not understand how much we are dependent on the Holy Spirit of God. Thankfully, He is more active in our lives than we are aware. For if the Holy Spirit waited on us to realize our need of Him we would have perished already. So, as the cloud was to Israel, so the Holy Spirit is to us. He leads and guides us on His own. Moses did not control the movement of Israel. Neither did he have any part in dictating when the cloud would move or stay. It was completely in God's Hands.

In the same way, Christ is the Head of His Church - not Man. Man often thinks he is in control, but this is an ignorant and misguided belief. God will never be dependent on Man for anything. If He ever were, He would cease to be God. Since God cannot cease to be God, neither will He wait on Man or depend on Man for anything. Rather, we need Him. Thankfully and gratefully, He knows our delicate nature and moves independent of our thoughts or plans. He does not wait for us. He moves us and we follow. Frequently, God does this in mysterious ways as William Cowper wrote.

Still, He moves us and guides us. Like children, our Father watches out for us as He leads us on the path that He created. He has intimate knowledge of its' pitfalls and dangers. He knows all things, and has all power. He assures us of a safe arrival at the gates of His Heavenly Kingdom, because it is He who guides us, and not the other way around. Let us always be mindful of this encouraging truth. God is in charge. He always has been and always will be!

God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines Of never failing skill He treasures up His bright designs And works His sov'reign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flow'r.
Blind unbelief is sure to err And scan His work in vain; God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain.[2]