God's path is not consealed
Numbers 9:15-23 (NKJV)
15 Now on the day that the tabernacle was raised up,
the cloud covered the tabernacle,
the tent of the Testimony;
from evening until morning
it was above the tabernacle like the appearance of fire.
16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and
the appearance of fire by night.
17 Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle,
after that the children of Israel would journey;
and in the place where the cloud settled,
there the children of Israel would pitch their tents.
18 At the command of the Lord the children of Israel would journey, and
at the command of the Lord they would camp;
as long as the cloud stayed above the tabernacle they remained encamped.
19 Even when the cloud continued long, many days above the tabernacle,
the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not journey.
20 So it was, when the cloud was above the tabernacle a few days:
according to the command of the Lord they would remain encamped, and
according to the command of the Lord they would journey.
21 So it was, when the cloud remained only from evening until morning:
when the cloud was taken up in the morning,
then they would journey; whether by day or by night,
whenever the cloud was taken up, they would journey.
22 Whether it was two days, a month, or a year
that the cloud remained above the tabernacle,
the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey;
but when it was taken up, they would journey.
23 At the command of the Lord they remained encamped, and
at the command of the Lord they journeyed;
they kept the charge of the Lord,
at the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses.
Ex. 13:17-22- Introduction of God leading Israel by pillar of fire and cloud
Ex. 40:34-38- The cloud and fire contained the glory of God
Luke 9:34- The cloud covered Jesus at transfiguration
Acts 1:9- the cloud accepted Jesus in his ascension
It is worth noting here that the word “the tabernacle” itself comes from a root meaning “to settle down” (hence the word for a “neighbour”) or “to pitch a tent”. And of course it was of a tent form. So the picture presented is of God camping with his people who formed a camp around him and centred on him. The Jewish traditions by Jesus’ time had taken this root and developed a new term, Shekinah, for the closeness of God’s presence with his people. There is a passage in the Jewish book, The Sayings of the Fathers, which reads: “....if two sit together and the words of the law are spoken between them, the Shekinah rests between them”. So Jesus can have the last word: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20).
CIT: The texts show me that God was in control of Israel’s path and that His guidance was based upon his movement, not theirs.
Proposition: Christians are guided by God down the path of life and God wants Christians to wait on His guidance and movement, not His approval on our movement.
Purpose: Students should seek the guidance of God on their futures instead of seeking His approval on their movement toward their futures.
HEY: I had a lot of stupid philosophies as a teenager: “what my parents do not know, will not hurt them,” “Secretly opening my presents before Christmas would make my Christmas day better b/c I would know what I was getting” but the dumbest one I think I had was “that is better to ask for forgiveness than permission.” Many of times if I thought that my parents would say no to an event, I would just go and then it would be too late for them to say no. Music FEST!!! In the same way as Christians, we find it easier to do what we want and ask God for approval then to sit and wait for Him to lead us.
YOU: The world teaches us to depend only on ourselves to make it through life. We must decide the course of our life and we are ultimately responsible for the outcomes that our life plan takes us down. But as Christians, we are told to depend upon God to guide us down life’s path, knowing that if we trust in his leading, then we know he will lead us to a blessed life. But like always, Christians blend those two worlds and we tend to seek our own path, and then ask God for permission or approval of this path we have chosen.
LOOK: Tonight, we are going to look in the books of Exodus and Numbers at how the Israelites were guided by God to the Promised Land and what principles of Godly Guidance we can apply in our lives as we look to the future.
DO: My prayer tonight that we all can leave here knowing that God’s guidance is prompted by His movements and guidance and the roads we take in the future will be roads He has chosen for us.
3 Principles of Godly Guidance from the Wilderness adventure:
1. Exodus 13:17-18, 21-22 (NKJV)
17 Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt
21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. 22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.
- God knew how Israel would react to war, so he led them down a road less traveled.
God saved the children of Israel from the slavery of the Egyptians but He led them through the desert because it was the best way. God will save you from the slavery of sin through the salvation provided through Jesus, but the road is less traveled compared to the road the world travels on.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 16:24 (NKJV) 24 ...“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
FOLLOWING GOD’S PATH MUST START WITH SACRIFICING OUR OWN AGENDAS
2. Exodus 40:34-38 (NKJV)
34 Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
In all three of these verses about Israel, God dwells among them in the form of a cloud by day and fire by night, and when He settled in a spot, a cloud covered the Tabernacle of Meeting, which was a tent that was a temporary temple where the priests worked and where the Holy place and the Holy of Holies dwelt. When the cloud rose above the tent and moved on the Israelites were supposed to follow.
It is worth noting here that the word “the tabernacle” itself comes from a root meaning “to settle down” (hence the word for a “neighbour”) or “to pitch a tent”. And of course it was of a tent form. So the picture presented is of God camping with his people who formed a camp around him and centred on him. The Jewish traditions by Jesus’ time had taken this root and developed a new term, Shekinah, for the closeness of God’s presence with his people.
Luke 9:34- The cloud covered Jesus at transfiguration
Acts 1:9- the cloud accepted Jesus in his ascension
2. God presence dwelt among the Israelites as he led them. God’s presence was with Jesus during His ministry on earth. Israel was not alone in the wilderness on their journey, but they often complained that they would be better off back in slavery in Egypt because the environment was not up to their expectations. God will indwell Christians with his Holy Spirit as He guides them in life but we must be careful not to quench His Spirit with rebellion against that guidance because our hearts then harden and we end up wandering like Israel did because of their rebellions.
FOLLOWING GOD’S PATH MUST CONTAIN WILLFUL OBEDIENCE TO HIS GUIDANCE AND COMMANDS.
3. Numbers 9:15-23 (NKJV)
15 Now on the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the Testimony; from evening until morning it was above the tabernacle like the appearance of fire. 16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. 17 Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, after that the children of Israel would journey; and in the place where the cloud settled, there the children of Israel would pitch their tents. 18 At the command of the Lord the children of Israel would journey, and at the command of the Lord they would camp; as long as the cloud stayed above the tabernacle they remained encamped. 19 Even when the cloud continued long, many days above the tabernacle, the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not journey. 20 So it was, when the cloud was above the tabernacle a few days: according to the command of the Lord they would remain encamped, and according to the command of the Lord they would journey. 21 So it was, when the cloud remained only from evening until morning: when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they would journey; whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud was taken up, they would journey. 22 Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey. 23 At the command of the Lord they remained encamped, and at the command of the Lord they journeyed; they kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses.
3. Like Israel, we must go when God tells us to go and stay until God tells us to leave.
FOLLOWING GOD’S PATH MUST ALSO CONTAIN:
A. A GOD CENTERED LIFE- Israel set up camp with God centered in the middle. In our lives to effectively follow the path of God, our lives must be centered on God.
B. A PATIENCE FOR HIS PLAN- v.19
C. A SENSITIVITY TO HIS MOVING- vs. 23 At the command of the Lord, they remained or journeyed.
I wonder what you have planned for your future. Some of you juniors and seniors have college planned and yet you never asked God where He wants you to go. Some of you have planned to play sports in college, but have you asked God if that is His will for your life. Even relationships happen so fast that you are married before you realize that person is not who God wanted for your life.
We are not seeking God’s approval on our life choices but instead, we should be seeking his guidance and waiting for his answer.