Passing Through

Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days, as the Lord commanded. Then at the Lord’s command they would break camp and move on. Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and lifted the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and moved on. [Numbers 9.20-21]

For this period of time, Israel was certainly nomadic in nature. I struggle to comprehend the magnitude of preparation and work required to live so transient.

First, these people were carrying enough "stuff" to construct the portable Tabernacle and all its furnishings.

Next, the people never knew how long they would be staying anywhere - it could be a day or it could be a year. Imagine setting up a tent not knowing if it would be overnight, several days, weeks, or even a year!

What is the lesson here for modern Christians? It's more like "lessons " (plural) I am sure, but it would seem at least that portability might be important. We, as Christians, know this world is not our home, just as Israel knew the wilderness was not theirs. And yet, we carry the burden of our devotion just as Israel carried and set up the Tabernacle. Not that our devotion is a burden, but it does require more than if we did not have it! Furthermore, not becoming attached to the world and its 'stuff' is certainly the take-away from Israel's nomadic lifestyle. Whatever we do, it is important to be able to relocate or move as needed. To be clear, it is not that Israel had no 'stuff' - it's just that their 'stuff' was very portable.

I don't want to be so hard on us, but it seems we as Christians have become quite comfortable in this world. In many ways, we are not portable at all. We live our lives as if this world is everything. Very little about our lives indicates that we are simply "passing through."

Father, help believers everywhere to live like we are simply "passing through." Help us to get our heads around this idea, because it is truth!