Following God

On the day the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered it. But from evening until morning the cloud over the Tabernacle looked like a pillar of fire. This was the regular pattern—at night the cloud that covered the Tabernacle had the appearance of fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. In this way, they traveled and camped at the LORD’s command wherever he told them to go. Then they remained in their camp as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle. If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed and performed their duty to the LORD. 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. Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. So they camped or traveled at the LORD’s command, and they did whatever the LORD told them through Moses. [Numbers 9.15-23]

What an exercise in following the Spirit of God!

I wonder if we can pattern our lives after this? Are we willing to be so in tune with the Spirit of God that we conform entirely to His every wish?

If the Tabernacle represents our life (Jesus spoke of His body being the Tabernacle/Temple - and so we may conclude the same of our lives), then what do the cloud by day and fire by night represent? 

The thing is, there is a difference between daytime and nighttime. It would seem obvious that the fire and the cloud represent the Spirit of God, but why the difference from day to night? Perhaps it could represent the fact that God is light in the darkness for us and shade in the day for us. It could represent that day or night, God makes Himself known to us. It could represent the fact that God is always there and always leading if only we will look to and follow Him. There is much to ponder about this. We should definitely give it some serious consideration. Why? Because we need to be in God's will!

Here is a thought. What is more comforting at night than fire? What is more relief from the sun's hot rays in the day than a cloud? The point I see in this is that God is a place of refuge to us - He is our source of peace - and dare I say comfort?

Father, I am grateful for the Tabernacle and all the details surrounding it. Help me to consider all the implications of the Tabernacle and the fact that Jesus spoke of His body as the Tabernacle (for us to do likewise). Help me to further consider the "cloud by day and fire by night" so that I might stay in and under Your peace.