Ready?

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. [Numbers 9.17-21]

I guess I never had really given it much thought, but the Israelites must have been pretty efficient at setting up and tearing down the Tabernacle.

With all the description of the Tabernacle given in the Bible, it would seen quite a task to set it up right. But, imagine setting up one evening and tearing it down the next morning! Not to be ignored is the fact that certain duties could only be performed by the priests too! If anyone else even touched the Ark or some of the articles it could mean death!

If this says anything to us today, I think it would say being "ready" is a good thing. Perhaps even understanding our transience on earth is a lesson we could all benefit from.

Now, I completely understand that this was a time of transience for Israel. However, the spiritual application for us today is still the same - Israel was not yet in their 'Promised Land,' and, neither are we. Heaven is our home, but I think our 'permanence' here on earth many times far outweighs our ability to remember our destiny.

In my life, there is much room for meditation on this topic. I have to ask myself, "How flexible am I to do what God wants me to do?" Does "stuff" impede my ability to do the work of God? Ouch.

Father, I don't want to be distracted from following You. Help me to learn from Israel's story about what it is to follow You! Help me to see how their story applies to me today.