Israel is on the move! Finally? Usually, it’s a two-week journey from Egypt to Canaan, but Israel left a year ago! How can a two-week trip turn into fifty-two weeks? What are they doing? The answer is God!
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. (Numbers 9:16–18, NLT)
What is God doing? Think about Israel’s growth in the last year. Their worship, judicial system, economy, and military didn’t exist coming out of Egypt. Imagine the disaster waiting for Israel if they march straight to Canaan! With God, the straightest line between two points is often not the point! This is not Israel wandering, lost in the wilderness. This is God protecting them from disaster and equipping them for the future!
Have you ever been frustrated that a seemingly two-week journey in some area of your life took a year or more? I have! Isn’t it easy to get caught up in focusing on drawing the straightest line we can between two points? Isn’t it easy to think, “I should be further along in life!” or “Why can’t I get this show on the road!” or “Why is this taking so long!” and become frustrated?
When we feel stalled in our lives, remember this, God is on the move! With God, the straightest line between two points is often not the point! These are times of protection! These are times of nurturing! They are times of equipping us for the future! Israel did move on; in time, we will, too!
Today’s reading: Numbers 8-10 | Tomorrow’s reading: Numbers 11-13
What a blessing. I do need this today. With health and diet Im not where I thought I should be. I want results yesterday. This helps me to rely on Gods time and not my own. He led me to it and He will lead me through it. Yes!♥️