Day 71 – The Pillar of Cloud & Fire

As mentioned before we’re continuing to skip reasonably large chunks of this are of the Old Testament. Today we’ve moved forward to the book of Numbers. This book, like the three before it, was written by Moses. Whereas Leviticus detailed lots of the law and commandments of God, Numbers has a mixture of law, tribal counts and history about the time the people spent in the wilderness. We’ll spend about two weeks looking at the lives of the people in Numbers. As we do so, consider the parallels between us and them. They were rescued from slavery, but had to spend 40 years in the wilderness before their children entered the Promised Land. Jesus’ act on the cross rescued us from sin, and the church can now be considered to be in a “wilderness” too, as we wait for the glorious day when Jesus will return.

• The problem with skipping large chunks of text is that it looks like we’re missing important stuff. In a way, we are – all scripture is God-breathed,  and there is plenty of amazing teaching to be found in Numbers 1-8! Don’t worry though – we will go back and read some of it later at selected points throughout the year, so we aren’t ignoring it completely!
• What do all three passages in today’s reading plan talk about?
• How did the Israelites know where to go as they moved on from Mount Sinai? How did this sign change throughout the day?
• How long would the Israelites remain in the same place? Did the amount of time change?
• The people had a clear direction from God to help them know where to go. In this section of scripture, at least, they obeyed that direction. How do you know when God wants you to do something, or how to act in situations where you have a choice of options?
• Can you remember what was placed in the tabernacle? What did they do with it every time they moved to a new place?
• God led the people Israel through the wilderness in the way described in today’s passages in Numbers. What blessings – both then and now – are given by God to those that follow Him? The Isaiah passage will help you. What about those who don’t follow God?
• What blessings do you think you may have because your parents or grandparents followed God faithfully?

The organisers of the reading plan have titled today’s readings around the importance of following God before man. Of course, in many situations, human guidance follows the the same wisdom as God’s guidance in the Bible, for which we should be thankful. Sadly, however, in today’s world there are many choices that you will be given which encourage you to put human “wisdom” ahead of God’s.

It might be in the worldly assumption that winning by all costs is right. Perhaps it’s the expectation to fight to the top. Perhaps, as you get older, it’ll be in the permissive attitudes the world had towards drunkenness or casual sex. You might be one of the few in your class that stands up for the unborn baby in the womb, in a culture that proclaims abortion as a human right.

Christians are called to be in this world but set apart from it. We don’t have to be swayed by whatever the culture of the day demands – not least because you can be sure it’ll demand something different five years later. God’s Word stands firm and unchanging. It is truth that will forever be, and the firmest rock we have in today’s ever changing sea of moralism. Use it to guide your thoughts, your actions, your tongue and your speech, and whatever the world throws at you, you know you’ll be set on the sure path and in the right direction.