Numbers 9:14-23: a reflection

14“‘If a foreigner lives among you and desires to keep the Passover to the LORD, then he shall do so according to the statute of the Passover, and according to its ordinance. You shall have one statute, both for the foreigner and for him who is born in the land.’” 15On the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, even the Tent of the Testimony. At evening it was over the tabernacle, as it were the appearance of fire, until morning. 16So it was continually. The cloud covered it, and the appearance of fire by night. 17Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the children of Israel traveled; and in the place where the cloud remained, there the children of Israel encamped. 18At the commandment of the LORD, the children of Israel traveled, and at the commandment of the LORD they encamped. As long as the cloud remained on the tabernacle they remained encamped. 19When the cloud stayed on the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the LORD’s command, and didn’t travel. 20Sometimes the cloud was a few days on the tabernacle; then according to the commandment of the LORD they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of the LORD they traveled. 21Sometimes the cloud was from evening until morning; and when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they traveled; or by day and by night, when the cloud was taken up, they traveled. 22Whether it was two days, or a month, or a year that the cloud stayed on the tabernacle, remaining on it, the children of Israel remained encamped, and didn’t travel; but when it was taken up, they traveled. 23At the commandment of the LORD they encamped, and at the commandment of the LORD they traveled. They kept the LORD’s command, at the commandment of the LORD by Moses.

As Israel journeyed through the wilderness, they were led by the cloud over the tabernacle: when the cloud was taken up, they set out; when it settled, they encamped, and stayed as long as it remained. At the commandment of the LORD they traveled, and at the commandment of the LORD they encamped. Whether the cloud stayed a day, or a month, or a year, they waited; when it moved, they moved. Their whole journey was governed by following God's leading, moving when he moved and staying when he stayed.

Notice that Israel followed God's leading in both moving and staying. They did not decide their own route or timing; they followed the cloud, moving when it moved and waiting when it stayed. This required readiness for both: to move when God led them on, and to wait, sometimes long, when God kept them still. They could not hurry ahead when the cloud stayed, nor lag behind when it moved; they followed God's leading in both, whether he called them to journey or to wait. Both the moving and the waiting were at God's direction, and both required following his lead.

That is worth taking to heart, for following God's leading requires readiness both to move and to wait at his direction. We can find it hard to wait when God keeps us still, wanting to hurry ahead; or hard to move when he calls us on, wanting to stay where we are comfortable. But Israel followed the cloud in both, moving when it moved and waiting when it stayed. Follow God's leading in both moving and waiting: be ready to move when he leads you on, and to wait, however long, when he keeps you still, as Israel followed the cloud. Do not hurry ahead when God would have you wait, nor lag behind when he calls you on; follow his leading in both, as Israel moved when the cloud moved and stayed when it stayed, whether a day or a year, at the commandment of the LORD, trusting his timing both to move and to wait.

Lord, as Israel journeyed through the wilderness, they were led by the cloud over the tabernacle: when the cloud was taken up, they set out; when it settled, they encamped, and stayed as long as it remained. At the commandment of the LORD they traveled, and at the commandment of the LORD they encamped. Whether the cloud stayed a day, or a month, or a year, they waited; when it moved, they moved. Their whole journey was governed by following your leading. Show me that Israel followed your leading in both moving and staying. They did not decide their own route or timing; they followed the cloud, moving when it moved and waiting when it stayed. This required readiness for both: to move when you led them on, and to wait, sometimes long, when you kept them still. Both the moving and the waiting were at your direction. Take that to my heart, for following your leading requires readiness both to move and to wait at your direction. I can find it hard to wait when you keep me still, wanting to hurry ahead; or hard to move when you call me on, wanting to stay where I am comfortable. But Israel followed the cloud in both. Help me follow your leading in both moving and waiting: ready to move when you lead me on, and to wait, however long, when you keep me still. Keep me from hurrying ahead when you would have me wait, or lagging behind when you call me on; help me follow your leading in both, Lord, trusting your timing both to move and to wait.