Daily Lesson for June 16, 2014

Today's Lesson is from Numbers chapter 9 verses 22 and 23:

22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. 23 At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out.

At some point in life most of us get anxious to move on to the next thing: the next town,  the next job, the next project, the next vision, the next big thing.  We're ready to go on and try to get there - to the Promised Land.

But a lot of times God isn't ready for us to get there. A lot of times God wants us to wait right where we are.  And the mystery of why that is usually isn't very clear until later.

The Israelites were journeying through the Wilderness.  A cloud overhead covered the Tabernacle the Israelites were traveling with.  When the cloud moved the Israelites picked up camp and moved.  But so long as the cloud remained the Israelites remained where they were.  Sometimes this was a day, sometimes a month, sometimes even longer.

For the Israelites who were eager to move on it must have seemed interminable.  They were ready to get going - to get there.  But the LORD wasn't ready; and a little while later we see at least one reason why.  One of the non-Israelites, Moses' brother-in-law Hobab, was contemplating leaving the Israelites and going back to his homeland in Midian.  Hobab was a bedouin shepherd; he knew his way across the desert.  And though they didn't realize it at the time because they had so little idea how difficult and dangerous the journey ahead was going to be, the Israelites needed a man like Hobab to help get them through.  Hobab needed the time to make his decision to stay with the Israelites; for the Israelites would not have made it without him.

You may be eager to move on in life - ready to get on to that Promised Land.  But you may not be as ready as you think. You may need the time to form relationships and learn lessons your going to need later on.  So don't pull up camp too quickly; wait on the cloud.  Wait on the LORD.