Read Numbers 9, Isaiah 34, and Galatians 3.
This devotional is about Numbers 9.
Today’s reading in Numbers 9 began with these words: “The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month of the second year after they came out of Egypt” (v. 1). So, one year has passed between Israel’s first Passover and God’s deliverance from Egypt and the things we read about today in Numbers 9. Now, here in Numbers 9, Israel is about to observe the Passover for the second time and verses 2-14 here in Numbers 9 prescribe how that Passover was to be observed.
What was Israel doing between the first Passover, described in Exodus 12 and the second celebration of the Passover here in Numbers 9? What happened was, the people of Israel were delivered from Egypt and came to Mount Sinai. At Mount Sinai, they made a covenant with God, received God’s law, and set up the tabernacle and the office of priest. Then they began the worship God’s law commanded. All of this happened at Mount Sinai, so Israel had been camped in the same place throughout that one year between their Exodus from Egypt and the events of today’s passage, Numbers 9.
When Israel’s religious structure was finally in place, God showed Israel that he was pleased with their obedience by covering the tabernacle with a cloud during the day and the appearance of fire at night. Verses 16-17 say, “On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. 16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire.”
But now, after a year at Mount Sinai, God is ready to start moving Israel to the Promised Land. This cloud / fire showed God’s people when it was time to go. Verses 17-18 say, “Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. 18 At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped.”
Wouldn’t it be nice to see God’s presence in your life like that? Wouldn’t it be reassuring to see the Lord’s presence in a visual way and to see when he moves so we could follow?
Yet, despite this visual display of God’s presence, Israel disobeyed the Lord again and again. This sight of his power did not cause people to have faith in him and obey his word. They could see that God was with them, watching them and leading them at all times, but they still would not obey him.
Although we don’t visually see God’s presence with us, God’s word says that he is with us.
- At the end of the Great Commission, Jesus said, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt 28:20b).
- In John 14:16-17, Jesus said, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
God’s presence is with you every bit as much as it was with Israel when they saw the cloud and the fire over the tabernacle. You don’t need to see God’s presence; you and I need to believe the promise of his word that his presence with you as a believer, a follower of Christ. So, ask for his help today when you need wisdom or are anxious or afraid. Ask him to help you share Christ with others, if the door opens to do that. Remind yourself today that God’s presence is with you always. Then live like that is true in the things you do and say and the decisions you make today.