Trust (and Obey)

Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the LORD they remained in camp; then according to the command of the LORD they set out. And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they set out. 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. -- Numbers 9:20-22

If you are following along with our bible reading plan, you would have started the Book of Numbers this past week. The Book of Numbers picks up from Leviticus in Israel’s journey through the wilderness. Today I want to share an insight from this week’s reading. Perhaps it is because I am a planner by heart, the following verses spoke to me about God and my need to trust in Him. In Numbers 9:20-22, we see that God in unpredictable. He did not let the Israelites know how long they would remain at one particular site. It could be a month, a few days, or just one night. The nomadic lifestyle is complicated by the meticulous instructions on setting up the Tabernacle. Imagine setting up and breaking down the Tabernacle every day! I’m sure that there were days when the Levites wanted to remain at a site for just one more day to rest. But if God said “Go!” they had to pack up and go until God said “Stop!” In this story, we see how trust is the only currency that works. Without trust, life would be frustrating! Not just for the Israelites, but for us as well. It seems like God is always asking us to “Go!” at the most inconvenient time for us. Whether it is time with family, work, or our hobbies, following God can feel not only inconvenient, but also frustrating. Our level of frustration reveals our level of trust in God. If service to God seems inconvenient, or if you find yourself frustrated with God’s demands, check your trust level. Do you completely trust in God? If not, why not? I find myself not trusting in God when I do not spend time with him. The Book of Acts demonstrates over and over again that the Apostles spent time with God in Scripture and Prayer. The Well Church, let us learn how to trust in God by reading and prayer. If you haven’t been keeping up with us, consider starting up the reading with the Book of Numbers. It may start slow, but the narrative does pickup!