The Journey

Numbers 9:15-19

“15 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. 17 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. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order and did not set out.”

God was with the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness.  His presence was manifested in a cloud and in fire, an obvious sign of His presence for all to see.  Yet, throughout their journey to the promised land, the Israelites complained that they would die and expressed to Moses that they wanted to go back to Egypt, back to their old lives, back to bondage.

God is present in our lives, yet we ignore the obvious signs.  We feel that He has deserted us or is punishing us because times and the journey are hard.  We yearn for our old lives, the good old days, even though we were bound to sin and death

Christianity is not an easy journey.  But God is with us, leading us and guiding us along the way.  

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)