Our Faithful Guide

Numbers 9:15-23 - Now on the day that the tabernacle was erected the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony, and in the evening it was like the appearance of fire over the tabernacle, until morning. So it was continuously; the cloud would cover it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. Whenever the cloud was lifted from over the tent, afterward the sons of Israel would then set out; and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the sons of Israel would camp. At the command of the LORD the sons of Israel would set out, and at the command of the LORD they would camp; as long as the cloud settled over the tabernacle, they remained camped. Even when the cloud lingered over the tabernacle for many days, the sons of Israel would keep the LORD's charge and not set out. If sometimes the cloud remained a few days over the tabernacle, according to the command of the LORD they remained camped. Then according to the command of the LORD they set out. If sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning, when the cloud was lifted in the morning, they would move out; or if it remained in the daytime and at night, whenever the cloud was lifted, they would set out.Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out. At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out; they kept the LORD's charge, according to the command of the LORD through Moses.

We can learn a lot about God by observing His faithfulness throughout history. The cloud and fire of God's presence led Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 12:21-22) and whenever or wherever the cloud lifted, the people would set out by God's command. Just like the star which led the magi to Christ, the pillar of fire which led God's people to the promised land, did not only shine, but also went before them. God doesn't just simply reveal Himself to us, He also leads us daily as we walk in newness of life. He isn't a distant observer who watches from a distance as we struggle to crawl closer to Him, He's an intimately involved Father who lovingly disciplines, directs, comforts, and carries us as we falter and halt. It truly is a privilege to follow God because He shows us the way through His Word and enables us to obey through the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts!

The Need for a Sacrifice

Leviticus 9:3-6 - Then to the sons of Israel you shall speak, saying, "Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both one year old, without defect, for a burnt offering, and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD, and a grain offering mixed with oil; for today the LORD will appear to you." So they took what Moses had commanded to the front of the tent of meeting, and the whole congregation came near and stood before the LORD. Moses said, "This is the thing which the LORD has commanded you to do, that the glory of the LORD may appear to you."

It's exciting to see the necessity of the sacrificial system back then and how it speaks to our need today. The nation of Israel was required to offer a sin sacrifice so that the glory of God would appear to them. It took a perfect, unblemished sacrifice and without it, Israel would not be in the presence of God. We also need a sin sacrifice. Without Jesus Christ's perfect sacrifice for us, we could not be with God. What a price, what a cost, only through the Lamb of God can we approach the Father's throne.