And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp ~ Numbers 10:34.
Introduction
A life devoid of God’s presence and intervention is plainly unpalatable. Living without the God who can move to secure our multidimensional progress is like sifting endlessly through the dross.
Happily, our God is very interested in our day-to-day affairs, and can profitably intervene in all our lives’ circumstances. The fine detail here, however, is that God is always on the move, and joining Him as He moves is what guarantees our experiences of His wonder.
Yes, God is the same God, yesterday, and today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). But, that doesn’t suggest that God is static, like a monument. Rather, the idea is that whatever God did yesterday, He's able to do today; and what He's doing today, He can replicate tomorrow.
God is always on the move in the interest of His people (2 Chronicles 16:9). He showed His fingers of power to Pharaoh at the time of the exodus (Exodus 8:19). He also once made the sun and the moon to stand still, thus supernaturally prolonging their lighting effects, to give a miraculous victory to His people (Joshua 10:12).
Please don’t ever forget this: God moved yesterday, and He's still moving today. In fact, He’s ever ready to bare His powerful Arm in our favour, if we can only believe Him (Isaiah 53:1)). However, when God moves, we mustn’t remain where we are, because the beauty of life consists of moving with Him in His cloud of glory.
Sadly though, many people are accustomed to the seeming security of the sameness in everyday routines of life. For example, some people don't get born-again, and some others never receive the miracles that can beautify their lives, just because they simply want to “enjoy” their lives and all the trappings therein.
Changes can be so unsettling and challenging for some people. Rut-living can also become very accommodating, and so comfortable after a while that some cannot even envisage any meaningful change outside the box. Hence, like the old adage says, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."
Little wonder then that it’s often difficult to mould some people to conform to the image of Christ. Unfortunately, living spiritually unturned can also be very boring, very empty, monotonous, limiting and very unsatisfying.
More so, it is such a crime of personal injury as well as a grievous sin that spontaneously provokes the wrath of God (Deuteronomy 1:5-6). Certainly, there is no rest under the wrath of God (Hebrews 3:11).
See, sin doesn't always appear odious or appalling, but it’s destructive all the same. It may even sometimes appear fair and pleasant, but it’s vile altogether. It promises much, but performs nothing and only offers eternal regrets.
Sin comes in different colours and hues, with so many ways and shades, and could actually sometimes wear a garb of attractiveness. Hence, we shouldn’t just rely on our own physical eyes to see sin for what it truly is; we need the light of God’s Word to be able to see it appropriately.
The deceitfulness of sin hardens the soul. One sin allowed makes way for another. All heaven-bound citizens of God’s kingdom must beware of sin. Those who habitually allow themselves to derail from God’s way may soon regretfully desert Him.
Some hearts have become stiffened and are no longer amenable to the Holy Spirit's moulding. Such hearts find it quite difficult to move with God’s Glory Cloud, and they can't even be bent to do so unless they are broken to start with!
Meanwhile, stagnation should never be acceptable to us. We should always strive to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and align ourselves with whatever God wants to do with our lives (Hebrews 3:7-11).
Israel In the Wilderness
At some points in the wilderness experience of the Israelites, Moses made passionate pleas for God to “arise” for His people (Numbers 10:33-36). Those were classical prayers for change and progress.
The Presence of the Lord, the Ark of the Covenant and the Glory Cloud kept moving, and all obstacles and impediments against progress were being removed. Notwithstanding, as human nature runs true to form, some people in the camp weren’t eager to move with the Cloud.
Albeit, the cloud of God's glory kept moving on with those that were willing to move. See, those who want to stagnate cannot stop the movement of God. Alleluia!
Truth be told, moving with the Cloud is not child’s play. It requires creating tents and dismantling tents, constantly. So, understandably, many got tired of moving from camp to camp and adjusting to changes, and would rather wish to stay in their familiar terrain (Numbers 10:33-34).
Sadly however, sooner than later, they saw the foolishness of their unpalatable choices. They began to feel the full heat of the scorching sun, because the cloud that had been shielding them from the inclement elements had moved on while they were still lagging behind.
I imagine they at first thought it was a form of “climatic change”, but no, it was the absence of God in their situation. The Cloud above them was God’s miraculous intervention to shield them from the scorching sun.
They also soon discovered that they couldn't have any more breakfasts, because there was no manna anymore. Furthermore, to their utmost chagrin, they had no more pristine water. Why? Alas, the Rock that supplied them had also moved on with the Cloud!
See, many times, we get used to the goodness of God in our lives to the point of taking it for granted! Israel then complained in their foolishness, and the Lord was very angry with them (Numbers 11:1-3). Friends, this is a horrible danger to avoid at all cost!
Whenever God moves, we must be on the move with Him. It's quite dangerous to want to subsist on the anointing of yesterday to meet today's exigencies. We must be sensitive to God’s move always (Romans 8:14). Those who refuse this appeal cannot but sulk soonest.
No matter the frenzied supplications, or the frustration, there can be no provisions when the cloud has departed. Provisions are guaranteed only under the perimeter of God’s Glory Cloud! The Great Supplier of all good things always moves with His Glory Cloud. But, He arises and supplies all good things of life to those who move with Him.
Let’s choose to move together with the Cloud of God’s glory. Even if you don't fully understand it, as the case maybe sometimes, believe it and move with it. There is none, even the strongest of the flocks, that doesn’t need help from God and the fellowship of other Christians.
Friends and brethren, God is ready to decorate your life with His glory, and clothe you with the dew of His wonders. But, you must learn to keep your head under His Glory Cloud in all your journeys of destiny.
Survival isn’t possible without God. Those who move with His Glory Cloud are enriched with His goodness in the higher spiritual frontiers. But, those who draw back must dwell alone in a dry parched land, and experience the fury of the burning sun.
Let’s receive grace today, pack our treasures immediately, and head straightaway in the direction of God’s Glory Cloud. As we do, we will certainly find many things that we will feel good about, our spiritual growth will become phenomenal, and we shall never see shame again, in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen. Happy Sunday!
** Bishop Taiwo Akinola,
Rhema Christian Church,
Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
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