Is the Cloud Still There?

Exodus 40: 36-38

“In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.”

After reading multiple chapters on how the tabernacle of God was to be set up I am facing Leviticus now. I can hear God saying, “Yep that is next.”  I can hear myself saying “really Carl?” 

This verse reminds me of when I was a kid.  Mom would say “boys go clean your room, the way I like it.”  We would rush around putting things away and cleaning up and when we were done, in our eyes, we would look at it and say “Is this the the mom likes it?”  Well, needless to say the answer was no for a long time until we learned how she liked it. 

As Christians we often do the exact same thing.  We start out hearing from God to go clean up our rooms and just like when I was a kid, we don’t finish very well.  In these verses it says that God stayed as a cloud by day and a cloud of fire by night above the tabernacle.  When the cloud lifted the Israelites moved to the next place. 

It all sounds simple until you realize the direction in life is not your own.  God was teaching this young nation to move only when God moves and in mean time, stand, trust, and know that “He is God” (Psalms 46:10).  How simple it sounds for us to listen and follow God.  Often times we say yes with much vigor and excitement and then comes the waiting on God part that seems to test our resolve and commitment.  I can see some of the Israelites getting up in the morning and seeing if the cloud has been lifted yet. 

Maybe you have become so used to seeing nothing move in your life for so long that you forgot to look and see if God has moved yet.  Today reflect on your vision and God’s movement in your life.  Do you move when God moves or do you go willy nilly and move because you think your plan is better? 

Father, help us focus on your movement in our lives and be content with trusting in you in the waiting.  Amen.