How many times in a day do you and I “look up?” That may be an odd question at first. If a poll was taken, I’d guess that not everyone here on earth looks up at the sky every day. Our eyes are drawn to down-to-earth living. We often speak of being on vacation and catching a sunrise or sunset, but some only notice those daily joys when they’re on holiday – not every day.
My husband and I enjoy the sunrise most mornings as we sip our coffee together and interact over our plans for the day. Then we separate to head off to a quiet corner of our home to spend time reading our Bibles and then speaking and listening to our Heavenly Father. It’s there we commit our agenda of plans and activities for God’s intervention and/or redirection.
Prov 20:24 “A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?”
All through God’s Word, we’re told that God is sovereign, almighty, all-knowing, and present everywhere. He knows everything about “each of us” and is surprised by nothing. And yes, He longs to be involved in the “details” of everyone’s life…. upon our invitation. I’d guess to say that most people either don’t believe that, or don’t want that involvement. We can be like two-year-old and say, “I do it myself.” How foolish we can be. How thrilling to have the Creator of our world and each life on earth want to be intimately involved in the events of our daily, oatmeal-like life.
Just the other day I began the journey of reading through the Bible, from beginning to end. I’ve done that many, many times. But rather than read three or four chapters, just to get through the Bible in a year, I’ve been choosing to read to absorb, learn and enjoy the events portrayed. It’s like I want to climb onto the pages and “live out in my thoughts” what’s portrayed on paper of those real-life events.
I love it that God paints people and circumstances just as they are, not as we wish they’d be. The Bible is a real-life journey into a wide variety of personalities, challenges, agreeable and disagreeable people, sinful behavior and their consequences. His paintbrush of truths was carried by His Holy Spirit onto a wide variety of men who wrote what they heard and saw. It’s the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
My eyes were stepping into the second book in the Bible, Exodus. God had seen the awful oppression of His people, the Israelites, by the Egyptians. He had given Moses the “Divine assignment” of his life at age 80. So, if you’re feeling your age, be encouraged that God desires to use each of His children at any age, 8, 80 or l08. If you’re breathing and still here, He has things for you to do.
My heart stood still when I read the commentary by Dr. David Jeremiah on Exodus, chapter 2. It’s too good to pass up, so I’m sharing it with you.
“As the Israelite journey into that vast wilderness began, the Lord reassured His people with the CLOUD OF HIS PRESENCE, showing them WHERE and WHEN to CAMP. But that meant that they had to WATCH THE CLOUD EVERY DAY. When it STAYED, they stayed. When it MOVED, they LOADED UP and FOLLOWED.
Knowing that God goes ahead of us removes so much of the fear from the dramatic changes in life. In such seasons, however, it is easy for us to become preoccupied with our situation and take our eyes off THE CLOUD.
Our all-knowing, Omniscient Leader has promised to guide our steps and give us the wisdom we need (Prov 16:9; James 1: 5-7), but we must first set aside our anxiety, quiet our hearts, and set our minds on seeking HIS WILL and HIS TIMING (Phil 4:6-7). That way, when the CLOUD MOVES, we will be READY.”
Honesty prevailing, I went outside later and looked up….and I saw no clouds, but it made me “think.” The desert wilderness is vaguely bland, with no billboards or caution signs and the weather is “warm.”
As the 2+ million people traveled along, following God’s presence (the CLOUD), it wasn’t difficult to get too distracted, I would think. The Israelites were glad to get out of the country where they were so mistreated.
The leaders and people would be keen to follow this CLOUD. They had their directions from God through Moses….and their focus would be “upward.”
I don’t know where you are in your journey with Jesus Christ, or perhaps you’re not even sure you want to journey with Him.
Jesus said: “I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
As long as the people followed “the Cloud,” they would have clear direction because God was “with them” in the presence of the Cloud. Amazingly, our God wanted His own to realize that He wanted to walk “with them to the Promised Land.” Why? I think God wanted to show the people that He cared and would give them direction each and every day, as they kept their “focus” on the Cloud.
Haven’t you ever wished for “road signs” here on earth? You know, so His will would be clear and precise. We’d read the sign and say, “Got it.” And hopefully we’d be off and running “in His revealed will” on the sign we just read. But how would our “faith grow.” Remember, we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
Today we have His Word, His presence within us through His indwelling Holy Spirit (if we’ve given our life over to Him) and guided circumstances to accompany our life. Their walk in the desert was “moment-by-moment” and “day-by-day” just like ours. Not everyone is in the desert. We are, because we currently live in Arizona; but all of our individual life paths are before our God, just like the Israelites.
When Jesus said He is the “Way,” He’s saying stay close to Him in a moment-by-moment, day-by-day walk, interacting with Him throughout the day, as you would a friend or guide on a hike in unknown territory. Every moment in the future is unknown to us, but known to Him.
I wonder if we just had a sign to read and move on…. we may be tempted not to draw close to Him. It’s “intimacy in our walk” that builds our character and faith.
Well, I have no idea where you are at this time; but my husband and I are preparing for a BIG TRANSITION. We’ve done our part, as God has led us, but our eyes are fixed on Him (The Cloud).
Cups of Cold Water 