Do the Things Pertaining to God

Numbers 9:15–17 (ESV) On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. 16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. 17 And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped.

We come to Numbers 9-10 to read about the incredible detail of Israel's commitment to follow the presence of the Lord. If the Lord's presence, represented by the cloud and pillar of fire didn't move, they didn't move. If He did move, Israel moved. And with repetitive, almost redundant speech, the writer makes certain we understand as God moved, so did Israel.

Yes, Israel was stuck like glue to their God. They longed to be where He was, intimately. Notice the delineated description:

Numbers 9:19–20 (ESV) Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they remained in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they set out.

Perhaps it was fear of the unknown. Perhaps it was fear of their past or apprehension of their future. Perhaps they were completely aware of just how new everything was for them and God's guiding hand was LIFE and LIGHT! Young believers are like that. It's wonderful to see. It's horrible to watch fade.

Why were they so tied to God's presence? I think the earlier part of Numbers 9 informs us. Remember that Israel has just celebrated the Passover for the second time. I bet the refresher course the Passover provided concerning their great deliverance from slavery drew their hearts in close to follow their God as closely as they could! That night was a special night for them. It was a defining moment. Now they were back to celebrating it together. It turned their hearts toward God.

Numbers 9:23 (ESV) At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out. They kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by Moses.

I believe this passage is teaching us something important about the rituals of our faith. Rituals are repeated actions we take to teach us and remind us. We may deride them. We may think they are formulaic and cold. While they can get cold, they also provide important heart reminders as to who we are and what God has made us to be. 

When we properly keep our rituals before God I believe our hearts are drawn closer to His presence. As the Passover reminded Israel of their own deliverance, the Lord's supper reminds us of ours in Christ's blood. Going to church reminds us we are not alone, that God is alive, Jesus is working and there are wonderful truths to behold. Reading our Bible and prayer are heart transformative moments when we disconnect with the world and focus on our Father's good work toward us. 

We must see the value of coming back to the table, the congregation, the Word and the Lord again and again. We do these things to remind our hearts that we belong to Him and He is good.

There can be no doubt that distancing yourself from the practice of the faith will lower your taste for the presence of God. Not putting regular faith practices into your life will suck the life of faith out of you. However, the opposite is true. Pouring time into these matters draws us closer to the presence. If you want to hunger for the presence of God, do the things that pertain to God. It will call you in. It will form your heart. It will shape your appetite.

I am just like you. I have a hard time sitting down, opening my Bible and doing this. I've been doing this for three years. However, every time I do it, my heart is awakened and enlivened. I feel His presence and I am drawn in.

Amen.