Slices
Prepare
‘Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet, Or we’ll walk by his side in the way; What he says we will do, where he sends we will go; Never fear, only trust and obey.’*
*John H Sammis, 1846–1919, ‘Trust and Obey’
Bible passage
The cloud above the tabernacle
15 On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. 16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites set up camp. 18 At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they set up camp. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle for only a few days; at the Lord’s command they would set up camp, and then at his command they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. 22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the Lord’s command they set up camp, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses.
Explore
An extract from the memoirs of Pagiel, the eldest son of Okran, an Asherite: We are settling into a routine now, living in the wilderness. Each morning, as soon as I wake up, I look out of my tent to see whether the cloud of the Lord’s presence is covering the tabernacle (v 16). As the leader of the tribe, I feel the responsibility to get this right, ensuring that everyone is packed up and ready to move when the time comes.
At first I had been unsure how we would know which way to go, where to camp, how far to travel each day, how to pace our travelling and rest days, so that everyone was able to keep up. But it soon became clear that God was in control and our role was to trust him, and obey his marching orders.
I don’t always understand why we stay so long in some places, and why we move on quite quickly in others, but I am glad that the cloud over the tabernacle makes God’s intentions very clear (v 18)!
Respond
Can you think of a time when you have been guided by God? How easy was it to understand his directions? How easy was it to trust that he had got it right?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Esther 1–3; Psalm 79
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray that as the Board meets today, the trustees and Leadership team will together have a clear sense of what God is saying and understand his direction. Pray that they will know the most effective ways of ensuring that the movement complies with legal requirements and conforms to best practice while keeping the focus on mission.
Because a strong start begins with smart preparation
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