Numbers 9:23, commentary and pictures

At the Lord's command Israel pitched their tents and rested and at His command they broke camp and journeyed, keeping His charge through Moses with every movement governed by Him in appointed order. He made His will known by the pillar of cloud over the tabernacle, resting low upon it as the sign to abide and lifting high above it as the sign to move, with cloud by day and fire by night leading and sheltering them in the sight of all. In resting and journeying they kept perfect order, each tribe pitching and marching under its own standard in its commanded place around the tabernacle, with the ark of the law going before to lead the way and borne in the midst by its appointed bearers. The cloud that signaled their rest and movement was Christ Himself, guiding them to resting places and watching over and protecting them, so directing every journey for their good and His glory to teach them dependence and obedience. As they advanced when led forward and halted when bidden to wait, His people still are to keep in step with His guidance, not moving on human plans but waiting where duty holds them and moving with prayerful, cheerful trust when He shows the way.

God's Direction in the Wilderness

At the command of the Lord Israel rested in tents and at the command of the Lord they journeyed, keeping the charge of the Lord at the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses. Every movement was governed by God's direction and followed an appointed order. God Himself directed every resting and journeying through the wilderness.

He signified His will by the pillar of cloud over the tabernacle. When the cloud rested low directly over the tabernacle it was the command to pitch their tents and abide there until He would have them move, and when the cloud of glory was lifted high above the tabernacle it was the command to journey again. The cloud of the Lord by day and fire by night in the sight of all Israel made His will plain, leading and protecting them through the wilderness. The place of encampment was shown by the descent of the pillar of cloud, and as long as it rested there the people remained in camp, but when it lifted they set out.

Keeping the charge through Moses meant obedience to direction given through Moses. Moses and Aaron went in front, and the sons of Aaron gave the directions by distinct sounds of trumpets. The ark containing the law of God went before to lead the way, and the sacred ark was borne in the midst by the appointed family of the Levites. The tabernacle was built to be taken to pieces and borne along, and was erected when they rested.

In all their resting and journeying they observed perfect order. Every tribe bore a standard with the sign of its father's house and pitched and marched under its own standard in commanded positions around the tabernacle at a distance from it. Failure to obey was punished with death. Both the halt and the departure were marked by a solemn invocation to the Lord.

The cloud that signaled rest and movement was Christ, the Son of God, guiding them to places of rest and directing their journeys. He led and watched over them and protected them throughout their travels. God so directed every journeying for the good of the people and the glory of God. Their wilderness travel taught them to depend on His guidance and obey His commands.

Following His Guidance Today

Israel advanced when led forward and halted when directed to wait, and God's people are to keep in step with that same guidance rather than remaining spiritually still. They are not to follow plans of their own or move ahead on human plans, but to remain where duty requires until He leads them to move. In advancing when His Spirit leads forward and halting when He directs to wait, human beings cooperate with divine power.

The only safe course is to be ready to move just when the cloud moves, moving understandingly and prayerfully and praying for direction. His people are to trust His guidance and move forward with cheerful trust and faithful obedience even when the way ahead cannot be seen, because He sees it and leads by the safe course. He is willing to make known right early where to locate His work, and He signifies by providence when to leave a place.

While the cloud remained over the tabernacle the tents were not to be taken down, and its continued presence was the sign to stay. So His people should wait for His indication before making changes and continue the work appointed for that time rather than acting hastily. They are to trust Him to show the right time for a stay and for a change of place, waiting when He directs a stay and moving when He directs a move.

That staying called for continuing a camp meeting because the time remained for seeking the Lord and warning people under conviction. That moving called for leaving Battle Creek and for seeking early divine direction in locating His work and the publishing house. That same principle applies to remaining in a home until God directs a move elsewhere.

Israel's resting and journeying in perfect order teaches that God requires thorough organization, discipline, and prompt obedience in His work. Their example calls for careful obedience and praise rather than murmuring and complaint.