Wait for the Cloud

Exodus 40:36-37 NKJV

Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up.

The cloud in the wilderness was symbolic of the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us that as children of God we are led by the Holy Spirit. We will find the greatest success in life when we move by the direction of the Lord. I imagine that sometimes the Israelites felt like moving when the cloud was still, or did not feel like moving when the cloud moved. However, if they were going to get where God intended them to go, they could not move when they felt like it. They had to move when God said to move. We do not have a physical object like they did, but we have the Holy Spirit in our spirits to do the same thing. We must grow and increase in our ability to be led by the Spirit of God, but we will not see much growth until we make a genuine effort to follow the “cloud” instead of our feelings.

Tell The Next Generation

Judges 2:10 NKJV

When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.

Some time after the children entered the Promised Land, a generation came up that did not know the Lord nor THE WORK HE DID FOR ISRAEL. How could this happen? Let us make sure we are not contributing to that situation that is reoccurring in our world. When we tell our testimonies of the great things God has done for us, let us make sure we do not just tell them to our peers, but share them with the next generation. Also, let us help get children and youth in Bible classes and other activities that will help them get educated about the goodness and greatness of our God. God told Moses in Exodus 10:1-2 that He expected the record of His great signs performed in Egypt to be told to the children and grandchildren so they would know who is the Lord.

The Battle for Man Unchanged

Genesis 3:3-4 NKJV:

"but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die." (I added underline for emphasis.)

Nothing has changed from the beginning. God gives instructions to man and Satan suggests an alternative. Proverbs 14:12 tells us that there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end result is death. How does man find out the way that “seems right?” He listens to the devil. My friends, this is a constant battle - still going on from thousands of years ago. All the destructive things in our world are the result of this same mess. God says something and the devil comes to suggest that God is depriving us and we should make an alternative decision to be happy. IT NEVER WORKS. Let’s review Genesis 3 and when we hear a suggestion that goes contrary to the Word of God, let us remember that it’s nothing new and the results are the same. Let’s choose to take dominion over our flesh and obey God who came to give us abundant life. (John 10:10)

Never Give Up!

John 5:5-9 NKJV

Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”

The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”

Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

I don’t know how long this man had been hanging around the pool but it sounds like he had been there more than one day. In addition to that. it sounds like he had not given up yet. He complained that he didn’t have help to get in the pool at the right time but he was still there waiting. Sometimes, we can feel like we don’t have what it takes to get what we need from God. We can feel like our faith is not strong enough. We can feel like we can’t get where we need to be for different reasons. However, let’s learn something important from this man who hung around the pool of Bethesda. As long as he was there, there was a possibility he could get what he needed. One day, that possibility became a reality when Jesus met him where he was and mercy helped him into the pool of God’s grace. We may not have all it takes, but let us continue to stay in a place where God’s presence lives, where the Lord can touch us and manifest His glory in our lives. Let’s stay in prayer, in praise and continue to speak God’s Word. Let’s stay in a church where people believe in miracles. God is so good, His mercy may meet us where we are and pull us up to where we need to be so we can experience the wonder of His grace and give Him the glory.

Mysteries of the Kingdom

Last night I dreamed that a bird came to the nest that is on a ceiling fan in my carport. (In reality, the bird that laid the eggs in that nest was a very small one. It had abandoned the eggs for some reason. I’m not sure if she was still alive or not. I just know she left the eggs before they were hatched.)  The bird in the dream was much bigger than the one who laid the eggs. She was bent over as if she was doing something to the eggs with her mouth. I could not see what she was doing but wished I could know what was going on.

I believe the time has come for me to remove that nest from the ceiling fan and dispose of it. The larger bird symbolizes an outsider coming to interfere with what does not belong to them. My looking and wondering was indicative of my caring but being unable to help. My conclusion to get rid of the nest (after awaking) is a result of my needing to move on and eliminate the distraction of human impossibilities. I tried to make sure I waited long enough to give ample time for the mother to return if she was going to. I now realize I cannot do anything else to remedy that situation. There are no impossibilities with God, but He works with human will. When we do not yield to Him, He is limited in what He can do because He gave us the power of choice. That may be why the scripture says, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV

Finding Praise 2

Psalm 2:4 NKJV

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.

The second psalm is a prophetic one that was quoted by the disciples in Acts 4 after they were persecuted. They were asking God for boldness to continue to proclaim the gospel despite the persecution they were receiving. As was normal for the saints in the Old and New Testaments, they opened their prayer with praise to God. They referred to this psalm to point out that the leaders never outsmart God. As in the case of the crucifixion of Christ, they only did what God determined had to be done to fulfill the plan of salvation. So the psalmist exalts the Lord as far above all men regardless of their position. God is not impressed by what wicked men can do. The Lord laughs at their pride, knowing they will be cut down in judgment. The psalmist concludes by saying, “Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” Praise the Lord!