Set Out.

my family and i have been reading through the book of Numbers. it is a very interesting book of the ways that God wants His people to live set apart lives. tonight, the chapter we read made me laugh and then it made me think.

"Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; whenever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. At the Lord's command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped..." (verses 17-18)

 Numbers 9:15-23 says "set out" nine times. it is very repetitive but why is that important?

before we figure out why, let's learn some history. The Israelites were on their way to the Promised Land. they were following the cloud of the Spirit of God through the desert. and the Tent was their Tabernacle, the place where God dwelled among His people.

every day, the people would look to the Tabernacle and look to the Cloud of God to see if they were to stay ENCAMPED or if God was leading them to SET OUT.

"When the cloud remained over the Tabernacle a long the, the Israelites obeyed the Lord's order and did not set out. Sometimes the cloud was over the Tabernacle only a few days, at the Lord's command they would encamp and then at His command they would set out." (verses 19-20)





so why is this important and how does it apply to me?

what if we lived like this? if you have asked Jesus to come into your heart you are a part of God's family, of His chosen people. He has now asked you to follow Him every day. He has given you His Spirit to lead you and guide you.

just like the Israelites looked to the cloud everyday to see if they should stay encamped or if they should set out. we, as God's chosen people, should live like that also. look to God everyday, listen to His voice and ask Him if you should "stay encamped" or if He is calling to "set out."