Time to Move Forward

O. T. #317  "Time to Move Forward"
July 9, 2014
Numbers 10-Part 2
The children of Israel took their journey out of the wilderness of Sinai: and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.  Numbers 10:12

*Forgive me for not writing yesterday, but our church is in Vacation Bible School this week, and I suddenly became the director. Also, I attended my cousin's funeral yesterday morning. Thanks for your faithful, friends in continuing on this road of faith with me.

LET IT GLOW

To me, it is more fun and exciting to pack and get ready for a trip than when I return home. Perhaps it is all the laundry to be done and the putting away of things that bog me down. I know that I should not let it zap the joy I experienced on the trip.

Well, the time had come for Israel to move on toward their Promised Land that flowed with milk and honey, Canaan, the land God would give to His children. The priests were watching the cloud to notice when it moved. That was the signal for the camp to start walking on. It was time to go forward.

Doesn't Jesus want us move on, walk by faith, go forward in our journey of life? Isn't that how our faith grows? Are we ready to follow His leading, conquer those trial and temptations, overcome the giants standing in our way? Reach our promised land? Are we ready? It is time to go forward, friends. Get your shoes of faith on. Get packed, and bring your Bible. There's an exciting journey ahead as we continue reading about Israel. Lots of lessons for us to learn are around the bend.


LET IT GROW

Finally, in an orderly and obedient fashion, Israel departed from Sinai as the Lord commanded through Moses.  Only 13 months after the Exodus from Egypt and 11 months after the arrival at Sinai, Israel began to march toward Canaan. (verses 11-28) (MacArthur)

We read the twelve leaders of the first generation of Israel noted here for the fourth and final time in the book of Numbers. The tribe of Judah was given preeminence as the ruling tribe. They led the march toward the Promised Land.

God leads His people in an orderly way, each tribe was placed at a specific place around the tabernacle and each section moving as the trumpets commanded.

Does He expect any less from us? If we listen, He will give us specific directions on His will for us today. Are we listening?

As Moses would later write, The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, "Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: Turn you, and take your journey... to the land of the Canaanites... Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them. (Deut. 1:6-8)

The cloud moved off the Tabernacle, so it was time for the Israelites to move. They journeyed out of the wilderness of Sinai and rested in the wilderness of Paran.

Paran can be identified as that large central wilderness of Sinai. (Falwell)

How excited the people must have been to finally get going. Did they leave those idols behind? Did they stop questioning Moses? Did they march right up to those enemies and slay them? What could it have been like for this first generation of Israelites? Did they get to see and live in their wonderful land? Hum. Stay with us to find out the answers.

Are you ready to move on, leave those old attitudes, criticisms, judgings, differences behind? I am ready to step by faith. It is time to go forward.

LET IT GO

Leave behind those hurt feelings, discouraging words, criticisms, differences.

Repent and obey God.

Experience the blessings of God as I follow Him by faith.

Love Jesus with all my heart and give Him the glory for all He does.