Week 7 Day 2 – What’s at the Center?

Numbers 9:15-23

How did God lead His people in the desert?  Did He sit down with Moses and map out a strategic plan for how they were going to systematically march on Canaan and take it over?  No.  God led His people with two fundamental principles.  If we would simply follow these principles, much of the stress in our lives would be removed. 

1.  Live principle centered lives.  God established the Law for His people so that the people could be whole and holy.  It was a simple plan...obey and live.  Admit that God has a much better plan for living than you do, give up trying to run your own life, and submit to the authority of scripture and the Holy Spirit which is at work in your life.

2.  Follow the cloud.  The first time this principle really came through clearly for me was when I read about it in Gordon MacDonald’s book Ordering Your Private World.  He talked about the difference between being driven and being led.  A driven person has specific, tangible objectives that he has set and has attached his self-worth and significance in life contingent upon the completion of these goals.  He is driven to accomplish these goals at all costs.  A led person has yielded her life to the authority of God.  She wakes up in the morning and says, "Lord, how may I serve you today?  What are my orders?"  This doesn’t mean that she isn’t organized or doesn’t set goals and objectives for the plan of her week (that is a matter of personality type and time management issues).  The difference between being driven and being led is one of the attitude of the heart. 

In the book of Numbers the people of Israel did not know where they were going.  None of them had ever been there before.  They were trusting that God had their best interest in mind, so they simply "followed the cloud." As individuals, as families, and as a church, we need to continually check our hearts against these two principles.  Are we submitting ourselves to the authority of God each day?  Are we creating space in our lives, both individually and corporately, to clear out the clutter and distraction so that we can hear the voice of God and discern which direction the cloud is moving?

May we be a people that can see the cloud of God, discern where it is moving and, no matter where it goes or what the cost, may we have the courage to follow it.

Week 7 Day 1 – A Blessing

Numbers 6:22-27

Spend some time reading this blessing slowly.  Read it out loud.  Stop on each key word and ask yourself, "How is this aspect of God true or not true in my life right now?"

Bless -- to bless is the Hebrew word barak which means to bow before someone; to be for someone and not against.  Do I feel like God is for me today?

Keep -- God is your guardian.  He is the watcher and keeper of your life and your soul.  Have you trusted yourself to God’s protection, or are you trying to defend yourself?

His face -- Here is the key to the gospel, the good news, of the entire Bible.  God is facing you.  In the Old Testament the image of facing someone was an image of showing that person that you loved them and were interested in their well-being and in having a relationship with that person.  Think about our human relationships.  When you are fighting with your spouse, friend, child, or parent, the natural tendency is to turn away from them.  When we are in good relationship we turn toward them, open our arms to them, and draw them into a loving embrace.  God is facing you.  His arms are wide open.  Your salvation is at hand in the strong, protective, loving arms of your Heavenly Father.  Are His arms around you today?

 Gracious -- of course the concept of grace follows quickly on the tail of the image of God’s loving embrace.  That is because it is only on account of His graciousness that we can receive that embrace.  An embrace from a mutual friend is wonderful, but the authentic embrace of forgiveness in the arms of someone whom we have truly offended is infinitely more meaningful.  When God embraces us it is not because we deserve it, but because He has extended forgiveness to us, has cleansed us from sin, and is willing to restore our broken relationship.  Are you receiving God’s grace in your life today, or are you allowing shame to stiff arm God?

 Peace -- This is the final piece of the equation.  When the strong arms of the father graciously embrace you, the result is peace.  In that strong embrace nothing can harm you.  You are not in conflict with God, you are not struggling with yourself, and you are safe from your enemies.  This is peace, this is the Kingdom of God.  Are you experiencing this peace today?

One more thought from this blessing.  Many scholars see the Trinity present in this blessing.  The Father is the strong protector.  The Son is the means of Grace through which we have access to the embrace.  The Spirit is the Spirit of peace through whom we experience the loving embrace and the daily walking in the Kingdom of God.

Now try saying this blessing to another person…and really meaning it. How does it change your outlook on that person? 

May this meditation encourage your soul today.