Led by God

Joe Wittwer | February 21, 2012

Scripture: Numbers 8-9, Acts 28

Numbers 9:21-23 Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and lifted the next morning.  But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and moved on.  22 Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on.  But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on.  23 So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them through Moses.

Acts 28:5 But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed.

Observation/application

The Israelites were led by God through the cloud that hovered over the Tabernacle.  If it stayed over the Tabernacle, they stayed put; if it lifted and moved, they moved.  I imagine they got up every morning and the first thing they did was look to Tabernacle: “are we moving today?”  Every day started by looking to God first: what are we doing today?

Christians are led by the Spirit (Romans 8, Galatians 5).  What if we began every day by looking to God, asking Him to lead us, and being willing to “do whatever the Lord told us”?  What if prayer was more about getting orders from God than giving orders to God?  Start each day by looking to God and listening for His marching orders.

Paul had marching orders.  God had told him twice (Acts 23:11, 27:24) that he was going to Rome to preach the gospel and would stand before Caesar.  So he was unafraid of the opposition of the Jews, the power of the Romans, the threat of a storm, or the poison of a snake.  When a poisonous snake bites him on the island of Malta, Paul just shakes it off into the fire.  I would have called for a medic and a prayer team!  He just shook it off!

One of the great benefits of being led by the Spirit and having marching orders from God is that you can live with confidence and fearlessness.  You are going to Rome: no storm, no snake can stop you!

Prayer:

Lord, I want to begin every day by looking to You, listening to You.  Please lead me, and I will follow.  I want marching orders from You!