Exodus 40: 34-38
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the
tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on
it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.36 In all the travels of the Israelites,
whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the
cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud of the LORD
was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the
Israelites during all their travels.
By Jake Reiter::.
When I first read this I thought two things:
First, that is sweet! A cloud was over the tabernacle during the day and fire was in it at
night?! How cool is that? Being someone who enjoys bonfires (mild-pyro) I could only
imagine this scene for all of Israel to see.
Second, How stupid can Israel be? They doubt all throughout the Old Testament,
thinking God won’t take care of them, praying to false idols, and cursing Moses for
taking them out of Egypt. Yet we see that God is guiding them to where they need to go,
to grow and to trust Him more. It baffles me that Israel could doubt time and time again
even after all these signs.
But then that got me thinking: Don’t I doubt like this almost DAILY? When a trial comes
up one of my first thoughts is “Why God?” rather then “Thank you God for what you are
trying to teach me.” In my stubbornness I start to complain and whine, just like Israel. I
doubt that God is sovereign at times and has good plans for my future. If He loves me so
much why is He allowing me to go through this?
God wants you to grow through these situations in your life. Whether it’s something big
or small, the trial always has the same purpose: to make you depend more on Him and
less on yourself, and for you ultimately to grow into the person He designed you to be.
Look at 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 “9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for
my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about
my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I
delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I
am weak, then I am strong.”
When we rely on God more than ourselves we will find true peace, true satisfaction, and
true growth. Don’t doubt His will, rather lean into Him. When God gives you something,
whether that be a trial or a joy, trust that it is meant to grow you into the person you were
designed to be.
