“God’s Presence is everything”
Numbers 9:15-23
During the fighting between the government forces and the MNLF last September 2013, we saw on TV that the government forces were supported by tanks as they advanced towards their objective. The soldiers were using the tanks as shields so that the bullets from the enemy will not hit them. Whenever the tanks moved forward, the soldiers also moved forward. When the tanks moved to the right, the soldiers also moved to the right. When the tanks stopped, the soldiers also stopped. It would be dangerous for the soldiers to move when the tanks were stationary, and it would also be dangerous for the soldiers to stop when the tanks were moving. The safety of the soldiers depended on their movement with the tanks. As long as they stayed close to the tanks they had the protection, but when they were separated from the tanks, they were in danger.
As God’s children, God’s presence in our lives is everything. We cannot go on with our lives all by ourselves, and we cannot expect victory when we are away from the presence of God. This is the message that God gave to the people of Israel through Moses as recorded in Numbers 9:15-23.
This passage talks about the experience of the Israelites while they were in the wilderness as they moved towards the promise land. The presence of the Lord was manifested through a cloud that descended on the tabernacle. The cloud was a great thing for the people as they journeyed through the desert. Deserts can sometimes be treacherous because it can be very hot during the day, but very cold during the night. The cloud protected the people from the blistering heat of the sun during the day and from the freezing cold at night because it became a pillar of fire which provided light and heat for the travelers.
When the cloud ascended, the people gathered their belongings and followed the cloud. When the cloud stopped and descended, the people encamped where the cloud stopped. Sometimes the cloud stayed for a short time in a place, but sometimes it stayed for a long time. As long as the cloud stayed, the people stayed. When the cloud moved, the people moved.
The first principle that we can learn from the experience of the Israelites is that God’s presence secures our steps. We are in this world full of darkness and dangers, but we are in the presence of God we are safe. If we do not have the presence of God, we can make steps that could destroy us. But with his presence in our lives, we can never go wrong because he is the light that guides our way.
Several years ago, I was teaching at Mount Apo Alliance Bible College. One evening a neighbor knocked at our door asking for help because his wife was very sick, and he wanted us to bring her to the hospital. I drove the school’s vehicle to the hospital which was 40 kilometers away. While we were on the road and traveling at 100 kilometers per hour, the light of the vehicle suddenly went off. There was total darkness. I had to slam on the brakes and prayed that we would not hit anything. Fortunately, the vehicle stopped in the middle of the road. I tried to fix the light before proceeding because I did not dare move ahead without our lights fixed, otherwise we would be in danger. Instead of saving the life of the sick person, all of us could be lost if we continued without light.
When we know that God goes ahead of us, we can be sure that our destiny will be bright, but when he does not go ahead of us our future is dark and filled with misery. For the Israelites, determining God’s presence was not a problem because they had the cloud to tell them about it. The real challenge for us today is how to determine where God is present so that we can align our steps in that direction.
I believe we can determine the presence of God through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. When we are in constant communication with God, he will grip our hearts with his presence and lead us in the right direction. Apostle Paul wanted to go to Asia Minor, but was led by the Spirit to go to Macedonia. David Livingstone planned to go to China, but God led him to Africa, to be its missionary-statesman, general and explorer. Alexander Mackay prepared for work in Madagascar, but was directed to Uganda, to aid in founding one of the most remarkable missions in the world. William Carey proposed to go to the South Sea, but was guided divinely to India, to give the Bible in their native tongue to its teeming millions. These men had a close communion with God and they sensed God’s presence in their lives and ministries.—J. H. Bomberger.
I also believe that we can determine the presence of God when we look at the circumstances God allows to come to us. When Apostle Paul was brought to Rome as a prisoner in order to appear before Ceasar, he experienced ship wreck. However, in the midst of the confusion and chaos, Paul was assured of God’s presence through the angel who stood beside him. God sends his messengers to confirm his presence in our lives.
Dr. David Ramirez an evangelist from Argentina was asking God for his leading in relation to the future of a theological seminary. The theological seminary was in need of a lot. As he was looking for a lot where the theological seminary would be erected, he came across a lot that was reserved for a cemetery. He asked the owner of the lot if he would be interested to sell it to a seminary. The owner told him that if he could come up with the money in one month’s time, then the lot would be sold to him. But that time he had no money to buy the lot. The following week, a man from St. Paul Minnesota, USA called up the headquarters of Dr. David Ramirez and asked if there is a theological seminary in Latin America that was in need of a lot. The staff of Dr. Ramirez told the man that there was a lot in Argentina for the seminary but they had no money to buy it. The man from St. Paul wrote a check of $10m for the said project. Dr. Ramirez used the money to buy the lot, and today a flourishing theological seminary is established in that place.
When you sense God’s messengers confirming your steps, God’s presence is there and your steps will find success.
The second thing I noticed in this passage is God’s presence determines our stops. The Israelites would encamp when the cloud stopped in a particular place. They would not set out when the cloud settled. It would have been suicide if they went ahead without the presence of God. Most of us are in a hurry to get somewhere and we consider ourselves as failures when we do not move ahead. However, moving ahead will be fruitless and often times dangerous when the presence of God is not with us.
Phillips Brooks was a noted preacher in the New England area. One day his friend visited him and noticed that Phillips Brooks was restless. His friend asked him: “What seems to be the problem Mr. Brooks?” He answered: “I am in a hurry, but God is not!”
How often do we find ourselves frustrated because we do not seem to get things done? We need to remember that God orders our steps as well as our stops.
Martin Luther was the greatest leader of the reformation in Germany in the 15 hundreds. He exposed the corruption of the church and he challenged the leaders of the church to debate when he nailed his ninety five theses on the church’s door. When Martin Luther appeared before the council in Germany, he denounced the corruption of the church of his time and refused to recant his statements against the abuses of the church. While he was on his way home, he was kidnapped by heavily armed men and was brought to a castle. Martin Luther could not understand why he was kept inside the castle because he wanted to go out and preach. Later he knew that the kidnappers were men under the command of his friend Frederick the Wise the protector of Germany. Under the order of Frederick, the soldiers placed Martin Luther under protective custody because his enemies were planning to kill him just like what happened to John Huss in Bohemia. If Martin Luther was not stopped by the soldiers of his friend, he could have died in the hands of his enemies. And it was during this stay in that castle that Martin Luther wrote his greatest works. He also wrote hymns which are still available today. God’s presence determines our stops.
When we are tempted to think that we must do something because when we do not do something nothing will be done, let us be reminded that there are times we just have to be still because when we are still in the presence of God, God will do great things.
E. Stanley Jones was a Methodist missionary and he was admired by so many people for his accomplishment especially in India. He was considered the Billy Graham of India and brought the Christian faith to millions. His motto was: “With God anywhere, but without him not one step from the threshold.” E. Stanley Jones would wait for days, weeks or even months before doing something until he was sure God’s presence was there with him.
Great movements in church history were brought about by men and women who were willing to wait upon God. Benedict of Nursia was instrumental in establishing one of the most enduring movements in church history. From the 5th century up to the present the men and women who followed Benedict still impact the church and the world through prayer, study and work. Big corporations have come and gone. Empires rose and fell. Mega churches have flourished and disappeared, but the movement led by Benedict of Nursia remained strong because they learned the secret of staying close to the master.
I believe what God said to the prophet Isaiah remains true. Isaiah 40:31. But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. May God bless you.
