The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Numbers 10:29-32,
"Now Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, 'We are setting out for the place about which the Lord said, "I will give it to you." Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.' He answered, 'No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own people.' But Moses said, 'Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the Lord gives us.'"
Hobab, Moses' brother-in-law, was apparently very well versed in the lay of the land in which Israel would wander. Moses appealed to him to remain with them as they were getting organized to head out.This might have been very helpful to Moses as he led the people in locating pasture, springs and the like. At first he refused saying he wanted to head back to his homeland and then, apparently relented and agreed to go with the Israelites.
Earlier in the chapter we are told the Israelites followed the cloud of the Lord to the Desert of Paran, verses 11-12. From this it appears to me that the exact location of where Israel would go to follow the Lord was something of a joint venture between the Israelites and the Lord.
It seems as if the Lord would provide the vicinity of where Israel was to move to, but that the specific campsite was determined by Moses and his advisors (in this case Hobab). The Lord told Moses and Israel what to do, but left room for a part they would play in choosing their campsites.
It seems to me that today the Lord often does something similar with the church. He gives us direction, and often very specific direction, but at other times he leaves room for our own input into what the Lord wants done.
I think the calling of Paul and his famous missionary trips is a great illustration of this. First, in Romans 1:1,5 Paul introduces himself as being called by God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. In reaching the Gentiles he often appeared to make his own decisions (not always) in which direction to take to fulfill his mission. He tells us in Romans 15:17-22 of his own ambition that set his direction in his missionary trips:
"Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. Rather, as it is written: 'Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.' This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you."
"Now Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, 'We are setting out for the place about which the Lord said, "I will give it to you." Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.' He answered, 'No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own people.' But Moses said, 'Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the Lord gives us.'"
Hobab, Moses' brother-in-law, was apparently very well versed in the lay of the land in which Israel would wander. Moses appealed to him to remain with them as they were getting organized to head out.This might have been very helpful to Moses as he led the people in locating pasture, springs and the like. At first he refused saying he wanted to head back to his homeland and then, apparently relented and agreed to go with the Israelites.
Earlier in the chapter we are told the Israelites followed the cloud of the Lord to the Desert of Paran, verses 11-12. From this it appears to me that the exact location of where Israel would go to follow the Lord was something of a joint venture between the Israelites and the Lord.
It seems as if the Lord would provide the vicinity of where Israel was to move to, but that the specific campsite was determined by Moses and his advisors (in this case Hobab). The Lord told Moses and Israel what to do, but left room for a part they would play in choosing their campsites.
It seems to me that today the Lord often does something similar with the church. He gives us direction, and often very specific direction, but at other times he leaves room for our own input into what the Lord wants done.
I think the calling of Paul and his famous missionary trips is a great illustration of this. First, in Romans 1:1,5 Paul introduces himself as being called by God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. In reaching the Gentiles he often appeared to make his own decisions (not always) in which direction to take to fulfill his mission. He tells us in Romans 15:17-22 of his own ambition that set his direction in his missionary trips:
"Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. Rather, as it is written: 'Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.' This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you."
Food for thought today in carrying out what the Lord is asking from each of us. At times he provides us general guidance and then leaves the specifics of execution up to us. I find this wonderful as it is that very kind of thing we can often find satisfaction, fulfillment and purpose in our lives. Not that having specific direction given us from the Lord prevents those things in any way, but that giving us room to participate with him in decision-making can add quite a bit for our growth in him.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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