By Glenn Metts
Pastor, Shiloh Baptist Church, Seymour
Focal Passage: Numbers 9:15-23
One of my favorite memories I have of my dad took place when I was around 4 years old. It was a Saturday morning, and it had snowed overnight in the midlands of South Carolina where we lived. That was the first time I remember seeing snow and I was mesmerized!
We lived in the country, and directly across the road from our house was a pasture with a couple of beautiful horses. If you followed the fence line of the pasture, it eventually went into the woods that consisted of tall pine trees and oaks. That particular morning, as the sun came over the horizon and sent its rays across the freshly fallen snow, it created a magical landscape unlike anything I had ever seen.
My dad decided we needed to go out and explore, so we bundled up and set out for an adventure! Since it was my first time seeing snow, I didn’t quite know what to think about it. There must have been about four inches on the ground, but for a 4-year-old, it seemed very deep. So I decided I needed to follow my dad’s footsteps to be safe. I paid careful attention to where he stepped, and I followed in his footsteps. I will never forget what an incredible time we had that early winter morning.
Walking in my dad’s footsteps proved to be a beautiful adventure I will never forget. The best part of all was simply the time I had with my dad, just the two of us. I trusted my father to lead me every step of the way.
I am reminded that our walk with God should be the same. God’s people must trust Him, moving ahead by faith if we are to see what He has for us and what He wants to do in and through our lives. In Numbers 9:15-23, the children of Israel are preparing to go into the Promised Land. They have made it thus far by God’s grace, His deliverance, His provision and His presence.
It is important to note that they have centered their lives around the presence of God among them. They have assembled around the tabernacle which symbolized God’s presence. God has led them in the form of a cloud by day and what appeared to be a pillar of fire by night. They did not set out or move from where they were camped until the cloud or pillar of fire lifted up and led them. They waited on the Lord, and they obeyed. They trusted God and moved out by faith as He led them.
God still leads His people. As we are willing to center our lives around His presence, He leads us on the path He has for us How does God lead us today? Well, it’s not by a cloud by day or a pillar of fire by night. He leads us through our relationship with Him. He leads us by His written Word that is living and active, according to Hebrews 4:12.
He leads us as we pray and communicate with Him. He has spoken to us through His Son, the Lord Jesus, according to Hebrews. 1:1-4. He leads us through the Holy Spirit within us. He also guides us through godly relationships, interactions with our church family, and even our circumstances. The key is to center our lives every day around the Lord’s presence with us and to trust His direction. He is always faithful to lead us!