Numbers 9:18 At
the command of the LORD the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the
LORD they camped. As long as the
cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp.
What's up at Camp Tamarack this week?
I am getting lots of registrations starting to come in for the summer! It is great to see names I know and new campers. Pretty sure we have all our Directors and Pastors lined up. We will probably need volunteer cabin leaders for some of the weeks. Let me know if you are interested.
I am starting to worry a little as I don't have all my full time staff hired. By Friday I anticipate having all positions filled except for the 2 full time lifeguards....that seems to be an elusive position to fill. Know anyone??
Starting this Sunday I will be on a "speaking junket" for camp at several different churches and was working on my children's sermon material and presentations. I decided to "open" with the Numbers verse posted above. This past summer shopping in Minocqua, WI at the Monkey Business store we found different shirts that said things like: God said - Go Running, God said - Go to the Lake, God said - Go Fishing, etc...well, there was one that had God said - Go Camping quoting Numbers so of course I bought it. Then for Hebrew Bible I we had to pick a passage and write a paper/give a presentation on the passage. I decided to use Numbers 9 and included this verse.
It is easy to use this as a joke and say that God said we should go camping. As I did my research and really delved in to the passage where it led me was the idea of the pillar and the cloud. When the cloud or pillar stayed put, the people stayed put, but when the cloud or pillar moved - the people moved! I started to think, if I was in the middle of something I thought was important and the cloud started moving, would I be able to immediately pack up and start moving? I think I may have ignored a few clouds and pillars in my life. I think there is a pillar/cloud moving right now and I am afraid to follow it.
Anyone have a pillar or cloud staying put and you are itching to move?
Anyone have a pillar or cloud moving and you are afraid to move?
Numbers 9:18- At the Lord's command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped.
ReplyDeleteI like the question about am I ready to move when and where the pillar/cloud commands me. How ready were the Israelites? I saw something interesting on the History Channel during Holy Week. They claimed the Israelites were some of the best fighters the Egyptians had and were purposely placed where they were to protect Egypt from invaders coming from the north and east. One of the favorite battle signals of the commanders was to place a fire on a high pedestal so that all in the immediate area could see and follow directions so the entire army could make coordinated movements. Sometimes it would be set to smolder and give off lots of smoke and other times to blaze away to be seen in the dark. It was a command to them when and where to move. As I ponder your question I do look at this passage as God firmly in command giving the directions for the people to follow. Got to admit I've no doubt missed the signals and have not been ready to move when it was time - or maybe was moving when I should've stayed put. Need to ponder more on whether I'm getting the message correctly and how hard I'm looking for it. Good thought provoker today!