So they would watch, obey and follow, this column of smoke, by unpacking their belongings and settling in, and then when it was time to move they would pack their things back up and move again whether it was for a day, a few days, some weeks, a month, or even a year. They watch, obeyed, and followed the column of smoke. And as I was reading this it touched my heart and got me thinking about my own relationship with the Father in my life.
First. Am I watching continuously for the Father's will, guidance, instructions, and commands in my life. What he wants me to do with each day that He gives me. Am I faithfully and consistently in His word, praying, talking to Him, meditating, living His word and putting time into our relationship so that I will be able to know and recognize when He tells me to move, where he tells me to go, so that I know for sure it's Him and not me or somebody else.
Second. Will I obey Him when the time comes for me to move or to stay? What if I get too comfortable, content, satisfied with where I was at and didn't want to move. Or what if I was tired because He just kept saying move, move, and I didn't want to move anymore. I didn't want to unpack, put in the effort and get ready and prepared to obey Him that day because I was a tired or take the chance, even risk on Him because he could say move again, so I wasn't ready to properly obey Him and do what was needed, to be done accordingly for that day.
And lastly, will I follow? You might be thinking, well if I chose to obey then doesn't that mean I chose to follow as well. Not necessarily. I may choose to obey and say okay Father I'll move, or I'll stay but instead of following you, I'm going to do my own thing, go my own way.
Should I stay or should I go? I wonder if that's a question the Israelites asked themselves. But in doing so I must not forget His promises in the forefront. If the Israelites watched the column of smoke as they were supposed then they would have also been looking at the promise that He gave to them, a daily continuous reminder that the Father will fulfill His promise to them and that He is not a man that should lie. And it's the same thing with me. If I continuously be in His word, dedicated and faithful to Him there is no way that I could forget or have doubts about whether or not I should stay or go when He tells me to. But if I did, all I would have to do is look up, look back in His word to remind me, encourage me, strengthen me, comfort me, guide me.
Should I stay or Should I go? Is a question I must ask myself daily and then prepare myself for if and when I do decide to stay with the Father and wait on His will for my life. To watch, obey, and follow Him, whatever it may be, wherever it may lead, and for as long as He says.
