Numbers 7-10
by, Paula Hedgepeth
Numbers 9.15-17; 10.11-12
There’s a funny episode of “The Office” in which Michael Scott is driving, using his GPS to guide him. The device tells him to turn right, but instead of bearing to the right, he makes an immediate right turn and drives into a lake! Even when he knows he’s driving into water, he continues because “the machine knows!” I’m sure many of us have experienced times when our navigation systems haven’t been reliable, though maybe not as funny (and dangerous) as Michael Scott’s!
So, I was struck when reading these verses at the clear direction the Israelites had from God. God’s presence was visible as a cloud by day and fire by night. When the cloud was still, they were still. When the cloud moved, they moved. God, the ultimate navigation system! Then in chapter 10, after all the preparations had been made, I could imagine the palpable excitement of every Israelite when the cloud indeed began to move, and their journey toward the promised land began.
What a blessing they enjoyed, God’s presence and guidance! It’s tempting to be envious of the Israelites, but what we have as believers now is even better. We have God’s presence inside us.
Paul reminds us in I Corinthians 6:19 that our “body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.” That’s right. Each of us is a walking tabernacle, journeying through life towards heaven, with the Holy Spirit inside.
What does the Bible tell us about the Holy Spirit? Well, a lot, but here are just a few things I gleaned from a search in my Bible app.
1. The holy spirit is a gift from God.
Luke 11:13 “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
And in Acts 2:33, “Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.”
2. The holy spirit is powerful.
In Luke 24:49 Jesus says, “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
And in Acts 1:8 he says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 3. The holy spirit is our helper.
John 14:16 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth....”
Numbers 9.15-17; 10.11-12
There’s a funny episode of “The Office” in which Michael Scott is driving, using his GPS to guide him. The device tells him to turn right, but instead of bearing to the right, he makes an immediate right turn and drives into a lake! Even when he knows he’s driving into water, he continues because “the machine knows!” I’m sure many of us have experienced times when our navigation systems haven’t been reliable, though maybe not as funny (and dangerous) as Michael Scott’s!
So, I was struck when reading these verses at the clear direction the Israelites had from God. God’s presence was visible as a cloud by day and fire by night. When the cloud was still, they were still. When the cloud moved, they moved. God, the ultimate navigation system! Then in chapter 10, after all the preparations had been made, I could imagine the palpable excitement of every Israelite when the cloud indeed began to move, and their journey toward the promised land began.
What a blessing they enjoyed, God’s presence and guidance! It’s tempting to be envious of the Israelites, but what we have as believers now is even better. We have God’s presence inside us.
Paul reminds us in I Corinthians 6:19 that our “body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.” That’s right. Each of us is a walking tabernacle, journeying through life towards heaven, with the Holy Spirit inside.
What does the Bible tell us about the Holy Spirit? Well, a lot, but here are just a few things I gleaned from a search in my Bible app.
1. The holy spirit is a gift from God.
Luke 11:13 “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
And in Acts 2:33, “Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.”
2. The holy spirit is powerful.
In Luke 24:49 Jesus says, “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
And in Acts 1:8 he says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 3. The holy spirit is our helper.
John 14:16 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth....”
The word helper here means intercessor, consoler, advocate, comforter. Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as helper also in John 14:26, 15:26, and 16:7.
Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
4. The holy spirit is a guide, convicting us of sin.
Galatians 5:16 “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”
John 16:8 “And when he (the Spirit) comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement.”
5. The holy spirit is our teacher.
1 John 2:27 says, “But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.”
1 Corinthians 2:13 “And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”
6. The holy spirit produces fruit in our lives.
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
So, sisters, rejoice! God is still guiding. He gave his precious son to save us, and he gives his powerful spirit to help us, advocate for us, comfort us, convict us, teach us, and produce fruit in us.
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty, Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
-William Williams 1717-1791
Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
4. The holy spirit is a guide, convicting us of sin.
Galatians 5:16 “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”
John 16:8 “And when he (the Spirit) comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement.”
5. The holy spirit is our teacher.
1 John 2:27 says, “But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.”
1 Corinthians 2:13 “And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”
6. The holy spirit produces fruit in our lives.
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
So, sisters, rejoice! God is still guiding. He gave his precious son to save us, and he gives his powerful spirit to help us, advocate for us, comfort us, convict us, teach us, and produce fruit in us.
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty, Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
-William Williams 1717-1791
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