God's presence

When God led the Israelites through the desert, He led them to build a tabernacle. We are now each tabernacles of God. He led them to appoint priests and high priests. We are now priests, and Jesus is our high priest. God would put His presence on/in the tabernacle when He didn't want the Israelites to go anywhere, and He would move it when He wanted them to move. Now, we follow the Holy Spirit's leading.

In the past, when I've read the story of the Israelites' following God's presence, what stood out to me was that the Israelites followed God's leading. And that's correct. But there's another picture there that I didn't see until today.

The NCV translates the last few verses of Exodus, Exodus 40:34-38, like this:

"Then the cloud covered the Meeting Tent, and the glory of the LORD filled the Holy Tent. [35] Moses could not enter the Meeting Tent, because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the Holy Tent.
[36] When the cloud rose from the Holy Tent, the Israelites would begin to travel, [37] but as long as the cloud stayed on the Holy Tent, they did not travel. They stayed in that place until the cloud rose. [38] So the cloud of the LORD was over the Holy Tent during the day, and there was a fire in the cloud at night. So all the Israelites could see the cloud while they traveled."

Putting up the "Holy Tent" was very involved (lots of poles, loops, and fabric, not to mention furniture). Only priests could enter the tent, because of God's presence in the tent. And only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies part of the tent once a year, and the High Priest had to bring with him the year's sacrifice.

You see, yes, the Israelites did follow God's presence. But sometimes, when God's cloud was over the tent, they couldn't have moved even if they wanted to--any Israelite trying to take down the tent for travel would have been killed.

Sometimes, God limits us. We sometimes want to do things that we simply are not able to do. Sometimes it's because of health. Sometimes it's because of money (or lack thereof). Sometimes it's because of family or plans or trips or rules or whatever. But it's all a part of God's plan. It's God keeping us where He wants us--which is the best place for us to be. :)