PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Numbers 10-12
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them to find them a place to rest.” (Numbers 10:?33)
In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul shows how Jesus was with Israel in the wilderness.
Behind the parting of the Red Sea, the cloud, the manna, the water from the Rock, was Jesus.
This helps us to understand HOW to read these stories as Jesus followers.
Jesus is leading us towards God’s rest, and we are following His leadership.
We are organized around Him (like the camps around the ark), as His Spirit guides us.
He is providing manna for the journey (our daily bread), and protecting us from the evil one.
When we complain about the journey, we are grumbling and complaining against Him.
Paul uses these stories to remind us about how we respond to Jesus leading us.
“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.” (1 Corinthians 10:6) “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.” (1 Corinthians 10:11)
“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12)
I hear Jesus reminding me: ‘I am leading You, and will take care of you, don’t resist Me!’
I hear Jesus challenging me: ‘how are you grumbling or resisting Me as your Leader?’
PRAYER
Lord, I am called to follow You, and to trust You to lead me, provide for and protect me. You are my Moses, and I do not want to stray from the path that You are leading me on to God’s rest.
The trumpet calls and the people move – with the Lord leading. Yet with all that their hunger for meat – for the food of the past – overrides what they see – the Lord leading and the Lord providing daily bread. Am I thinking selfishly too – putting to much trust in my own securities and what I want instead of the Lord. Help me to be free of that and totally trust that the Lord will provide – all that I need as I follow him!