Grace Family,
I have been recently reading and meditating on the book of Numbers. There we see God directing His people through the wilderness with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. It has reminded me that God promised to give clear direction to those who seek Him. May that be true of us.
In 1745 a hymn writer, William Williams, wrote these enduring lyrics:
Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
Hold me with thy pow’rful hand;
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through;
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be thou still my Strength and Shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell’s Destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side;
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to thee.
Humanly speaking, it would seem to be a bit easier for the Lord to guide one person as opposed to a group of people. I mean let’s face it…He is the Strong Deliverer, Strength and Shield for His people as the song says. Yet that is not really true. Moses and the entire nation, at least those who were watching, could look in the sky and see the cloud guiding them by day and the fire guiding by night. So my encouragement to the Elders and Deacons and to all of us is to keep our eyes on the cloud and the fire. If we commit ourselves to Him and His word, the Lord can, and will, clearly direct us.
Proverbs 3:5-6 puts it simply…
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him. And He will direct your paths.”
Pastor Stan