15On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. 16So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. 17And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped. 18At the command of the LORD the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the LORD they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the LORD and did not set out. 20Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the LORD they remained in camp; then according to the command of the LORD they set out. 21And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they set out. 22Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. 23At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by Moses.
We don't get a cloud to tell us when to move; it would be a lot easier that way.
However, we do have an idea to take away from this; God moves when He wants to, and when He does, we should be following. When He doesn't move, we need to stay put.
This applies both physically and spiritually; we can't get God to move because we want Him to. I've seen churches get envious of revivals elsewhere and want to be the next Toronto or next Brownsville, and try to craft extra services, outreaches or other gizmos to kick-start a "move of God."
The problem with that is God isn't a Model T, He's a Model I AM. He doesn't kick-start. He may kick-start you, but you don't kick-start Him. When He starts moving, hop in and enjoy the ride.
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