Arise O Lord
Numbers 8-10
Arise O Lord, Numbers 8-10. We are seldom aware, at the time, that we are at a crossroads or turning point which will have a huge impact on the rest of our lives. But for the grace of God, we would all choose to leave the camp of God.
29 And Moses said to Hobab the
son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, “We are setting out
for the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with
us, and we will do good to you, for the Lord has promised good to
Israel.” 30 But he said to him, “I will not go. I will depart to my own
land and to my kindred.” 31 And he said, “Please do not leave us, for
you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you will serve as
eyes for us. 32 And if you do go with us, whatever good the Lord will do
to us, the same will we do to you.”
33
So they set out from the mount of the Lord three days' journey. And the
ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them three days' journey,
to seek out a resting place for them. 34 And the cloud of the Lord was
over them by day, whenever they set out from the camp.
35
And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Arise, O Lord, and let your
enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.” 36
And when it rested, he said, “Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand
thousands of Israel.”
Numbers 10:29-36, English Standard Version
Arise O Lord
Numbers 8-10
It had been a year since the Children of Israel have left Egypt, and now it was time to leave Mt. Sinai. After keeping the passover, in obedience to God, the cloud was lifted from over the tabernacle and settled again in the wilderness 0f Paran.
I was especially struck by verses 29 and 30 of chapter 10.
29 And Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will do good to you, for the Lord has promised good to Israel.” 30 But he said to him, “I will not go. I will depart to my own land and to my kindred.”
As I think ahead of the Midianites and the relationship they will have with Israel, the significance of these two verses becomes very clear. These verses are a turning point for them; even though they will again mix with the Israelites (David's grandmother was a Midianite), their relationship with Israel through Moses is now severed. The Midianites, in the future, will be enemies of Israel and will suffer much misery as a result.
That
really is the way it is for us in real life; we are seldom aware, at
the time, that we are at a crossroads or turning point which will have a
huge impact on the rest of our lives. But for the grace of God, we
would all choose to leave the camp of God, as did Hobab, the Midianite. Even though Hobab had witnessed some of the great miracles of God, he chose to return to the god of his fathers.
Think
about it! This very day could be a huge turning point that will cast
you in the direction of a lifetime of service to God or an eternity
without Him. That is a very sobering thought!
Pray that each day your soul would be so knit to God that you would humbly bow before Him as did Moses in these verses.
35 And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Arise O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.” 36 And when it rested, he said, “Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.”
May we pray as well, "Arise O Lord and keep me faithful this day that I may never refrain from following you with all of my heart, my soul, and my mind! Only by the grace of God can we truly follow Him.
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