God with us

God with us

Bible: Numbers 9:15-23

Reading

Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out (V.21).

I sometimes feel like the Israelites had it easy when they walked through the desert. When I read the story in Numbers, and think about the cloud that showed God was with them, I wish it was as easy as that for me to see
Him. God’s people Israel only needed to follow the cloud to follow His leading (NUMBERS 9:17-18). When the cloud lifted, the Israelites set out; when the cloud stopped, they made camp. Sometimes the cloud settled for a long time; other times the cloud kept them moving each day (VV.19,21). I sometimes wish that God would make His plan for me this obvious.

But although God’s presence doesn’t hover over our homes as a cloud, He’s actually nearer to us today than He was to the Israelites. He lives within those who follow Him. We have been given the gift of Jesus living in us
through His Spirit—as Paul put it, “Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him” (EPHESIANS 3:17 NLT). Jesus really is “God with us” (MATTHEW 1:23).

We can be confident that God is with us, even as He guided the Israelites. Because God has made His home in us, we can trust that He will lead us and guide us, and never leave us.

“THEY WILL CALL HIM IMMANUEL”

(WHICH MEANS “GOD WITH US”). MATTHEW 1:23

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries