Resources: Lesson Manuscript, PowerPoint, and Devotional
Franklin Heights Church Connect Groups: https://franklinheights.org/connect/groups/
Review: Last week we wrapped up our summer in the Psalms looking at God’s presence that brings comfort t in times of adversity, whether it’s times of longing, overwhelmed-ness, and waiting.
Title: The Journey
Text: Numbers 9:15-23
Key Verse: Numbers 9:23, “At 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.”
Theme: God gives daily guidance to His people.
Introduction: If you’ve ever tried to use a map, you know that one wrong turn can make a difference. GPS systems can even mess up, or we mess up on the address and end up going somewhere we didn’t anticipate. Who is your Divine GPS, the One who gives you guidance for the direction in your life? Aren’t you glad that we have guidance through God.
Main Points:
- God’s Presence (Numbers 9:15-16)
“15 On 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. 16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day[a] and the appearance of fire by night.”
The Hebrew word for “tabernacle” means dwelling place.
The tabernacle was positioned right in the middle of the camp. It was a constant reminder to the people of God’s guiding presence and His centrality in their lives.
Their journey would go from Mt. Sinai to the plains of Moab.
The cloud by day and fire by night gave God’s people a visible reminder of His continual presence.
The fire was a reminder of God’s presence several times prior to this: Burning bush (Exodus 3:2); Lead Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 13: 21-22; 14:24); The pillar of fire rested on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:18); it then settled on the tabernacle (Exodus 40:38).
How do we experience God’s presence in our lives?
II. Faithful Direction (Numbers 9:17-21)
“17 And 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. 18 At 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. 19 Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not set out. 20 Sometimes 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. 21 And 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.”
Whenever God’s presence moved in the cloud and fire, God’s people would watch and then move in the direction God led. When the pillar stopped and remained in place, so did the Israelites. There must have been times where the Israelites got kind of settled in spot, but God would then begin moving them. The interruption in their plans as well as the waiting for God to move must have cultivated dependence in the hearts and minds of His people.
The two verbs in verse 18 describe God’s people: “set out” & “camped”
They had more than 600,00 men representing the family units which including women and children would have been many, many more people. Even though there were so many people to move and encamp over and over, there was no confusion. Why? God was leading. We can have that same peace and rest knowing that when things would be overwhelming otherwise, they need not be, because God is leading us, His people.
On a scale of 1-5 how well would you rate your ability to wait on God and why? Have you ever experienced a time where God called you to wait? Please share in the comments for the benefit of the other participants. Maybe the teachers in this group could even use a story of waiting you would share.
III. Active Obedience (Numbers 9:22-23)
“22 Whether 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. 23 At 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.”
The people followed God promptly, immediately, swiftly, without hesitation. They also followed Him decisively and consistently. There’s an old phrase my parents taught me: “Slow obedience is no obedience.” No matter whether you’re settled in a particular situation or you’ve bene there briefly, know this, God is faithful to guide and lead you; and when He says move, you should move. When He says wait, wait.
Gospel: I am so thankful for Jesus, who when God inaugurated His condescension to add human form to His divinity to come to this earth to redeemed and save us He didn’t hesitate. He came to us, lived a perfect life that our sin and brokenness ruined, died on the cross as our substitutionary sacrifice, rose victoriously and ascended to heaven offering salvation to us if we would repent-turn from our sin-and believe on him. The rest of our lives we are to live with the same moment-by-moment dependence. Many people who are lost—neighbors, co-workers, friends, relatives – will share frustrations in their lives int heir waiting season. We can minister to them by having our transition statements to the gospel ready. I’d recommend the following transition statement: ‘I haven’t experienced the same frustrations in waiting, but I have had my seasons of waiting and even frustrations in it. May I share with you the hope I have found in Jesus?”
Doctrine: Our key doctrine for this week is God. Lifeway Explore the Bible says, ‘To God we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.”
I John 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”
Discussion Questions:
How can we become more attentive to God’s leading and guidance?
Big Takeaway(s):
Believers can be assured that God is with them and can provide trustworthy guidance.
Following God’s guidance will require believers to act on His instruction.
Following God in faith means that we act on His timeframe and not our own.
Caleb Walker 
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