Reverend Michael Mwangi
Senior Pastor, Fedha Church, Kenya Assemblies of God
Numbers 9:15-23
15 On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. 16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. 18 At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the Lord’s command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. 22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses.
When the tabernacle was originally built (raised up), God blessed it by showing His presence in the form of the cloud by day and the fire by night (Exodus 40:34-38).
This cloud that covered the tabernacle was God’s Shekinah glory and was evident at different times in Israel’s history. For example, when Solomon built the temple, the cloud of glory filled the temple (1 Kings 8:10-11). When Israel had completely turned away from God, and before the temple was destroyed by conquering Babylonians, the cloud of glory departed (Ezekiel 10:3-4, 18-19).
We also see this cloud of God’s presence in the New Testament.
Luke 9:34 Jesus was overshadowed by the cloud at his transfiguration, and
Acts 1:9 He disappeared into a cloud at his ascension.
At night this cloud above the tabernacle appeared like fire. It was a visible assurance of God’s presence. It was comforting and protective.
The cloud by day and the fire by night gave assurance to Israel.
The fire at night was a comfort to Israel amid a dark wilderness. This overhead comforting fire was there to reverse the cold darkness of the desert night.
The cloud by day was a shade to relieve the heat of the desert sun.
As long as they followed the cloud, they were assured of protection day and night.
The cloud was the very presence of God guiding them, protecting them, and giving providence.
God's presence is a protective shade
Isaiah 25:4
For You have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat
Psalm 121:5-6
The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day.
This is the type of assurance we need in 2025 to navigate safely.
Today we have the spirit of God to guide us
Verse 16 That is how it continued to be;
This means continually or permanent abiding of the cloud over the camp.
In the words it continued to be their guide at all times.
John 14:16
And I will ask the father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever, The Holy spirit is with us forever
We need the Holy Spirit for Guidance
Even though Israel had been organized and ordered by God; cleansed, set apart, and blessed; and walking according to their priesthood, they still had to be guided by God each step of the way to make it to the Promised Land of Canaan.
Despite having done all those things, they had to make every step in constant dependence on Him. They could not make it without God in the wilderness.
In the same manner, we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our day-to-day life.
Verse 17- They moved WHERE the cloud moved
When the cloud moved, Israel moved; when the cloud stayed, Israel stayed. They only went where the presence of God led them, and they only stayed where the presence of God stayed.
Let the spirit lead the direction (way)
Similarly, believers must be led by the presence of God following as the spirit leads. Sometimes we feel like we know better and make our own moves.
When we move in our own directions that will only lead to regrets.
Proverbs14:12 there is a way that appears right but in the end it leads to death.
Some of us regret we took the wrong direction, wrong people, wrong investment, wrong career wrong places and wrong choices and relationships, others we are no longer sure whether we are in the right place ama tulikosea (or we made a mistake) because we led ourselves instead of allowing the Spirit to lead us.
Psalms 18: 30: God's ways are perfect... flawless .protective
You can never go wrong with God, yake ni sure bet (His way is a sure bet)
They moved WHEN the cloud moved (spirit lead the timing).
Whether it was two days, a month, or a year: The movement of the cloud was unpredictable. God would not allow Israel to be led by routine or tradition. They had to see and respond to the presence of God.
It is repeated. At the command of the LORD they encamped, and at the command of the LORD they set out (Numbers 9:20, 23; cf. Numbers 9:18).
Hakuna mambo ya ni sasa na kama sio sasa ni sasa hivi (There is no doing things on the on the spot without consulting God), we move with the speed and momentum of the Spirit exercising the patience of God.
God's timing is the best Eccl 3:11 wakati na majira ya Bwana (times and seasons of the Lord)
The cloud provided the perfect means of divine guidance, and the people had to respond with perfect obedience.
The Israelites' only responsibility was just obedience. It was not upon them to consider the time or direction of their march and neither were they allowed or expected to object or delay.
God expects the same from us today that we are obedient to the leading and promptings of the Holy Spirit without any objection.
The Israelites were to obey and fully depend on God. They were to be submissive to His will as it pleased Him.
They were not given regular times of resting or marching. They were expected to be ready to obey and follow his command showing total submission and dependence on Him.
God knows better than we do and He wants the best for us. If we believe so we will trust Him and be willing to obey Him.
If we are going to be led by God we will have to surrender our will and be willing to obey God unquestionably and in faith.
To be led by the Spirit is to fully trust in God which is demonstrated by our absolute obedience
Proverbs 3:
5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6. in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
7. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
8. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
Tuchague hekima ya Roho ama ujanja yetu tucheze kama sisi tujiumize (We either choose wisdom of the Holy Spirit or we end up hurting ourselves)
If we are willing God is very ready to lead us
Psalm 32
8. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
Isaiah 30
21. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.
We will either walk in the Spirit or in the flesh
Walking in the flesh does not necessarily mean sin but anything that is not the will of God be it good or evil. When we do what pleases us or what makes us happy.
It is simply our will doing what we think is best for us instead of seeking what is God’s will
The spirit of God always leads us to find and do God's will
Romans 12:1-2 ... holy Godly living {pleasing spirit led life}…reveals God’s good, pleasing perfect will.
1 Corinthians 2:10-11 The Spirit knows the deep things of God...
Galatians 5
16. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
17. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
18. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20. idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21. and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23. gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Romans 8
14. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
In the year 2025 let us allow the Spirit to lead us and we will find God.
When we are led by the Spirit, God goes ahead of us and nothing will be impossible for us but tukijiongoza (if we lead ourselves) no increase but total loss.
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