WHERE IS GOD?

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. So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. (‭Numbers‬ ‭9‬:‭15-23‬ ESV)

Israel was given a gift - a visible sign of God's presence among them.  God instructed them to watch for the cloud that would cover them by day and the fire that would cover them by night.  The cloud would bring shade in the daytime and the fire would provide heat for them in the evening.  When the cloud moved - they were to move also.  Sometimes it would be a short stay and sometimes it would be longer.  They were to walk in obedience to wherever God was or going.  They only journeyed when they were told to and they only stopped when they were told to.

It was to be a proof of God's presence in their life.  It would a visible comforting item that they could look up and see that God was with them.

For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, (‭Isaiah‬ ‭25‬:‭4‬ ESV)

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. (‭Psalm‬ ‭121‬:‭5‬ ESV)

Are you watching and observing the cloud in your own life?  Do you see visible signs of God's presence in you?  Are you aware when the Holy Spirit is not with you and that somehow you have grieved the Holy Spirit?

We must, like the Israelites, be looking for the visible signs of God's presence in our daily lives.

When Paul says that we must let the peace of God rule in our heart - (Colossians 3:15) he means the presence of God's peace is to be an umpire or a judge in our hearts.

You might ask what the visible signs are today.  Galatians 5 maps some of these signs out for us...

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22-23‬ ESV)

When God's presence is in and over us - these fruits will ooze out of your life and be evident to others around you.

Moses once declared to God ...."And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. (‭Exodus‬ ‭33‬:‭15‬ ESV)

Do you have that type of yearning for God's presence in your life?  Can you see the visible signs of God in your midst?

The world has desensitized us to sin and unrighteousness.  What was not ok in times past is now acceptable.  We tolerate more sin and unrighteousness.  God's presence is often not with us.

May I encourage you to look closely at your life and ask yourself if God is with you.  Can you look up at night and see the covering of fire over your camp?  Is the cloud over you during the daytime?

Or... has it moved on and you are still functioning as if it is still there?

David's prayer (after he committed adultery with Bathsheba) should be the prayer of every person reading this right now...

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. (‭Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭10-12‬ ESV)