REFLECTION: Finding the way

Some Thoughts about Direction in Life…..

And Moses said unto them, “Stand still, and I will hear what the Lord will command concerning you.” (Numbers 9:8)

The Lord had spoken to Moses about the Passover in the second year after the Israelites had left Egypt and begun their journey to the Promised Land. As it was important for them to remember their deliverance from slavery, the Lord issued a kind of reminder so that the annual Passover celebration would not be forgotten. Already God had decreed that it should be kept regularly on the fourteenth day of the first month, and the instructions previously given were reiterated in the wilderness of Sinai, (v.1-3). As leader, Moses conveyed these instructions to the people and the Passover was dutifully kept at the prescribed time.

For some people, however, keeping the Passover on that particular day presented a difficulty. Certain members of the congregation had become ceremonially defiled through contact with the dead body of a man. Although this kind of situation had not been foreseen in the earlier Passover instructions given in Exodus 12, these people knew from Leviticus 7:20 that it was wrong to partake when they were “unclean”. At the same time they knew that this was an “appointed season” for worship (v.7). Facing this dilemma these men approached Moses, seeking an answer.

The response he gave teaches us an important lesson. Very simply Moses said, “Stand still, and I will hear what the Lord will command concerning you,” (v.8). C.H. Mackintosh helpfully points out: “He did not pretend to be able to give an answer. He was not ashamed to say, ‘I do not know.’ With all his wisdom and knowledge, he did not hesitate to show his ignorance.” Truly Moses was “very meek” (Numb.12:3) and, though leader of God’s people, did not think he needed to present to the congregation a “know-it-all” attitude. He knew he would achieve nothing by trying to bluff his way through. Recognizing his lack of knowledge in this particular situation, he turned to the Lord for an answer.

JUST LIKE THEM!

In our spiritual pilgrimage we may often be faced with perplexing situations where we do not know what to do. At such times we need to “stand still”, turn to the Lord, and wait for Him to make things plain. He will not fail to direct those who humbly look to Him for help.

I will guide thee  (Psalm 32:8)