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Frequently in response to my weekly posts, i receive comments or questions about why God didn’t intervene in a specific tragedy. If He is sovereign, why didn’t He keep that tragedy from occurring? The comments, in most instances, are from people crying out for an answer with a sincere and broken heart. On occasion, it is pouring out from a heart that has become bitter and hardened by the tragedy. Some have even gone so far as to conclude that since God didn’t act in the way we think He should have that He must not exist.
i will confess that i too struggle with some of those very same “why” questions. Why does God permit pain and suffering to continue? Why hasn’t He returned to earth and ended the disastrous consequences of our sin? To quote Tevye from “Fiddler on the Roof”: “Wouldn’t now be a good time for the Messiah to come?” (And i would hasten to add the word “again” to the end of that question.)
The Israelites asked that question more than once. Let’s look at one of those occasions.(1) When they had completed assembling the Tabernacle per God’s instructions, His Spirit covered it as a cloud and dwelt within it. Then, whenever God was ready for the people to move on, the cloud would lift and go before them. But as long as the cloud covered the Tabernacle, the Israelites would stay in camp and not move on.
Sometimes they would encamp overnight. Sometimes they would encamp by day and follow the fiery pillar through the night. Sometimes they would encamp for days, for weeks or for months at a time. The people didn’t determine when it was time to go. The priests didn’t determine when it was time to go. Moses didn’t determine when it was time to go. Only God determined the time; and when He was ready, His Spirit led them. Sometimes they moved with haste (“I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.”(2)), but sometimes they didn’t move at all. Lookouts kept their eyes trained on the cloud. “Is today a camping day or a traveling day?” “Do we break camp today and follow in His path, or do we remain and wait in His presence?” On the days that the cloud lifted, the cry would go forth, “Break camp, we are leaving!” On other days there would be silence as they waited.
If you have journeyed through the wilderness following God’s pillar of cloud, you, too, have experienced the uncertainty of waiting. I can hear the children of the Israelites asking their parents, “Why can’t we go now? Why must we wait so long?” I can hear the adults, as they peered up into the sky, asking the priests, “Why isn’t the cloud moving?” I can hear Aaron asking Moses, “What is God waiting for?” God had promised to deliver them into the land of His promise; why must they now tarry in the wilderness?
Today I feel just like that. “Lord, why do You tarry in this place? Shouldn’t we leave just now?” But as I ask these questions, I am reminded of another time when followers of our Lord, who were also sons of Israel, asked the same question. Jesus had just gotten news that His dear friend Lazarus was sick unto death. His sisters, Martha and Mary, knew that if Jesus came, He could heal Lazarus. Time was of the essence; they must leave now and travel with haste to Bethany. But Jesus remained where He was for two days.
Now if you or I were there we probably would have said, “Master, I don’t think you understand. We must leave now. The one You love is sick.” And I can just imagine Jesus looking back at us with that patient, all-knowing and understanding gaze as He says, “You don’t get this, but you will. Be patient. All will ultimately be for the glory of God.”
Days later, Jesus looked at Martha and said, “You will see God’s glory if you believe.”(3) And moments later, Lazarus, “who had died, came forth” from the grave. Jesus’ delay had been a part of the plan – the plan of God’s glory. Jesus understood that His entire purpose was to bring glory to the Father – every act, every action, every word, every step, … and every stop – was about God’s glory.
As you tarry at your encampment, remember this truth: every step and every stop is about God’s glory. He has placed you on this journey for His glory. He alone knows best how that will be brought about. He is God over the details and the delays. He is God when His pillar of cloud leads you to go and when it covers you to stay. “‘My thoughts are completely different from yours,’ says the LORD. ‘And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.’”(4)
It's one thing to wait when nothing is threatening you, but it’s quite another when tragedy is either knocking at or already busting down the door. But the answer is the same – as difficult as that may be at times. As difficult as it was for Martha and Mary to endure the death of their brother. As difficult as it was for God the Father to endure the death of His Son. As you wait for Him to answer, be mindful that God knows your situation. You will see the cloud move! It may not be when or how you would like it to occur, but trust His promise that “you will see God’s glory if you believe.”(5)
In the meantime, keep your eye on His pillar of cloud. And as long as the cloud isn’t moving, wait with Him. Trust Him, the cry to “break camp” will come. When everything is ready, He will move; and you will see God’s glory.
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This post is adapted from The Wandering Years, chapter 6, entitled “Why Isn’t The Cloud Moving?” This second book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print or for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.
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(1) Numbers 9:15-23
(2) Isaiah 60:22 (NKJ)
(3) John 11:40 (NLT)
(4) Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)
(5) John 11:40 (NLT)
Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.
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