Gods Sabbath

56

E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. Whether the cloud stayed over the tab ernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would re main in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. At the L ORD ’ S command they encamped, and at the L ORD ’ S command they set out. They obeyed the L ORD ’ S order, in accord ance with his command through Moses.” Numbers 9:17–23. It was a matter of submissive, trusting obedience to Him who makes no mistakes. They had no need to be concerned about the future. They were safe in the hands of the One who knows the end from the beginning and who loves His children far too dear ly to lead them otherwise than they themselves would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning. Never was this lesson more beautifully taught than at the Red Sea crossing. In bringing the Israelites down to the water’s edge, God did not inform them of the Egyptians’ change of heart and im pending pursuit. They would learn that soon enough. There was no value in knowing this before they needed to, for it would gen erate only unnecessary worry. Neither did God explain to them just how He would deal with their seemingly insoluble problem. He simply said to them “go forward.” Exodus 14:15 ( NKJV ). When God issued this command, there was no safe pathway through the sea, nor any visible evidence that there would be. But such a path would not be needed until they arrived at the water’s edge. The Israelites’ part was simply to march down to the sea and leave the future with God. Once they arrived at the water’s edge their next step would be made plain. They did as they were directed, not asking for comprehensive revelations of the future. As a result, God was able to provide much more than salvation from their enemies. He was able to teach them, through a powerful demonstration, the principles of co-working with Him. Even though they quickly forgot the lesson, they did the right thing that day, with correspondingly wonderful results. The behavior of Israel at the Red Sea is a valuable blueprint for us, if we learn from it. “The great lesson here taught is for all time. Often the Chris tian life is beset by dangers, and duty seems hard to perform. The imagination pictures impending ruin before and bondage or death behind. Yet the voice of God speaks clearly, ‘Go forward.’