Follow the Last Command

Numbers 9:19

And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not.

God led Israel through the wilderness by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. When these moved, Israel was to follow and move. When these stayed, they were to stop and wait for God to go forward. It was critical for Israel to follow God’s lead and not their own feelings.

God made a strict command that when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle, that they were to keep the charge of the LORD. God was saying that when He chose not to move, they were to keep doing right. He was saying that they were to follow the last command He gave them until they heard from Him to move.

Many get themselves into trouble by moving presumptuously instead of waiting for God’s guidance. There will be many times in your life when God doesn't seem to give you guidance on what to do, but He has given you guidance on what to do from this verse when He says to keep the charge of the LORD. Let me share several things to do when God does not seem to give you guidance on the next step.

First, keep doing right. You will never fail to obey the LORD if you keep doing right when He seems to be silent in your life. Doing right has never gotten one person into trouble. When God is silent in your life about the next step to take, be faithful to church, read the Scriptures daily, walk with God in prayer every day, and obey what God’s Word tells you to do. God always honors obedience, and you will keep God’s favor in your life by doing right.

Second, keep your eyes on God during those silent times. The pillar of cloud abode over the tabernacle, which means they had to keep their focus on the tabernacle which was in the center of the camp. When God is silent in your life, keep Him as the center of your life. Stay focused on God and yield to the Holy Spirit, and you will never fail to keep doing right as He commanded.

Third, be faithful to your service for the LORD. Part of keeping the charge was doing what God has commanded you to do. Never stop doing your ministry when you are waiting on God’s guidance in your life. God calls and uses those who are always busy, so to stay busy will only catch His attention. When God is not moving in your life, stay faithful to every ministry you were previously doing, as this will gain His favor to move you to the next step of your life.

Fourth, go soul winning. The last command Jesus gave the believer was to preach the Gospel. You will always be in God’s will when you go soul winning. If you are unwilling to go soul winning where you are, you won't be willing to go soul winning when God moves. You may not know what the next step to take is in your life, but you can be assured that you know God wants you to win the lost to Him.

Fifth, be patient; God is working in your life. Don't run ahead of God; every mistake any believer has made was when they became impatient with God and presumptuously moved forward without His guidance. Be patient and keep doing what we have previously discussed in this devotion; God has a purpose for staying silent, so let His purpose be fulfilled in your life; it may just be to see if you will trust Him.