I must sadly admit that I am guilty of moving without the approval of God's direction or guidance, and because of the choices I made, my life became, not just complicated, but a complicated HOT mess. I have learned that the anxiousness of making decisions without prayer and consultation with God, taught me valuable lessons that strengthened me as a Christian. Yes, even Christians are apt to make their move too soon.
It is important to learn the discipline of patience and the wisdom of taking everything to God in prayer. Everything that looks good may not be good for you. It is not sinful to wait on the Lord, but waiting on the Lord is always to our benefit. The ability to wait on the Lord stems from being confident and focused on what God is doing and who He is. Isaiah reminds us, "But they who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:31). Allowing God to lead us, gives us a time of refreshing. And yet, while we wait, we must have the confidence of who God is. We must place our confidence in His love, His timing, His wisdom, knowing that no one understands our situation better than Him. We must trust in God's promises and His power.
There is a blessing from the Lord when we listen to Him and allow Him to lead us. When we seek God's presence and God's direction, through prayer, no one will have to remind you, "Don't make your move too soon," because it will be God ordering your steps. Scripture reinforces this, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in His way" (Psalms 37:23).
When we look at Israel's history, it is apparent that the Lord wanted the best for them. In calling Abraham, God was setting forth a genealogical line that would establish a nation unto Himself. He would be their God and they would be His people. Not a people like those that they were surrounded by, but a peculiar treasury. He was calling a people from a past, to a present. It was God's intent, that this nation of people would reach those outside of the covenant of promise, that they would lead by example.
The Lord knew when it was the right time for them to leave Egypt. The Lord knew the direction to take them as they moved through the Red Sea experience and into the wilderness. But because their grumbling, disobedience, and they began to rebel, an estimated eleven day trip turned into 40 years. This is why, "you don't make your move too soon," it will truly cost you too much unnecessary pain and suffering.
Through their transition from slavery to freedom, they were guilty of making their move too soon. Rebellion, disobedience, grumbling and lack of faith, could have been the poster for their march. While they journeyed, the Lord was present in the guiding of Moses, and the cloud and fire was always before them. What more did they want? They had the safest guarantee of deliverance to the land of milk and honey, but they lacked faith.
The Israelites were a pilgrim people, marching through the wilderness like an army. Moses was their earthly leader, but the Lord was their spiritual guide and their goal was the promised land. The God who cared for them was going to make sure that they entered, all they had to do was listen, have faith in God, and don't make their move too soon. This sounds like something easy to do, but the human nature is prone to rebel, and through our disobedience, what seems so near becomes a distant dream many times unfulfilled.
The will of God and doing God's will, is still vitally important even today. That is why it is important to move on God's time and not our own time. The very first time God spoke to Moses was in Exodus 3:2, "And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush," and from that time, from their deliverance from Pharaoh in Egypt until Moses died, the Bible continuously says, "And the Lord spoke unto Moses." Just reading this statement over and over again, reveals to me that Moses was truly in tuned with God. Moses didn't assume that he would do what he wanted to do and them tell God about it. No, Moses was not one to make his move too soon.
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them through the Philistine country, for God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt" (Exodus 13:17). God lead them around the desert and, "By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so they could travel by day or night" (Exodus 13:21). In leading God's people, God appointed a visible cloud above them. This cloud was a visible sign and symbol of God's presence with Israel. Thus, this was God's way of showing Israel that He was always near them, both day and night. For this cloud became a cloud of fire at night, for them to be able to navigate without any surprises. As that cloud was always near them, we can pull from that, that our Lord and Savior is always near us, "Am I a God is near," declares the Lord, "And not a God far off?" (Jeremiah 23:23). Psalm 145:18 says, "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." Yes, we serve an omnipresent God!
The pillar of cloud and fire was miraculous and it remained with them throughout their journey. When they set camp, the pillar hovered over the tabernacle or the "Tent for Meeting with God." "Moses always erected the sacred tent (the "Tent for Meeting with God," he called it) far outside the camp, and everyone who wanted to consult with Jehovah went out there. Whenever Moses went to the Tabernacle, all the people, when they saw it, stood and would rise and stand in their tent doors. As he entered, the pillar of cloud would come down and stand at the door while the Lord spoke with Moses. Then all the people worshiped from tent doors, bowing low to the pillar of cloud. Inside the tent the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, "as a man speaks to his friend" (Exodus 33:7-11). The presence of the Tabernacle reminded them that God had their backs, whether it was day or night. The pillar of cloud aboded with them.
The time of their movement was unpredictable. When the cloud moved, they knew to move. When the cloud stopped, they knew to stop, set up camp, and set up the tabernacle, until it was time to move again. This could have been a short time, as a day, or a night, or one step at a time, or weeks or months. But one thing they did realized, they knew not to make their move too soon.
The movement of the pillar of cloud was truly ordered by the Lord. No matter when the pillar moved, by day or by night, they had to be ready to pack up and follow the cloud.
It is very interesting to note that this miraculous pillar brought light to the people of God, but darkness to the enemies. There is a point here for us today. The light symbolizes the Word of God, because those who do not know Christ Jesus, by faith, simply can't understand what the Word is saying, they are in the dark.
In order to know the mind of God, we must submit to the will of God. That is, "Don't make your move too soon." Then you will move from darkness to the light. Thus, we know that we are to see God as always near us, both night and day. When you are moving in God's time, this is the most precious time spent. It is a very safe and pleasant movement, when we can see God before us, and resting where He appoints us.
When we resign ourselves to be led by God, we have the inclination that He will deliver us to our destination, perfectly. Where we start in life is just the beginning, as to where the Lord will take us in life, and He will not take or send us where His will, will not sustain us. His grace and favor is able to abundantly preserve us.
We have His protection all around us. Scripture reminds us, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).
We have His patience, because we learn to trust Him and not lean to our own understanding. Scripture reminds us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).
We have His promise that He will never "leave us nor forsake us." "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).
We have His purpose in our lives. God is leading us to a place that is unknown to us. But nevertheless, we will know it when we get there, because it will be revealed to us. He will never take us where His grace can not sustain us.
We have His provision. For He prepares a table before us in the presence of thine enemy. "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8).
So please allow me to say it again, "Don't make your move too soon." Wait on the Lord. Please include Him in the fullness of your life, even in the little decisions. Stay in tune with God, for when the Spirit says stop, then stop. When the Spirit was go, then go. In due time, you will reap the benefits of obedience.