by Jan Dravecky
Numbers 9:15-23 As a person who loves order, schedules and lists, the wilderness was especially difficult for me. Because you are thrust into unfamiliar territory there is no apparent order. Because circumstances change constantly, maintaining any kind of schedule is ridiculous. And my to-do list was narrowed down to one entry; survival. Most troubling of all though, is the sense that God has somehow abandoned you in this harsh environment. Life doesn't make sense - neither do God's actions. But as I read through the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites, God didn't give them much hint of what He was up to either. They just followed the cloud. When it stopped, they stopped. When it moved, they followed. Never were they told why, when or where. They were simply to obey. I kept waiting for God to explain things to me, give me some advance notice of upcoming events, give me some hint of what He was up to. But all I got was silence. Like the Israelites, I was forced to follow where God led - without understanding. Did I really trust Him? Did I really believe His promises? Until I followed Him through the wilderness, I never fully knew the answers to those questions. I do now.
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