Brian Maloy

I’ll admit, when I saw we were studying Numbers and Deuteronomy, it did momentarily cause me to pause. But after digging in, remembering all the gems in Numbers, and specifically studying Numbers Chapter 9, I am completely excited. Not that long ago (but before I began cataloging notes online from Sunday School here), we studied Exodus & Leviticus in our class. Actually, it was right before 1/2 Peter (which I DO have some notes published here), and I got very excited because the calling of God’s people from physical slavery, echoed beautifully with the call to spiritual freedom in the letters of Peter. Needless to say, it was a very cool story arc between the two.

But I digress. We are now popping back to Numbers, specifically this week — Chapter 9. That said, I do need to give some brief context going into Chapter 9, since clearly things have happened prior.

Context

We’ll keep this as short and simple as I can. Bullet points will keep me on track.

• Location — Mt. Sinai
• Timeframe — Roughly one year from the Exodus, immediately following the 2nd Passover (the first being in Goshen, Egypt)
• Tabernacle is complete now — it’s the portable dwelling place of God. His presence visibly descends by cloud and fire — very clearly hearkening back to Exodus when the Hebrews were being led (foreshadowing) to safety.
• Why? — They are learning the rhythms of God. They’ve been brought out of an evil culture, they have to learn God’s ways. They need to grow in their dependence on Him, obedience to Yahweh, and readiness to trust Him.
• Chapters 1-9 are dealing with many things, but at the core — God’s people are being numbered, tribes are being organized, priestly duties, and purification are being laid out for God’s people.
• In Chapter 10, right after today’s study — they are on the move toward the Promised Land.
• In Chapter 9:1-14 — there are a couple noteworthy things, I wish I could convey now neat these are!!!
  • Initially in Num. 9:1-5, we see a statute laid out, that God’s people are to observe the Passover in the first month, of the second year, after their leaving Egypt. I have read this a dozen times, and never realized — even their calendar started over when they left Egypt. It’s amazing, the first month, Nisan, became the first month of their new year (Ex. 12:2). They got this theological and practical reset — even their calendar reflected a new beginning. AMAZING.
  • The other thing that stood out, in Num. 9:12 — they are told, they may not break any bones of the animal they are eating during passover. What does that remind you of? JESUS! We see several scriptures that speak to this prophecy, “His bones will not be broken” (Psalm 34:20, John 19:33–36). If we zoom out, we know Jesus was crucified at Passover (Matthew 26:2, John 19:14), and he was the perfect atonement for our sins (Hebrews 9:12, 1 Corinthians 5:7), being both full God, and fully man (John 1:14, Colossians 2:9). The connections here are just chillingly neat.

So today’s lesson, Numbers 9:15-23, serves as this amazing hinge in their new season. It serves to take them from Sinai to Promised Land. It’s this beautiful visual theology of trust. God leads, His people follow.

If you have not… go read Numbers 9, specifically 15-23. If helpful, click here!

God’s Presence (Number 9:15-16)

Personally, I can geek out about the tabernacle too long. Not only is it a tent, everyone is camping and traveling, and I LOVE those two things… but more importantly, it’s this incredible physical display of God dwelling among His people. He is right in their midst. Tabernacle itself means dwelling place, and the Hebrews even had a word for the worship that resulted here, Shekinah, which meant “the manifest glory of God dwelling among His people”. To have such a physical presence of our God — what a privilege. I am confident, modern churches, and churches through the last two millennia have echoed this in their architecture, even with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, our buildings can certainly reflect physically the spiritual reality.

Q: But to that point, think about it — they had a physical cloud, that looked like fire at night, to dramatically show them God’s presence among them. How do we find assurance that Gods is truly present with us always?

The assurance of God’s presence today is no less real, and in some ways, even more intimate.
Here’s how Scripture and theological reflection frame it:

Here is the short form — from God’s presence in Eden lost, to walking alongside His people at times, to Sinai’s cloud and Tabernacle, to the Temple, to Christ’s incarnation, to Pentecost’s fire, to the Spirit’s indwelling, and finally to the New Jerusalem. It’s a story of God moving ever closer. HOW CAN WE NOT GET EXCITED PONDERING THIS?

But if we break it down (forgive me if I missed something good...) –>

Stage	Description	Scripture
Eden’s Presence Lost	Humanity walks with God, then hides — intimacy ruptured.	Genesis 3:8–9
Covenant with Abraham	God chooses a people and promises presence and blessing.	Genesis 12:1–3; 15:1–6
Burning Bush	God speaks from fire — holy ground, personal call.	Exodus 3:2–6
Sinai’s Cloud & Fire	God descends in glory, veiled yet present.	Exodus 19:16–20; 24:17
Tabernacle Dwelling	God lives among His people in a mobile sanctuary.	Exodus 25:8; 40:34–38
Temple Built	A permanent house for God’s name and glory.	1 Kings 8:10–13
Prophetic Promises	God speaks through prophets, promising deeper nearness.	Ezekiel 37:27; Isaiah 7:14
Christ’s Incarnation	God becomes flesh — Emmanuel, “God with us.”	John 1:14; Matthew 1:23
Transfiguration	Glory revealed in Christ — heaven touches earth.	Matthew 17:1–8
Crucifixion & Veil Town	Access opened — God’s presence no longer veiled.	Matthew 27:51; Hebrews 10:19–22
Pentecost’s Fire	God’s Spirit descends to dwell within believers.	Acts 2:1–4
Spirit’s Indwelling	The Church becomes the temple — God within us.	1 Corinthians 3:16; Romans 8:9–11
Communion & Worship	Ongoing presence through Word, table, and gathered body.	Luke 24:30–32; Matthew 18:20
New Jerusalem	Full restoration — God dwells with His people forever.	Revelation 21:1–3

p.s. thank you internet for helping me find all those scripture references quickly! The internet can be helpful sometimes 🙂

But look at that list above. It ends with the New Jerusalem, full restoration, God dwells with His people forever. Amen.

Unwanted Waiting (Numbers 9:17-21)

When we dive into Num. 9:17-21, we’re confronted with something so ordinary — but so interesting. Look closely. They are waiting. They are learning how to obey. They’ve lived in captivity for 100’s of years, they’ve lived in pagan evil culture — they have to unlearn, and reset and be fashioned into God’s people. Through this phrase “at the Lord’s command”, they learned the discipline of obedience. They learned to trust.

BUT what about the waiting…? Waiting is not necessarily easy — some people are better at it than others. Sometimes we dread it. Sometimes we hope to have more time to avoid.

There is so much left up to debate, we don’t exactly know how the cloud and fire worked (which naturally are my first questions, what did it look like, did it spin, was Charlton Heston there? I digress…) But we DO know, the focus was on God leading, and His people following. And in the midst of it all, there wasn’t mass confusion of 600k men (and their wives and children, so let’s say an easy 2mil), God miraculously kept order.

One of the many interesting things to me — look how long God’s presence dwells, sometimes it’s a few days, sometimes only one, even a month — they knew they were to wait on the Lord. Sometimes God compels His people to wait. Raise your hand if you love waiting!

In the end though — we live a world of instant gratification and getting everything our own way, and waiting is countercultural.

It teaches endurance, humility, and the ability to live in tension without despair. It’s a spiritual protest against the tyranny of “now.” It’s pushing back on doing things our way. Bucking the trend that we must react the way the world does.

As a High School Teacher at a Christian School, we often talk about how we are planting seeds. It helps us on the hard days.. when kids are foolish, not understanding, and lazy. This is helpful for everyone else to keep in mind too. Not every day is going to be great. We are planting seeds in those little conversations, the reminders, the prayers, the coaching moments. We are investing in what is to come. And the waiting gives the Holy Spirit time to work, to kneed, to prepare. What a joy.

Active Obedience (Numbers 9:22-23)

I am the first to admit, at times it would be easy to gloss over this passage. In essence, we see God moving them, they obeyed, great. BUT WAIT. They obeyed? They camped, the set out, they camped, they set out — all “at the command of the Lord”. This is too amazing to overlook, but we do. They were truly obeying the Lord, learning to trust His care and direction.

Turn the table back to you — why is it so important to follow the Lord’s leading? Why do we sometimes delay?

Why It’s Important to Follow the Lord’s Leading:

• Obedience honors God – It’s the mark of true faith (Hebrews 11:8).
• His way is wiser – God sees what we can’t (Isaiah 55:9).
• Protection and provision – Following His lead keeps us under His care (Psalm 23).
• Purpose and fruitfulness – His path leads to lasting impact (John 15:5).

Why We Sometimes Delay: (very simplified of course)

• Fear – We doubt or feel unprepared.
• Control – We want our own timing or outcome.
• Distraction – We’re busy or spiritually dull.
• Unbelief – We question if God really spoke or cares.

So… what do we do about it? How do we learn to listen, to follow, to obey?

I am glad you asked — I thought about this WAY too long, and tried made it clever (it was oddly easy to think of words starting with “R” that said what I thought were solid helpful Biblical principles, but this is Brian, not from a specific Bible passage)

>> What We Do About Delay and Hesitation in Following the Lord in Obedience:

1. Repent
   • Turn from hesitation and self-reliance, acknowledge where you’ve resisted God’s lead.
     • Acts 3:19 – “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” 
     • 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people… will humble themselves and pray and seek my face… I will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 
2. Recalibrate
   • Return to Scripture and prayer to realign your heart and direction.
     • Proverbs 3:5–6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart… and He will make your paths straight.”
     • Psalm 25:4–5 – “Show me your ways, Lord… for you are God my Savior.”
3. Respond
   • Take the next faithful step, even if it’s small or uncertain.
     • James 1:22 – “Do not merely listen to the word… Do what it says.”
     • Hebrews 11:8 – “By faith Abraham… obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”
4. Remain
   • Stay rooted in trust, even when the outcome is unclear.
     • John 15:4 – “Remain in me, as I also remain in you.”
     • Isaiah 40:31 – “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…”
5. Reframe
   • See delay as preparation, not punishment.
     • Romans 8:28 – “In all things God works for the good of those who love Him…”
     • Genesis 50:20 – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…”