And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. We looked upon His glory, the glory of the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
I have received questions from people and the struggles they are going through so decided to bless you all with an especially significant Gem I was planning to do later.
Now in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth of the month, the cloud was lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony; and the sons of Israel set out on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai. Then the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran. So they moved out for the first time according to the commandment of the LORD through Moses.
Numbers 10:11-13
Interesting isn’t it? We know they were led by the presence of God by cloud.
Throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up. For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.
Exodus 40:36-38
When the cloud stopped they stopped; when the cloud moved they moved. It couldn’t have been clearer. “I wish I was led like that” you say. Hang on a minute. Let’s take note of some things.
- After Sinai they went to Taberah
- From Taberah to Kibroth-hattaavah
- From Kibroth-hattaavah to Hazeroth
- From Hazeroth to Kadesh Barnea in the Desert of Paran.
All those names mean something. We will only take note of the last one. I have included them all to give you some food for thought and study. They found themselves in Kadesh Barnea in the Desert of Paran. Remember the cloud has led them there. The name Kadesh Barnea means the holy place of Barnea. Kadesh Barnea is found in the midst of the Desert of Paran. Would it surprise you to know that Paran is an archaic noun from the verb para’ which means “to endow with glory”?
Wow, think about that. This place, called “the holy place of Barnea” where they stopped for quite some years (38) was where God planned for His Glory to remain on them.
“It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea.”
Deuteronomy 1:2
Now the time that it took for us to come from Kadesh-barnea until we crossed over the brook Zered was thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of war perished from within the camp, as the LORD had sworn to them.
Deuteronomy 2:14
Now that is interesting. They spent 38 years in and around Kadesh Barnea. Seemingly in this holy place of Barnea it was God’s intention to endow them with glory in the desert of Paran. But they just didn’t learn the lesson. Do you realise that it is God’s intention to fill you with His glory in the hard places but so often we miss the lesson?
It is in the desert of Paran that you find God and He endows you with glory in the holy place. But think about it! The Israelites left Horeb, the Mountain of God, the place of Glory and travelled to Kadesh Barnea in the Desert of Paran. In other words they went from the place of glory to another place where the glory was to dwell within them. We are all on a journey from Glory to Glory. From one degree of glory to another to the point where we are indwelt with God’s glory. (2 Cor 3:18)
Oh there is more; much more. There is always more when it comes to the Bible, but that will be enough for now.
Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things. Ian
Ian Vail
You’re not finished when you’re defeated, you’re only finished when you quit.
Anon
Fall seven times, get up eight.
Anon