I am sitting on the front porch in a rocking chair at a small cabin near Mt Airy, NC. for a couple of days of R&R with my wife Tammy. To my left is a small mountain and the top third is engulfed in a misty cloud. Interestingly, I just finished reading Exodus 40 during my morning devotion.

Moses has concluded all the work for the tabernacle of meeting (a major building project by the way) and closes with these words. “Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.”

During the 40 years Israel spent in the wilderness they moved the tabernacle dozens of times. The time between movements varied significantly. The longest they stayed in one place was approximately two years, and the shortest was just over a week. While scholars may debate the exact number of times Israel broke camp and reset the portable tabernacle, what is certain is they did not move until the cloud was lifted.(follow that cloud!)

As a follower of Jesus, we are often prone to a performance-based relationship with the Lord. Especially if you are a type A personality driven by action, with a focus on doing instead of being. A classic example often referenced for this type of behavior is the passage in the Gospel of Luke with Martha and Mary. Jesus has arrived at the sisters’ house along with his disciples. Martha goes into hyper mode preparing food and serving the guests. In my imagination I envision Mary plopping down on a “bean bag chair” sitting at the feet of Jesus.

You can just hear the pots and pans clanging intentionally in the kitchen as Martha gives Mary the side-eye trying to get her to help. Her clanging shifts to open criticism as she seems to chide the Lord and says don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work, tell her to get her butt in the kitchen and help me. Ok, she may not have said those exact words, but you get the point, she’s ticked.

Jesus engages with Martha and says you are distracted with so many things, but Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her. Jesus is not against serving and doing, but His point is clear. (follow that cloud)Are you so busy doing things for the Lord that you miss being with Him? Do you tend to act first rather than taking time to wait on the Lord and be in His presence?

You’ve likely heard this a few times in your lifetime “Don’t just stand there do something.”  How often when making a ministry “move” or decision do you wait and sit in the presence of the Lord to seek and pray for His direction before moving forward.  Sometimes the best thing you can “do” 😊 is “Don’t just do something stand there.”(follow that cloud)

The last phrase in Numbers 9:18 ends with “as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.” The misty cloud resting over the mountain during my devotion time this morning serves as a visual reminder that being with the Lord is more important than doing things for Him, and a call to wait on and for the Lord when seeking His will, direction, and making important life decisions. Follow that cloud!

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