Numbers 10:29-31
The fugitives whom Moses led reached Sinai in three
months after leaving Egypt. They remained there for at least nine months. Some
times before the encampment broke up, a relative of Moses by marriage, Hobab by
name had come into camp on a visit. He was a Midianite by race, one of the
wondering tribes from the south east of the Arabian Peninsula. He knew every
foot of the ground. So moses, who had no doubt forgotten much of the little
desert skill he had learned in keeping Jethro’s flock, prays Hobab to remain
with them and give them the benefit of his practical knowledge.
I.
A
sense of the unknown wilderness before us
1. A general complexion of the future
may be roughly estimated. We know very early in life that
the thread of our days is a mingled strand and the prevailing tone a sober,
neutral tint. The main characteristics of what we shall meet we well enough
know.
2. The Particular Events of the future
are hidden. It is strange and impressive when we
come to think how providence, working with the same uniform materials in all
human lives, can yet, like some skillful artist, produce endless novelty and
surprises in each life. The solemn ignorance of the next moment is sometimes
stimulating and joyous. But to all there come times when their ignorance is
saddening.
3. The aspect of life Represented as a
wilderness. There are dangers and barren places and
a great solitude in spite of love and companionship, and many marching’s and
lurking foes, and grim rocks, and fierce suns, and parched wells, and shadiness
sand wastes enough in every life to make us quail often and look grave always
when we think of what may be before us.
II.
The
true leader of our protest
1. Israel’s true Leader.
The true leader of the children of Israel in their wilderness journey was not
Moses, but the Divine Presence in the cloud with a heart of fire, that hovered
over their camp for a defense and sailed before them for a guide (Exodus
13:21).
2. The Christian’s true Leader.
In sober reality we have God’s presence; and waiting hearts which have ceased
from self-will may receive leading as real as ever the pillar gave to Israel.
3.
The
Christian’s responsibility to his Leader.
a.
Obedient
step by step following: No doubt in all our lives there
come times when we seem to have been brought into a blind alley, and cannot see
where we are to get out; but it is very rare indeed that we do not see one step
in advance,, the duty which lies next to us. And be sure of this, that if we
are content to see but one step at a time, and take it, we shall find our way
made plain.
b.
Certainly
of God’s will: Do not seek to outrun God’s guidance,
to see what you are to do a year hence or to act before you are sure of what is
His will; do not let your wishes get in advance of the pillar and the ark, and
you will be kept from many a mistake and led into a region of deep peace.
c.
Reverent
following: “Go after the ark, yet there shall be a
space between it and you; come not near it, that ye may know the way ye ought
to go’ (Joshua 3:3-4). If we impatiently press too close on the heels of our
guide we lose the guidance. There must be a reverent following which allows
indications of the way full time of develop themselves and does not fling
itself into new circumstances on the first flush of apparent duty.
III.
The
desire for a Human guide has been met in the gift of Christ
1. Hobab’s Qualification.
Moses sought to secure this Midianite guide because he was a native of the
desert and had travelled all over it. His experience was his qualification.
2. Christ Qualification.
He travelled every foot of the road by which we have to go. He knows ‘how to
encamp in this wilderness,’ for he himself has ‘tabernacle among us’ and by
experience has learned the weariness of the journey and the perils of the
wilderness.
3. The Believer’s Pattern.
His life is our pattern. Our marching orders are brief and simple: follow your
leader, and plant your feet in His footprint.
If we only ask him to be with us
‘instead of eyes’ and accept his gentle leading, we shall not walk in darkness,
but may plunge into thickest night and the most unknown land, assured that he will
‘lead us by the right way to the city of habitation’ (Psalm 107:7)
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