Seeking out a Resting Place

My family and I have been very busy lately since moving to a new house - new to us, that is.  We've made some improvements already with better lighting in most rooms, installed new spout on the kitchen sink, and systematically moving the dehumidifier through the rooms.  The handyman has come through and fixed up some things as well, like screen doors, bathroom taps, exhaust fans, and re-attached an air conditioning unit to the wall.  Laura still isn't able to park in the garage yet, but I hope to have that remedied within the next week.

As we are reading through the book of Numbers as a family, it has become clear it doesn't always sit well with God's people to go where He leads.  Perhaps you can relate!  During decades in the wilderness, God taught His people to rely upon Him for everything:  food, water, meat, protection, and direction.  He led them to places like Marah, a place where He made the bitter water sweet and made a covenant with them.  From Marah God led them to Elim, an oasis with water and beautiful palms.  But God didn't allow His people to stay there.  He moved them on!   After the tabernacle was built, the Spirit of the LORD rested upon it.  As long as the presence of God rested upon the tabernacle, the people would remain.  At the moment God's presence moved on, the people were called to pack up and leave according to their tribes in the prescribed manner.  Last night we read in Numbers 10:33, "So they departed from the mountain of the LORD on a journey of three days; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them for the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them."

The idea of God seeking out a resting place for His people was an amazing thought.  Did you know that God seeks rest for His people?  In Him rest can be found, no matter where we are.  After the flood, Noah released a dove from the ark.  The first dove returned to him because "she found no rest for the sole of her foot."  After seven days the next dove Noah released returned with an olive branch in her beak, signalling the abatement of the waters from the earth.  He waited seven days and sent out another dove that never returned.  The first time a dove is mentioned in the New Testament was when the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove alighted upon Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.  John the Baptist was led to baptise people to reveal the Messiah to the world.  In the Gospel of John (a different John writing!), he explains this fact.  John 1:29-34 reads, "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.' ³¹ I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water." ³² And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. ³³ I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' ³⁴ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."  After Jesus came out of the water God spoke from heaven, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased!"  When the Spirit in the form of a dove landed upon Jesus and rested upon Him, it was clear to all who would believe that Jesus is the Christ, God-made-flesh, the divine sacrifice, the promised Messiah, and Redeemer of lost sinners.

Do you know you will never know true rest until you know Christ as LORD and Saviour?  It is through the Holy Spirit resting and coming upon us that we know God and are empowered to serve Him.  The eyes of the LORD go to and fro throughout the whole earth, looking for people who are loyal to Him.  He seeks those who worship Him who worship Him in Spirit and in truth.  Jesus is the one who baptises with the Holy Spirit and fire.  Once we are through with wandering, murmuring, and complaining, tired of our best efforts to save ourselves, by God's grace our eyes can be opened to Jesus and we realise salvation is found only in Him.  Jesus invites all in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  The Spirit of God looks today to rest upon those who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb and abide in Him.  Have you been washed?

No matter where you find yourself geographically, Jesus is your peace.  Through the Holy Spirit, we can rest in Him!  Follow Jesus wherever He leads.  God's thoughts toward us are good and not evil, to give us a future and a hope.  Jesus is this for us!