Numbers 10 - At the Trumpet Sound, Will You Go?

Just like it says in the hymn When the Roll is Called up Yonder", the trumpet call will gather, in chapter 10 if Numbers we see God commanding the nation to use the different trumpet sounds to both call the people together and signal their time to leave.  When God calls his people they should be ready to respond whenever that call comes. My fear is that we may not be ready because of the influences the world has had on us. 

Just as in the times of Moses, when God calls his people to leave He goes with them. In the times of old He presented himself in a cloud and today He gives his Holy Spirit to those who are His. We can know that God will not leave or forsake the people He has redeemed. God is with us as we lie down and as we go about our days. He continues to be sovereign over events so no opposition can come but what it will demonstrate God's glory. We may face hardship, but God is with us and our faith is strengthened as we see Him respond to our prayers for help and encouragement. 

One thing I find interesting in this chapter is Moses' invitation to his brother in law, Hobab. Hobab is the son of a Midianite and the brother of Moses' wife.  In Judges he is referred to as a Kenite and we know he responded positively to Moses' invitation as they were with the Israelites later in their story. Here a gentile receives this invitation: "if you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things The Lord gives us" Num 10:32. 

God has not forgotten his chosen nation of Israel, but just as is displayed in this invitation, he has opened the way for Gentiles to share in the good things of The Lord, with the greatest thing being the hope we have of forgiveness of sin and of life with Him both on earth and in glory. God has enough love for all. 

The real question for us is when God sounds the trumpet will we be ready?  Will we stay on earth or will we leave with the saints?  In I Thessalonians we know the Lord's return will come at just the right time. "For The Lord himself will come down from Heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first and we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet The Lord in the air."  I Thess 4:16-17. See The Lord is still in the cloud and we will meet hit here if we will obey the call. In the meantime, we should get ourselves ready so that we can leave when the call comes. 

Hobab decided to go. Will you?

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him.