The pillar of fire and cloud (cloud by day, fire by night) was a symbol of God’s leading presence. When the cloud descended, the people would camp and stay in that place as long as the cloud was above the tabernacle. When the cloud rose up, though, the children of Israel would tear down camp and then follow the cloud wherever it led. This was the way God led His people to go or stay and how long. We should follow God’s leadership at all times and in all ways. He always leads right!
This passage also discusses the use of two silver trumpets by the priests to lead the nation and how it relates to leadership within the family.
Starting Right
(Two Silver Trumpets)
The Godly plan for a family is for a Godly father and a Godly mother to love and support one another in a Godly fashion and for them to bear children and to rear them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. “Ephesians 6:4 (AV) – 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
In a nod to single parents, I understand that you are often in a situation you did not plan for or ask for, and it is hard to rear children alone. I think you would be the first to admit, it is not possible to rear a child alone. You need people around you that can come alongside to help. As a matter of fact, the village mentality is one that fits with everyone, but especially with single parents.
However, God’s plan, in the garden of Eden, was for a man and a woman to be married and live in harmony and unity in fellowship with one another and with GOD, and then to provide that solid foundation, that great start for their children that will provide a future for sons and daughters in this world.
Two silver trumpets were ordained to lead the children of Israel as they traveled toward the promised land. Two trumpets…this seemed odd to me until I read the entire set of instructions God gave Moses. I want to use this to explain how I believe God wants us to operate as parents, men and women, and families.
First, I would like to look at the construction of the two silver trumpets.
I. Two Silver Trumpets
Two
Silver
Hammered
Why Two Trumpets? We will find out the purpose of one v. two in the next verses. However, let it suffice that God intends for there to be a united voice of leadership in every family. One must be in tune with the other, or else there is dissonance. One must be in rhythm with the other, or else there is chaos. One must pay attention to one another, or else they cannot follow one another’s cues. They must also follow their leaders, so that they are in the right place at the right time. We need Godly unity in our homes if we are to fulfill the plan of God for our homes.
Why Silver? Silver signified a purity of construction, a sense that these trumpets were set apart for a special purpose.
Parents need to be set apart for a special purpose, that of rearing Godly children!
We should pray to be saved, sanctified, even baptized with the Holy Spirit. We have not been sinless. We have not always done everything right. However, we must be covered by the blood of Jesus and set apart for His purpose! God is looking for parents that don’t just send or even take their children to church, don’t just talk the talk, but parents that walk the walk! And when you do not make it, you get up, dust off your clothes, and then start walking again! When you live a sanctified life, you will follow Christ in purity and unity.
Why Hammered? Hammered work has been formed by the hands of a Master. The metal is put under heat and is then beaten with a hammer. This is not a pleasant process. If the metal has feelings, then it would feel the pressure, the heat, the beating of the process of becoming the vessel of God. While it is possibly painful and our shape is changed as we go through the process, the instrument of the Master that comes out of the process is pure, true, and useful! Your experiences in life, good and bad, form you into the parent that God intends for you to be.
II. One or Two?
The leaders blow the trumpets
Two calls the whole group to God
One calls the leaders
The leaders blow the trumpets. Parents must be willing to sound the clarion call of God’s will and plan for their families. You must be willing to call the family before the presence of the Lord for instruction and worship. As I said before, the trumpets must be in unity in order to send a clear message.
Two trumpets call the group. When two parents stand as one and call the family together, a clear message and direction goes forth. Children see the authority of one in two. Children cannot turn one parent against the other when the parents are united. Get it together, parents! You had each other before you had your children. You will hopefully have one another after the kids are grown and gone. Be one, be united, be purely together! Your children don’t need a buddy or pal, they need leaders united in the Spirit of the Lord! When a father and mother stand in unity for what is right, children have a true example to follow!
One trumpet calls the leaders. One or the other parent will sometimes need to call each other to a place of repentance and holiness. Not a petty squabble, but a Godly accountability is so necessary in a marriage and in parenting. And the leaders of a family need to be called out by the greatest trumpet, the voice of God, and respond with humility and weeping, if necessary, to be able to lead appropriately and successfully.
III. Leading the Camp
Sounding the Advance
The East Side
The South Side
Sounding the Advance – God does not want us to retreat, but to go forward. Some of you are here today and you would rather quit that fight. God is looking for warriors that do not see their family as a lost cause, but rather as an inheritance worth fighting for! Our spirit should be a victorious spirit, a spirit that says “We Can!” not “we are done.”
The East Side – The east side of the camp was the side thought to be closest to the presence of God. Sometimes the stronger one on a particular day needs to be the one to lead the advance.
The South Side – The south side was not quite as close to the presence of the Lord, but they were still in the camp. Don’t leave the camp! Don’t jump ship! God will lead if you will stay with the camp. You may not be the strong one today, but God is still the only compass that can take you and your family where you need to go!
IV. The Priesthood
of Your Home
The Priests Blew the Trumpets
The Permanence of the Call to Priesthood
The priests blew the trumpets. The priests were the spiritual leaders of the nation of Israel under the authority of God through Moses. Today we are called to be prophets, priests, and kings in the Kingdom of God. We are called to be leaders of the home as well. You must be sold out to the calling of being a Godly man or woman, a Godly couple, Godly parents, leading a family to the Promised Land.
The permanence of your role as priest of your home. If you are not sold out, you will sometimes feel the urge to quit: quit trying, quit living right, quit praying, quit reading, quit leading a Godly example. When you had children, you took on a permanent responsibility to rear a family
Are you sold out???
Worship with the choir as they sing about it.
If you need to give your heart to God, or re-commit your family to following Christ as you lead them, come up for prayer. God wants to touch you today!!
Devoted To You 