God’s Design For the Church:: Uniting the Old Testament with the New Testament

By Apostle Sharon E. Harris

The Church of the Living God is the only organization in this world that will transcend to the next world and throughout all eternity. Everything else in this world will vanish away, but God’s Church will last for all eternity - now and forever. God has structured the Church and everyone must know what that stricture is. The information in this book has been divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit, because Scripture is used to answer Scripture. It is based on what God says, with Scriptures that make it plain. The information in this timeless book will change a Church, a ministry, and also change a Believer’s personal walk with the Lord. It is group worthy, as well as individual worthy of study because God has His Blueprint for His Church, and it is all hidden in Scriptures, and being able to interpret the language of the Author, which is the Holy Spirit, will lead us in the wealth of Spiritual prosperity. The Holy Spirit is the Designer of God’s Blueprint for His Church and He wants us all to understand His way because no prophecy of the Scriptures is of private interpretation. He wants us to know how we are individually, and collectively designed, and knowing this will transform us into His glorious Church. This book will help you recognize your place in the Body of Christ, His Church, as He works on us individually and collectively, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ,” (Ephesians 4:13). This book is profitable for individual, Church, and group studies. It will help you see the spiritual construction from beginning to end, from start to finish, and we will stand in awe of this great Architect, the designer of our souls, God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: May 8, 2024
• ISBN: 9781489750471

Apostle Sharon E. Harris

Apostle Sharon E. Harris is an avid reader of the Bible and studies it relentlessly under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. She finds that the Word of God is intriguing, captivating, and downright the most powerful Book Mankind could every come across. It is the mind of God. God told the prophet Habakkuk to write the vision, and make it plain, and Apostle Harris is one who backs up her writings with the Word of God. Her writings are not based on opinions, but She believes that, when it comes to speaking on behalf of the Lord, one must be Spirit-led and ensure that self has no part in anything that pertains to the Lord. She believes in seeking God to ensure that the Holy Spirit is breathing into the spirit of the person who is transcribing on behalf of the Lord. With much fasting and prayer, deep and inspired studying over many years, the Holy Spirit has released her with the torch of the Word, to light the path so that others may see the Way. All of her inspirational books are Spirit-breathed, and they bring inspiration, enlightenment, and spiritual direction so that the individual, as well as the Church on a whole, may be strengthened in the things that matter, the divine things of the Lord. Her writings are Scripture based and full of Scripture references so that readers may see for themselves what God is saying to His people. God is the center of her life, and the inspiration behind all her writings.

Book preview

GOD’S DESIGN FOR

THE CHURCH

VOLUME 3 OF 6

Uniting the Old Testament

with the

New Testament

GOD’S ORIGINAL BLUEPRINT

A MANUAL FOR SEMINARIES,

UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, PASTORS,

AND ALL MINISTRY LEADERS

FOR GROUP BIBLE STUDY, AND INDIVIDUAL STUDY

APOSTLE SHARON E. HARRIS

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Copyright © 2024 Apostle Sharon E. Harris.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

LifeRich Publishing is a registered trademark of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.

LifeRich Publishing

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

All Scriptures are taken from King James version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-4897-5048-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-5049-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-5047-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2024907412

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 04/23/2024

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Credits Due

Preface

CHAPTER 1: Testing their Trust in God

FROM THE WILDERNESS OF SOLITUDE TO GREATNESS

CHAPTER 2: Israel’s Traveling Ranks

THE CENSUS OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL

The Camp of Judah - On the East

The Camp of Ephraim - On the West

The Camp of Dan - On the North

The Camp of Reuben - On the South

In the Center

ISRAEL’S MILITARY MEN: TWENTY YEARS OLD AND UP

THE CENSUS OF THE LEVITES

The Census of Gershon

The Census of Kohath

The Census of Merari

A SECOND CENSUS OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL

THE PRICE OF REDEMPTION

CHAPTER 3: Seeing Christ in the Oracles of Balaam

THE CUSP OF THE PROMISED LAND

The Moabites

Balaam the Soothsayer

Christ in the First Oracle of Balaam

Christ in the Second Oracle of Balaam

Christ in the Third Oracle of Balaam

Christ in the Fourth Oracle of Balaam

CHAPTER 4: From Egypt to Canaan

THE JOURNEY

The Old Generation

The Tragic Transition

The New Generation

A Man Named Moses

A Man Named Joshua

A Man Named Caleb

ENEMY ENCOUNTERS

The Weapons of Our Warfare:

The Characteristics of Demons

Demonically Influenced Enemy Nations

The Amalekites

The Amorites

The Anakims

The Canaanites

The Girgashites

The Hittites

The Hivites

The Jebusites

The Moabites

The Philistines

The Perizzites

FAITHFUL YAHWEH AND THE RESULTS OF OBEDIENCE

THE WAR CONTINUES

JOSEPH, THE SYMBOL OF CHRISTIAN CONDUCT

IT’S ONLY A TEST

THE POTTER AND THE CLAY

Bisque Firing (the first firing)

The Purpose of Bisque Firing

The Purpose of Our Trials

Glaze Firing (the second firing)

The Purpose of Glaze Firing

The Purpose of Our Continual Testing

EARTHENWARE CLAY

STONEWARE CLAY

PORCELAIN CLAY

THERE ARE PROMOTIONS AFTER THE TESTS

FROM A CIVILIAN, TO A RECRUIT, TO A SOLDIER

THE CRUSHING OF THE OLIVE

CHAPTER 5: The Services of the Mosaic Tabernacle

THE BURNT OFFERING

Burnt Offering From the Herd of Cattle

Burnt Offering From the Flocks

Burnt Offering From the Fowls

LAW OF THE OVERNIGHT BURNT OFFERING

God Has a Specific Design for the Church

The Designs of the Tabernacle and Temple

ARE THE DESIGNS OF THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH

All Scripture references are from

the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

"Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house. And these are the measures..." (Ezekiel 43:10-13).

How to Be Born Again

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20). Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). In order to be born again, a person must acknowledge that they are a sinner, and they must receive Christ’s righteousness by faith. He stands at the door of a person’s heart and seeks entrance into their life. Every human being is born a sinner, and every sinner must acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the incarnate Son of God who came through the virgin birth, and that He was crucified on a cross to pay for the sins of Mankind. The sinner must believe and accept Christ’s sacrifice on the cross on their behalf, and they must accept Him into their heart and life and live according to His Word, the Holy Bible. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). These are the steps to being born again.

A Model Prayer to Be Born Again

Lord Jesus, I acknowledge and confess that I am a sinner. I acknowledge that you are the Savior of the World, and that you died so that I may be reconciled to God. I thank you for shedding your blood on my behalf. Please forgive me of my sins and come into my heart. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you Lord God for sending your Son and for saving my soul, in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

CREDITS DUE

All credits are given to God the Father, the Designer of the Church; God the Son, the embodiment of the Church; and God the Holy Spirit, the life-giving Sustainer of the Church. Without the Trinity, I would never have been able to write these inspiring volumes on the wonderful design of the Church of the Living God.

To my intercessors and armor bearers who are constantly lifting me up in prayer, and who offer words of encouragement so that I may keep pressing forward in the important work of ministry, you are incredibly vital to my survival in this epic war against the forces of darkness. My intercessors and armor bearers were designed by God to hold up my hands as Aaron and Hur held up Moses’s hands until the battle was won. You make such a difference in my life that, in expressing my gratitude, words fail me. The blessings of the Lord be upon you all for all that you do for the servant of the Lord, and for the sake of His Kingdom. I cherish you all.

Dorothy Johnson, my mother, whose intercessory oil never runs dry because she remains constant in prayer and in the throne room of grace, making intercession for me, our family, and for the whole world - yes she is that kind of mother and intercessor. I thank God for you.

Lloyd Johnson is an incredible father-figure. A father is the leading man of a family. Not many men know how to lead a family, but there are many who lead and lead well. Dada, I am a witness that you have led your family in excellence of moral conduct and integrity. You raised your children well and I know that I can speak for all of us that you are among the best of the best fathers that God has ever made. I thank you so much for raising me the way you did. It is the reason why I am who I am today. I honor you with the blessings of heaven. May God Almighty continue to bless you abundantly with long life, health, and strength. May heaven continue to shine on you and that you will reap heaven’s best.

My four sons Dexter Harris, Corey Harris, Lovell Harris, and Malik Harris - I wouldn’t trade you for the world. What a difference you make in my life! You are my God-given treasures. I am truly blessed.

Dexter is the chosen one who brings laughter, which lightens the weight of life. Son, you are so funny without even trying to be funny. That is a gift from God because laughter relaxes the body, boosts the immune system, protects the heart, and releases endorphins, which is the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Jesus said, These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full (John 15:11). The Lord wants us to be happy and, Dexter, you make that happen. Keep on loving Jesus. God bless you son.

My son, Corey Harris, so young and yet so powerful. He is a bishop indeed at a tender age because the Spirit of the Lord has filled him with heaven’s wisdom, and he is quick to share what God has poured into him. Son, you are a spiritual inspiration to Mommy, and I am eternally grateful for the spiritual support and support in all other areas of need. May God continue to catapult you into your divine destiny.

Lovell my twin. You are like Mommy in so many ways that it amazes me. Your passion for life and to excel is astounding. You think hard and dream big and because of that, you have been positioned on the road to great success. We share many God-given traits, so we do well together. You have a story to tell, and I know that one day you will tell it all, and the world will be blessed with all that you have to offer. Keep pressing forward, son.

Malik, maybe one day you will become a lawyer, or even the president of the United States. Many times over the years you’ve been told that a lawyer position would fit you well. I can see you in the courtroom defending others and leaving everyone stunned. From a very young age, I had admired how well spoken you were, and how much you spoke as if you were an adult with experience. Continue to dream big so that your business aspirations will reach their climax. I know that you will. It is imbedded in you as a gift from Jehovah. Greatness lies in you and will one day become an awesome explosion of great success.

A reminder to all: it is in Him that we live, and move, and have our being (Acts 17:38). Let us always be mindful that without Him we cannot accomplish anything. Stay focused, and stay on the course of victory.

PREFACE

Curiosity in the natural is a wonderful trait. If a person does not seek to know more, chances are, that person will not know anything more than what they already know. A young child’s curiosity drives him to ask questions, to probe into things, to reach for that shiny object because being curious causes him to concentrate with purpose on the things that beckon his attention. We must never stop learning. Not wanting to know more is like ceasing to live. Why did I venture out to write this book on God’s Design for the Church? Because I was very curious about spiritual things from God’s perspective. I was never satisfied with where I was in my knowledge of God and His will for the Church. I unceasingly wanted to know more. As much as I received from the Lord, it only opened up my appetite for desiring to know even more. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward (Psalm 19:7-11). The more we seek after God, the more He increases our appetite for Him. There is great reward in loving God with every fiber of our being. In studying the Bible for many years, I came to realize that what I have witnessed in the body of Christ, in our day and time, is simply not all that the Bible says that the Church should be. So I went on a quest. I questioned God on many subject matters and sought Him vehemently for wisdom on spiritual matters. I had many questions such as, Why are God’s people sickly? Where are the signs, wonders, and miracles that He has promised in His Word? Why does the Church appear to be weak and powerless? What is God’s design for the Church? My thirst for spiritual knowledge led me to seek answers through the wisdom of God. It is good to have a spiritual thirst after God’s wisdom. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her (Proverbs 3:13-15). As I sought God’s wisdom on the body of Christ, on how the Church is designed to function, I became relentless in my pursuit until the Father caused me to fully understand the Scripture that says, …for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6b). I have personally proven that for myself. You have to diligently seek after Him without wavering. I had an intense, spiritual appetite to know the design that Christ has laid out for His Church. There has to be more than what we are currently experiencing. I believe that the early Church gave us a glimpse on how God wants to move among His people; He confirmed His Word with signs following the Believers. I know that our Father wants to release so much more into the body of Christ so that the world will be impacted by the presence of the Church here on Earth. When that is done, souls will be won for the Kingdom of God. Every leader needs to know the design of the Church if he or she wants to display the glory of the Bride of Christ. When you delve into these life-changing and ministry-changing six-volume books of God’s Design for the Church, and apply the knowledge that the Lord Jesus Christ has imparted and inspired me to write, neither you nor your ministry will be the same. Through the lens of Scripture, you will see God’s design for the Church from the onset of Moses’s Tabernacle, Solomon’s Temple, and the establishment of the Church by Jesus Christ. In the types and shadows of Moses’s wilderness Tabernacle, to David’s blueprint for the construction of the Temple, to Solomon’s great wisdom in bringing to life David’s blueprint, and through the Blueprint (the Holy Bible) of the Church that Christ has designed and established, you will see the complete picture of how the Church should function today. Until we get back to the original Blueprint of the Church, the Church will only function at just a step above a secular organization. "And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof. And write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them" (Ezekiel 43:11). God has a design for His Church, and He wants us to know the design and follow His orders. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ has been established from before the foundation of the world. The terms Church of God and the Church of Jesus Christ are used interchangeably in these volumes because they are one and the same, seeing that Jesus Christ is God. All that we see in Scripture is a graduation of the full disclosure of the Church of God. From the Edenic Covenant, to the Adamic Covenant, to the Noahic Covenant, to the Abrahamic Covenant, to the Mosaic Covenant, to the Palestinian Covenant, to the Davidic Covenant, to the New Covenant, and from the wilderness Tabernacle, to Solomon’s Temple, all the way through history to the culmination of the establishment of the Church of the Living God, I have connected the pieces together, and have shown you the wonderful Bride of Christ in all her glorious splendor. I have established this through the proof of Scripture. All six volumes together of God’s Design for the Church will make the design clear so that you will be better able to understand how the Church was designed, and how it must function in order for us to see the mighty flow of the power of God. When we go back to the original Blueprint, we will begin to see the signs, wonders, and miracles that we have so longed for. When you connect the types and shadows of the Mosaic Tabernacle and the Temple of Solomon, you will uncover the truths surrounding the establishment of the Church, whose foundation is rooted upon the solid Rock of Christ, then you will see how our modern-day Church ought to function, which is according to the divine will of God. All the Old Testament types and shadows pointed to the living, breathing, Church of God. Moses’s Tabernacle was the explicit design of Christ Himself, and hence, the Church of God. Moses’s Tabernacle was the Church in the wilderness. We can seen the transition of the Church of the Living God throughout the history of Man.

Do you know the design of the Church? All six volumes of God’s Design for the Church will serve either as an educator, an inspiration, or a refresher of the wonderful design of the Body of Christ. Once we get back to the original design, we will begin to see a flow of the power of God in the midst of His Church. This will then spill over into our personal lives. The volumes of God’s Design for the Church are a life-changer. The revelations in these volumes have changed my life. In the midst of writing them, the Holy Spirit continuously breathed into me inspiration after inspiration, revelation after revelation, and I have put them all together in these volumes, leaving nothing out, so all could see what thus saith the Lord unto the churches. The seven churches of Asia Minor each had a personal message from the Lord Jesus Christ; the Lord has a message for each Church today. For the Church at Ephesus, the Lord had said that they had labored and had not fainted; the message to Smyrna was that the Lord knew their works, tribulations, and poverty, but they were rich and must not fear the wicked, but be faithful unto death and He would give them the crown of life; the Lord told the Church at Pergamos that He knew their works, and that they had held fast to His name and had not denied the faith, but He had a few things against them because they condoned those who taught false doctrine. The Lord told them to repent before He came and fought against the false teachers with the Sword of His mouth; for the Church at Thyatira, He first complimented them then scolded them because they had allowed Jezebel to teach and seduce the Lord’s servants; His message to Sardis was that He had not found their work to be perfect, and they must be watchful and strengthen the things that were about to die; He told the Church at Philadelphia that He had set before them an open door that no man could shut because they had a little strength and had kept His Word and had not denied His name; for the Church at Laodicea, their message from the Lord was that He knew their works, and that they were neither hot nor cold, and because they were lukewarm, He would spew them out of His mouth. If you are a leader of a Church or ministry, what is Christ saying about His Church that He has entrusted into your hands? What is the condition of the work He has placed you over? These volumes will get you on the right track on how to operate the Church, or your ministry, which must be according to God’s Blueprint.

Grace and peace.

Apostle Sharon E. Harris

CHAPTER 1

TESTING THEIR TRUST IN GOD

It is easier to trust when we can see clearly and the outcome is favorable. It is more of a challenge to trust when we cannot see the way. When we can see our pathway clearly and have a good understanding of the outcome, we are at rest. Everything is visible in the light, so during the day, things are clear. No one gropes during daylight because nothing is hidden in the light. Pathways are clear, objects are clear, and there is a mutual understanding of what is what. There is an anonymous agreement on things that have clearly defined meanings, such as a car, a tree, or a rock. Some may find that it is easier to trust God in the day than at night. If God says, I will provide money for your rent. Because He has blessed you with a well paying job, you believe that strongly because you have a good income. That is a daylight kind of trust. What if He said that to you and you find it difficult to find employment, and upon checking all avenues, you cannot see any possible way that your rent would be paid? That would be a night kind of trust. Would you still trust His promise when all seem hopeless? The Children of Israel had to blindly follow Yahweh, meaning, they could not see their way, but they had no choice but to trust Him and do as He had said. And they did. He promised to lead them, and He gave them signs to comfort them. When the pillar of cloud lifted during the day, they rose up and pushed forward towards the Promised Land. They could see their way clearly because it was day, but what happened if it was midnight and God said, Up! Arise and move forward, while some were in deep slumber and having to be shaken awake? They had to trust God, pack up their things and move forward in their ranks, following the orders of Jehovah Jireh their provider. They might have been tempted to remain until the morning when they could see better, which some might have said that it was only a couple of hours away until the sun came up, but they had to obey immediately. They trusted Yahweh in the dark, but was it really dark? Is it really dark when we are uncertain of the outcome that we desire Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me (Micah 7:8). For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light (Psalm 36:9). Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee (Psalm 139:12). These two Psalms were written by David. If anybody had troubles, David had troubles. David the king-elect encountered many issues in his life, both before he had acquired the throne, and during his reign, but he found refuge and strength in Jehovah, the God of Israel. He went through hardships during the reign of King Saul. The king hated him and hunted him down to take his innocent life, but David trusted in his God. He knew that his life was preserved in God, and that God’s promise to give him the Kingdom would come to pass, but in the meanwhile, he encountered troubles of gross darkness and major distress, but he trusted in the light of the Lord. It was a very dark time for him because he was on the run for many years, but he sought God often during his dark seasons, and the Lord, Yahweh, instructed and guided him to safety. I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons (Psalm 16:7). This Psalm of David is saying that during his times of uncertainties, the Lord guided his heart in the right direction. After the death of King Saul, David began to reign at the age of 30 years old. He became a model king because God often compared his descendants to him. God would tell them on several occasions that they either did or did not do like their father David. Here are two examples: Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord his God, like David his father (2 Kings 16:2). In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not like David his father… (2 Kings 14:1, 3). David trusted God in the dark. Israel trusted God in the dark. Shouldn’t we also? After all, He has proven Himself time and time again, not only in Scripture, but in our own personal lives.

From the Wilderness of Solitude To Greatness

The Children of Israel were coming from a long way, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically. They were called by God to come out of Egypt, the only place they had ever known. These were the people who had come out of the loins of Abraham and it had been four hundred and 30 years since Abraham’s offsprings had migrated to Egypt, so they did not know the land of Canaan personally. Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations (Exodus 12:40-42). It was dark when God led them out, but they trusted Him. Their forefather Abraham was called, their forefather Isaac was called, and their forefather Jacob was also called, and now the call had extended to them, the offsprings of their forefathers. God is the Master Builder of all things, including our character. He will construct, reconstruct, organize, and reorganize our lives to fit His will. His intention is to give us a makeover that will cause us to become unrecognizable, even to ourselves, because we have been marred by circumstance and sin, and He must fix us. Indeed, we are broken, broken by life. The Children of Israel needed a makeover. They did not know the God of their forefathers, therefore, He was not their God. They served Egypt’s gods, but here is Yahweh, ensuring that His promise to Abraham was kept, He went after his offsprings with the intentions of working on them to conform them to become His people, in that way, the promise to Abraham would surely come to pass. That promise was to give Abraham a seed that would bless the entire world, and in order to do that, He had to preserve Abraham’s descendants. They were abused in Egypt, and God wanted them to have a new life. He called them out of Egypt and they arose, as they were commandment by the Lord, and marched out of Egypt. They did not allow fear to paralyzed them. The unknown could not gobble up their energy despite the risks of being slaughtered by the Egyptians, or being destroyed by animal attacks or other mishaps that could have befallen them in the wilderness. Why was it impossible for them to be destroyed? Because Jehovah was a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, and they had a leader who had great faith, Moses. God was their protector. He surrounded His people and shielded them from their enemies. An example is when the King of Syria had made war with Israel and Elisha the prophet would warn the King of Israel of Syria’s strategy against Israel. The king of Israel would check out Elisha’s warning by sending his soldiers to spy out the place that Elisha had said the Syrians had set ambush, and it would come to pass the multiple times that Elisha had warned. The King of Syria was very concerned that his strategies against the Children of Israel did not work, and he wanted to know who among his servants was informing the king of Israel of his war plans. One of his servants told him that Elisha the prophet discerned his secret plans and warned the king of Israel. The King of Syria sent for Elisha and Elisha’s servant was very worried.

Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber. And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha (2 Kings 6:11-18).

God has proven over and over that He can be trusted because He is a God of His Word. His presence was always with His people, even in the dark, and they knew it. That was very comforting. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). They could see their way even when it was dark. He was their eyes, ears, and feet because they were seeing through His direction. They could see the end result, the Promised Land, a very prosperous land that would be flowing with milk and honey. We must trust His leading. We must trust His light. There would be no regrets if we did. Whenever the Israelites followed His directions and leaned solely upon Him, they did not stumble, nor even grope in the dark. When we are in the dark (uncertainties), we will never stumble nor grope if we trust Him completely and follow His divine directions. When we are in solitude, sometimes almost nothing is completely clear. We do not know all of His plans, and sometimes we can neither hear nor feel His presence. We are tempted to become uncertain about whether He is working for us or even remembers that we exist, but we trust His Word that tells us He will never leave us nor forsake us. Solitude at times seems to magnify God’s silence, but that is when we must trust because "…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5b). All was well when the Children of Israel trusted God. He provided water when there was no water. Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:18, 19). So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them (Exodus 15:22-25). The Children of Israel had to forget about Egypt and the life they had and look to Jehovah for