I find it interesting how in Numbers 9:15-23 we learn about how a cloud would cover the tabernacle by day and fire by night and when the cloud was removed from the tabernacle they knew it was time to travel and where they found the cloud they knew it was time to pitch their tents and set up the tabernacle again. And it specifically states that it was at the command of the Lord that they journeyed and at the command of the Lord that they pitched their tents.

This is one of the ways, a very physical and clear way, that the Lord taught the Israelites to follow Him, Jesus Christ. And so he guided them during their journeying in the wilderness. I have wondered why nothing so clear is provided for us and amongst this wondering I have perhaps found a reason why not.

In the time of the Israelites there was nothing they knew of that could produce a cloud during the day and fire by night that would behave as this cloud did. Therefore it was more likely that they would conclude it manifest by some supernatural power. One of their greatest difficulties with this could have been deciding if it was manifest through the power of God or the power of the devil.

However, for us these days, we have a third option we know of that could produce such a phenomenon. Technology. And with this knowledge if something like this were to happen I imagine many people would ascribe such a cloud to some technology and not give it much more thought. Very few, if any, people would ascribe such a cloud by day and fire by night to God or to the devil.

Wither it be through something physical or something spiritual there will always be some element of belief or faith required on our part. I can imagine it may have been easier for the Israelites to believe it was of divine origin in the beginning but would become harder as the days dragged into weeks and months and then years. 10 years wandering, 20 years wandering, 30 years wandering, and 40 years. In fact they wandered long enough in the wilderness that everyone who witnessed the first time the cloud descended on the tabernacle and became fire by night had died except for three people. In all that time they faithfully followed instead of giving up and wandering off somewhere to build a permanent house or settlement. And its not like they never considered returning to Egypt. But they faithfully followed and it must have required great faith to continue following and wandering for so long.

As a fellow classmate pointed out to me we do have some physical manifestations in our time but they require a spiritual view and faith to understand them for what they are. The two she pointed out are temples and our patriarchal blessings. We must attend the temple or read our patriarchal blessing to feel the spirit and in this way gain a spiritual view of how the Lord uses them to guide us during a very different time than the time of these Israelites. It can be done and must be done and will require faith on our part.