When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud.
Exodus 24:15-16
I think many people have a major misconception when it comes to knowing God’s will. We often assume that it’s a streamlined, expedient process.
You pray and immediately know what you’re supposed to do.
You fast and the answer you’re looking for magically comes before the second skipped meal.
You open your Bible and it lands on a random verse in Leviticus that tells you exactly what to do.
Sometimes that happens. But not usually. Usually it’s more like what Moses experienced on the mountain.
Moses was at Mt. Sinai to meet with the Lord and receive directions and the Law for the people. He wanted to know the will of God. God wanted him to know it even more. But then Moses just sat there. God eventually spoke to him, but it was only after Moses had had to wait for six days in cloudy silence.
That should be encouraging to those of you who still don’t know God’s will for a particular situation or your life in general and you think you never will. The will of God often takes time to ascertain. Cloudy conditions usually come before clear commands. Sometimes God does speak to you immediately and clearly. When He does, be thankful for those times and act immediately and boldly. But usually, you’re going to spend days, months, maybe even years in the clouds before you hear anything.
If that’s you right now, don’t head back down the mountain just yet. God has clear direction coming for you. And remember, you’re not alone. God’s silence is not equivalent to God’s absence. God’s glory was on the mountain with Moses every one of those six days before Moses heard anything.
God is going to speak to you. He wants you to know His will for your life more than you want to know His will for your life. Just on His timetable.
