These are the days of Elijah
Declaring the word of the Lord
And these are the days of Your servant Moses
Righteousness being restored

… And though these days of great trials
Of famine and darkness and sword
Still we are the voice in the desert crying
Prepare ye the way of the Lord!

… Behold He comes, riding on the clouds,
Shining like the sun at the trumpet’s call
So, lift your voice, it’s the year of Jubilee, And out of Zion’s hill, salvation comes,

There are two songs playing in the background of my mind this morning as we read God’s Way to signal His people to get up, tear down camp, and move forward at His command—in an orderly fashion!  “The Days of Elijah” is the first song that comes to mind.  Trumpets have often been the calling card of God through the ages.  The Lord directs Moses to make two trumpets for use in calling the thousands encamped to attention.  Trumpets blasts are signals for the people to move out on God’s command!  Trumpets are also used to lead them in battles against their enemies. We see trumpets used as signals through the Word of God!  I’ll share the second song later…right now let’s get into the Word of what the Lord said to Moses.

Numbers 10

The Silver Trumpets

The Lord said to Moses: ² “Make two trumpets of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community together and for having the camps set out. ³ When both are sounded, the whole community is to assemble before you at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ⁴ If only one is sounded, the leaders—the heads of the clans of Israel—are to assemble before you. ⁵ When a trumpet blast is sounded, the tribes camping on the east are to set out. ⁶ At the sounding of a second blast, the camps on the south are to set out. The blast will be the signal for setting out. ⁷ To gather the assembly, blow the trumpets, but not with the signal for setting out.

⁸ “The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to blow the trumpets. This is to be a lasting ordinance for you and the generations to come. ⁹ When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies. ¹⁰ Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.”

The Israelites Leave Sinai

¹¹ On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle of the covenant law. ¹² Then the Israelites set out from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the cloud came to rest in the Desert of Paran. ¹³ They set out, this first time, at the Lord’s command through Moses.

¹⁴ The divisions of the camp of Judah went first, under their standard. Nahshon son of Amminadab was in command. ¹⁵ Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe of Issachar, ¹⁶ and Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun. ¹⁷ Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and Merarites, who carried it, set out.

¹⁸ The divisions of the camp of Reuben went next, under their standard. Elizur son of Shedeur was in command. ¹⁹ Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon, ²⁰ and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad. ²¹ Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things. The tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived.

²² The divisions of the camp of Ephraim went next, under their standard. Elishama son of Ammihud was in command. ²³ Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh, ²⁴ and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin.

²⁵ Finally, as the rear guard for all the units, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out under their standard. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was in command. ²⁶ Pagiel son of Okran was over the division of the tribe of Asher, ²⁷ and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali. ²⁸ This was the order of march for the Israelite divisions as they set out.

²⁹ Now Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place about which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.”

³⁰ He answered, “No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own people.”

³¹ But Moses said, “Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. ³² If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the Lord gives us.”

³³ So they set out from the mountain of the Lord and traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them during those three days to find them a place to rest. ³⁴ The cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp.

³⁵ Whenever the ark set out, Moses said,

“Rise up, Lord!
    May your enemies be scattered;
    may your foes flee before you.”

³⁶ Whenever it came to rest, he said,

“Return, Lord,
    to the countless thousands of Israel.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

I listen to the trumpet of Jesus
While the world hears a different sound
I march to the drumbeat of God Almighty
While the others just wander around
I’m a member of the Holy Ghost traveling band
We’re moving on up to a better land
I hear the voice of the Supernatural singing
Like only those who know Him can

I love this chorus!  The second song coming to mind is “The Trumpet of Jesus!” which was sung many years ago by the Imperials.  This song impacted my life as a young adult growing in my faith and is a reminder of all the times Jesus continued to give His gift of peace and wisdom through all the storms of my life.  And He’s doing it again! Jesus teaches trust for all of Life.  Jesus was, is, and always will be the Trumpet Call to bring us to a right relationship with God, our Father, we must trust completely!

When we listen for the “trumpet’s call” to repent in Jesus Name, love God back with all our hearts, minds, and souls, and then follow God’s guidance that His Holy Spirit living within us provides; we please him. Although God’s plan may not always be clear to us, we must follow.  Even when it seems we are being led in circles in the desert of our wilderness thinking—trust God!  Here’s the second verse—

One sweet sound makes
A whole world of difference
When the world seems indifferent to you
His melody of love calls you to be great
When marking time was all you thought you could do
So if you’ve been playing all your days by ear
Never knowing what your song was to be
Then pull up a chair, let down your hair
And take a few lessons from me…

I listen to the trumpet of Jesus
While the world hears a different sound
I march to the drumbeat of God Almighty
While the others just wander around
I’m a member of the Holy Ghost traveling band
We’re moving on up to a better land
I hear the voice of the Supernatural singing
Like only those who know Him can

In our troubles, loss of control we think we have, and in those unexpected twists and turns of life that make us fearful, we can shout, “ugh, this so unfair”!  We can shake our fists in the air in defeat or stamp our feet like a toddler who isn’t getting his way. OR we can make the decision that is not like the rest of an indifferent world and declare: 

“Yet will I trust Him, I know God knows what is best.”

(See the story of God through Job—God gave Job space in His Word to show us how to trust God through tremendous trials! See the Book of Job.)

Pause to reflect: 

• How easily do I change direction?
• Am I willing to adapt to God’s will?
• Do I ask God to clarify His Plan and Purpose clear to me as I move toward His will for the future?
• Am I listening for the Trumpet of Jesus each day with each step I take or am I listening to just a lot of noises and voices of the world around me?

A spiritual fanfare has a sound all its own
At the birth of a lasting song
It’s been two thousand years since Jesus was born
And still the celebration goes on
If you feel the need to get your life in tune
‘Cause you’re tired of the dirge every day
Then turn yourself around
Put your feet on the ground
And just hear what I have to say

I listen to the trumpet of Jesus
While the world hears a different sound
I march to the drumbeat of God Almighty
While the others just wander around
I’m a member of the Holy Ghost traveling band
We’re moving on up to a better land
I hear the voice of the Supernatural singing
Like only those who know Him can

Listen to the trumpet of Jesus…!

Max Lucado writes;

“Approximately two years had passed since the departure of the Israelites from Egypt. During this time at Mount Sinai, God gave them the tent of meeting, ceremonial and ritual laws, and travel instructions. Then they traveled from Mount Sinai into the wilderness of Paran enroute to the promised land. When they faced many hardships, they forgot about God’s provision and protection and began to curse and complain. God punished them for their lack of faith.

We show the same lack of faith when we think we can do as much (or more) than Almighty God. Such a lack of faith shows that we really don’t know how to trust God.

If you look long enough and hard enough, you’ll find something to bellyache about. So quit looking! Lift your eyes off the weeds. Major in the grace of God.  Gratitude is a wonderful option!

Collect your blessings. Catalog his kindnesses. Assemble your reasons for gratitude and recite them. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1Thessalonians 5:16–18).”—Max Lucado’s Encouraging Word Study Bible

Lord,

Thank you for all you have done, are doing, and will do in my life with You.  You are Life! Lead me, Lord.

In Jesus Name, Amen