When the Israelites were set free from Egypt, they were led by Moses who
would go to the tent of meeting and speek with the LORD “face to face, as one speaks to a friend” (Exodus 33:11
[NIV]). When Moses would say, “Hey, Let’s go this way,” they were not
following Moses so much as they were following God. That’s because Moses was
walking together with God.
When they entered the Promised Land, Moses could not go with them. Joshua,
led the Israelites across the Jordan river into the land the LORD had promised
their ancestor, Abraham. When they followed him in, though, they were not
really following Joshua. He had a close relationship with the LORD as well, for
“Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua
son of Nun did not leave the tent” (Exodus 33:11 [NIV]). Joshua was also walking together with God.
After Joshua went home to be with the LORD, the Israelites went through a
period of their history filled with ups and downs. They would follow the LORD
for awhile and things would go well for them. Then, they would stray away and
start following other gods. They would start experiencing the consequences of
their actions and then repent (turn around) from their sin. The LORD, then,
would send them a Judge to lead them once again in the ways of the LORD,
bringing blessings once again to their lives.
Samuel was the last in this long line of Judges. He was a Prophet of God who
walked with the LORD. “But his sons did not follow his ways.
They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted
justice. So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at
Ramah. They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways;
now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have" (1 Samuel
8:3-5 [NIV]).
In thier lifetimes, Moses, Joshua, and the Judges were leaders. The LORD was
the King. They were His subjects. They were in His Kingdom.
How about you? Who is your King? Whom do you follow? Do you see His
Kingdom?
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