God guided Israel through the wilderness by highly visible manifestations (Ex. 13:21-22). When the tabernacle—the special tent God had instructed for Israel to erect (Ex. 25:9; 26:1-37)—was completed, Israel was ready to march toward the promised land; a cloud covered the tabernacle by day, and a pillar of fire stood over it by night (Num. 9:15-17). God commanded them when to journey and when to stop and set up camp (Num. 9:18-22).  Two silver trumpets were used by the priests, the sons of Aaron, to communicate to the surrounding camp of Israel and coordinate the movements of the tribes on their march through the wilderness.

God had promised Abraham that He would give the land of Canaan to his descendants (Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 17:8). God said that He would dwell among the children of Israel (Ex. 29:45). The cloud was a visible testament to God’s presence among His people (Ex. 40:34-38). Other nations evidently knew that God was guiding the Israelites by the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire (Num. 14:14). In response to the pleading of Moses, God promised, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Ex. 33:14).

Today, we live under the New Testament (2 Cor. 3:6). We stand on this side of the cross to which the law of Moses was nailed (Col. 2:14-17). Nevertheless, the experience Israel had in the journey through the wilderness toward the land of promise serves as an example to us (1 Cor 10:6). The details recorded during the former covenant provide encouraging truths that revive our hope in the same living God we serve today (Rom. 15:4).

We walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). We do not base our lives upon things which are seen, but on the unseen; heaven is our land of promise (2 Cor. 4:17-5:1). Our citizenship is in heaven; thus, we function as foreigners while on earth (Phil. 3:21). The songs we sing reflect the truth that “this world is not my home, I’m just a passing through” and “here we are but straying pilgrims” (1 Pet. 1:1; 2:11). We pray to God, “Guide me, O Thou, Great Jehovah” as we journey through the barren land of life on earth. We are awaiting the rest that shall come to the people of God (Heb. 3:7-4:13).

We do not have a visible sign from God today like a cloud or a pillar of fire that shows us exactly where to go. However, we know Jesus is the way (Jn. 14:6). We are to take up the cross and follow Him daily on our way to glory (Lk. 9:22-26). We have specific instructions regarding how to live recorded in the Scriptures; they tell us when we are wrong, how to make correction, and completely provide all the necessary information to lead us to heaven (2 Tim. 3:16). Both positive and negative commands are found throughout the Bible; thus, like Israel of old, He tells us when to stop and when to march ahead. Consider Ephesians 5:17-18 as an example of a couple of “stop” and “go” verses.

We must encourage our brothers and sisters as they journey alongside us toward this goal (Heb. 3:12-13). Sadly, many who start out on this journey do not faithfully follow the Lord to the end. As many died in the wilderness and did not reach Canaan, so many turn from the living God and wander away from the path that leads to life (Mt. 7:13-14). God has promised us eternal life (Titus 1:2). Let us trust His word and lay hold on the hope that is set before us (Heb. 6:18).

Ephesians 2 describes the dramatic change Jesus has made through His redemptive work. Ephesians 2:1-10 addresses salvation provided through God’s love, kindness, and grace. When we respond to God’s offer of salvation in His Son Jesus Christ by faith (Eph. 2:8), we become God’s new creation, His workmanship created for good works (Eph. 2:10). Before we were dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1), but now we have been made alive in Him (Eph. 2:5). Before we served the devil, fulfilling the desires of the flesh (Eph. 2:2-3). Now we serve God by walking in good works (Eph. 2:10)

In Ephesians 2:11-22, Paul wrote of God’s plan to include the Gentiles with the Jews in the one body, His church made of His people (cf. Eph. 1:22-23; Acts 2:47). Particularly in Ephesians 2:11-13, Paul addressed the standing of unconverted Gentiles before Christ came. “That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12).  What a deplorable state people are in without Christ!

But being “in Christ” made all the difference. “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). All spiritual blessing in heavenly places are found “in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). Redemption and forgiveness of sins are secured through the blood of Christ (Eph. 1:7). In water baptism, the sins that separated us from God (Isa. 59:1-2), are washed away (Acts 22:16) so that we can be near to Him once again. Paul took time to make sure that some in Ephesus were baptized in the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:5). Baptism puts one into Christ (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27). The church, the saved body of Christ, is made up of those who have been sanctified and cleansed by the washing of water (Eph. 5:26).

The peace that comes through Jesus’ blood not only reconciles people to God, but also to one another, “that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near” (Eph. 2:16-17). Jews and Gentiles who had been at odds for generations were born again into a new family of God. “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19).

Readers of the book of Ephesians in any century can benefit from reflecting on God’s plan of salvation that He has worked through Jesus Christ. The church is an integral part of this eternal plan of God (Eph. 3:10-12). Let us not disparage the church, but instead grow in our appreciation of it as part of the divine plan of God—“to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Eph. 2:21).