9:1-14 God reasserts the importance of the Passover. The messiah, Jesus, became our Passover and so we now celebrate Him. The importance of the celebration is to keep the tether between soul and God strong: to remember His promises and blessings and presence in our lives.
9:15-23 The children of Israel are instructed to follow God's direction. God symbolizes His presence as a cloud above their tabernacle in the day, and as a fire at night. He is shelter and light! The height of the cloud will determine whether the children of Israel are to make camp or journey on.
Although God does not exactly appear as a cloud or fire to most of us, He does make His presence known other other ways if we are giving Him our attention. He guides us, gently telling us when to rest and when to rise and walk. Our connections with Him are all unique. How He reaches one person is different from how He reaches another; He knows how to grab and retain our attention. The children of Israel trust in His timing... when He says to wait for two days, a month or a year, they wait! When He says to move, they do not hesitate to act.
We will revisit this topic of trust in God in Numbers 11:20. Our generation especially is exceptionally bad at waiting (and subsequently, at trusting).
