The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them
By A.B. Simpson

      God does give us impressions but not with the intent that we should act on them as impressions. If the impression comes from God, He will Himself give sufficient evidence to establish it beyond the possibility of a doubt. We read of the impression that came to Jeremiah concerning the purchase of the field of Anathoth. Jeremiah, however, did not act upon this impression until after the following day, when his Uncle's son came to him and brought him external evidence by making a proposal for the purchase - Then Jeremiah said, I knew that this was the word of the Lord/ (Jerermah 32:8). He waited until God seconded the impression by a providence, and then he acted in full view of the open facts that could bring conviction unto others as well as himself. God wants us to act according to His mind. We are not to ignore the Shepherd's personal voice, but like Paul and his companions at Troas we are to listen to all the voices that speak and gather from all the circumstances, as they did, the full mind of the Lord.