Write Down the Journey

Numbers can be a redundant book. There's a lot of counting and recounting the 40-year long wilderness trek of the Israelites in the chapters. There are two census and a long chapter here in Numbers 33 that basically lists all the towns and cities they pass through along the way. Why is this here?

First, I think the Holy Spirit is intentionally leading Moses to write all these things down so that we the reader can FEEL the emotional element of being stalled in no man's land for so long. It was monotonous and dry with occasional high points but a lot of ordinary boring days awaiting the time of God's fulfillment. Numbers is a clear warning to anyone hesitant to take the next step with God. We are made to believe Him for greater things and to trust Him for mighty acts. When we don't step out, we get stuck in a place we'd rather not be... counting and recounting.

But there's powerful things to learn about God in the wilderness and that is why it's here. In Numbers 33 God COMMANDS Moses to write down all the places the people travelled.
Numbers 33:1–2 (ESV) These are the stages of the people of Israel, when they went out of the land of Egypt by their companies under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. 2 Moses wrote down their starting places, stage by stage, by command of the LORD, and these are their stages according to their starting places.

There's a couple important things to see here. First, the record of events is written down because God told Moses to do so. The Lord wanted him to keep track of the trek. I think this is important for God's people still today. Do not forget where you've been. Write it down so that you can rehearse God's faithfulness of the journey. In this list there are some great places and some terrible places. Each place probably had a certain feel, smell or memory associated with it in the minds of the people. In each place they experienced a different faithfulness of God that caused their food never to run out nor their clothes to wear out. God is faithful in EVERY season.

I can seem them thinking fondly of this moment:
Numbers 33:3–4 (ESV) They set out from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the day after the Passover, the people of Israel went out triumphantly in the sight of all the Egyptians, 4 while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them. On their gods also the LORD executed judgments.

The word picture couldn't be clearer. As Egypt buried their future, Israel embraced God's future. What a moment. Their slave masters were beaten and they marched in liberty. 

I can see them with good and bad feelings of this moment:

Numbers 33:14 (ESV) And they set out from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.

That was where they murmured against God and Moses about no water.

It was also the staging place for Joshua's victory over the Amalekites as Moses interceded on the mountain with his hands lifted to God.

I can see them bemoaning this moment:

Numbers 33:37 (ESV) And they set out from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the edge of the land of Edom.

They called that place home for 38 years. It was 38 years too long because of disobedience in believing God's promise. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be there. 

So why this list? Isn't it quite obvious? Israel must learn from their past so they are not doomed to repeat it. They would feel in their spirits the thrill of victory and agony of defeat. Leave and learn. 

The last thing I noticed about this list is how the places are mentioned. Every time they are mentioned according to the place Israel "set out" from. 

Numbers 33:28–32 (ESV) And they set out from Terah ... And they set out from Mithkah ... And they set out from Hashmonah... And they set out from Moseroth... And they set out from Bene-jaakan...

Setting out is hard to do but absolutely necessary. Each place in your life had it's time and purpose, but the ultimate destination remains. Life is constantly asking us to leave behind a person or place of significance. While it is hard, the good news is... because Jesus SET OUT from heaven, Nazareth, Galilee, took His cross outside the gate and rose back to heaven, we can leave with confidence knowing our great trailblazer has marked out the path before us. 

We are the people ready to SET OUT... because we know we've been brought in to His purpose. Choose to move with God. Believe Him. Don't hesitate. Take the risk, make the big step. Why not? God is with you and for you.

Amen.