Numbers 33 Devotional

A Journey God Wanted Remembered

“At the LORD’s command, Moses recorded the stages of their journey. These are the stages listed by their starting points:”Numbers 33:2 (BSB)

A long list of campsites is easy to skim. But the opening says Moses recorded these stages at the LORD's command (33:2). God wanted the journey remembered, stop by stop.

The list begins with Israel marching out of Rameses in full view of Egypt, while the Egyptians were burying the firstborn God had killed (33:3-4). Then come names that carry memories: Marah, Elim with its springs and palm trees, Rephidim where there was no water, Kibroth-hattaavah where the craving people were buried (33:8-9, 14, 16; 11:34). Failure and provision sit side by side, all the way to the plains of Moab (33:48). Then God looks ahead and warns Israel to drive out the idols of the land, or what they tolerate will become a constant pain (33:52, 55). Paul says what was written in the past was written to teach us and give us hope (Romans 15:4). Your own road, with its dry places and its springs, is known to the God who led every step.

To think about: Looking back over your own journey, where can you trace God's leading through both the hard places and the places of refreshment?