In Numbers 33, Moses recites the wilderness journeying of the children of Israel. These are called the “stations of the wilderness.” From Ramses to the plains of Moab, the Lord led the children of Israel for forty years by the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day. One would think this would be a holy and blessed time. Often, however, when they waited for the next transition, rebellion would break out, and suffering would result. While you are waiting for the next chapter of God’s leading in your life, you must know how to posture yourself before God so that even though you may be in a wilderness experience, you still survive and thrive and make it to your own personal Canaan.
[Num 33:1-15 KJV] 1 These [are] the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. 2 And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD: and these [are] their journeys according to their goings out. 3 And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. 4 For the Egyptians buried all [their] firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments. 5 And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth. 6 And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham, which [is] in the edge of the wilderness. 7 And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto Pihahiroth, which [is] before Baalzephon: and they pitched before Migdol.
8 And they departed from before Pihahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah. 9 And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim [were] twelve fountains of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they pitched there. 10 And they removed from Elim, and encamped by the Red sea. 11 And they removed from the Red sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin. 12 And they took their journey out of the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah. 13 And they departed from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush. 14 And they removed from Alush, and encamped at Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink. 15 And they departed from Rephidim, and pitched in the wilderness of Sinai.
It is astonishing to realize that none of the adults who came out of Egypt made it to Canaan. God planned to bless them, but because of unbelief and murmuring, they were not allowed to complete their journey to the very thing God had in store for them. What is the lesson for us? These things happened to the ancient Israelites as an example to us on whom the ends of the age have come. What do these journeys tell us about who Jesus is to us and our relationship to Him? Fortunately, the book of Hebrews speaks extensively to this very thing:
[Heb 3:7-19 KJV] 7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in [their] heart; and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? [was it] not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Why did the first generation of Israelites fail to enter in? Because of unbelief. We tend to see ourselves as victims of unbelief, but Rev. 21:8 classes unbelief and fear for that matter and transgression and sin. This may be intimidating, but there is hope here as well. You can do something about unbelief. One thing that will help you survive the wilderness trip is found in verse 13 “exhort one another…” You need to be a person who is willing to receive and exhort others to remain faithful when times are hard. Love others enough to help them when you see them going through difficult things. Exhort them and be willing to be provoked in a good way. Those who exhort us may not always get it right, but even when you are going through a tough time, be willing to and not be stubborn or hard hearted. Be open to instruction and encouragement when needed.
