THE SOJOURNING CHILDREN

NUMBERS

CHAPTER  33

            Welcome back one and all!  Did you know that God told Moses to keep track of all the places that the children of Israel journeyed to during their 40 years in the wilderness?  This is the list that Moses wrote, in order, from the time they left Egypt.  After each listing is a brief description of significant events that happened there.  How many do you remember?

Rameses (At the end of 430 years of slavery Israel departed from Egypt.)

Succoth (Baked unleavened cakes of dough that they brought from Egypt.)

Etham, in the edge of the wilderness (Followed the Lord's  pillar of cloud by day, pillar of fire by night.)

Migdol (Pharaoh and Egyptians pursue Israel on chariots.  Children of Israel regret leaving Egypt and murmur, Exodus 14:11.)

Through the Red Sea (The Lord parted the waters, Israel goes through on dry land, but the sea closes in on Pharaoh and the Egyptian soldiers, killing every one of them.)

Marah (3 days journey in the wilderness of Etham, bitter waters there, the people murmur, Exodus 15:24.  The Lord tells Moses to cast a tree into the waters and they turn from bitter to sweet.)

Elim (12 fountains of water and 70 palm trees.)

By the Red Sea

Wilderness of Sin (The people murmur about hunger, Exodus 16:2-3, the Lord gives manna and quail.)

Dophkah

Alush

Rephidim (No water, the people murmur, Exodus 17:3. God gives water from rock.  Amalek attacks Israel from back of camp, Moses holds up staff, Joshua leads Israel to discomfit Amalek.  Jethro visits Moses.)

Wilderness of Sinai (Moses goes up into Mount Sinai with the Lord 40 days.  Israel claims they don't know what's become of Moses and make golden calf.  Moses breaks tablets of Ten Commandments.  Moses goes back up into the Mount.  The tables are rewritten.  Moses face shines.  The building of the tabernacle.  In Taberah, the children of Israel murmur and anger the Lord, Numbers 11:1.  Fire from the Lord consumes those in the outermost parts of the camp.)

Kibrothhattaavah (The people murmur of hunger,  Numbers 11:4-6.  The Lord sends abundance of quail.  Those who complained die by the Lord's plague.)

Hazeroth (Miriam and Aaron murmur with jealousy of Moses, Numbers 12:1-2.  Miriam becomes leprous and she is shut out of camp for 7 days.)

Rithmah

Rimmonparez

Libnah

Rissah

Kehelathah

Mount Shapher

Haradah

Makheloth

Tahath

Tarah

Mithcah

Hashmonah

Moseroth

Benejaakan

Horhagidgad

Jotbathah

Ebronah

Eziongaber

Wilderness of Zin / Kadesh (Spies sent to search out Promised Land.  All but Caleb and Joshua have bad reports.  Israel fears and murmurs against the Lord, Numbers 14:2.  The Lord swears none from 20 yrs. old and up will enter Promised Land except Caleb and Joshua.  Many regret and try to amend their sin by confronting the Amalekites and Canaanites but are defeated because the Lord wasn't with them.  Korah and company gather against Moses and Aaron with jealousy.  The Lord makes the earth swallow them up.  Aaron's budding staff.  Miriam dies.  Children of Israel murmur because of no water, Numbers 20:3.  Moses strikes rock without glorifying God.  God says Moses won't enter Promised Land.)

Mount Hor at the edge of Edom (Aaron dies.  People murmur about thirst and hunger, tired of manna, Numbers 21:5.  The Lord sends fiery serpents.)

Zalmonah

Punon

Oboth

Ijeabarim in the border of Moab

Dibongad

Almondiblathaim

Mountains of Abarim before Mount Nebo

Plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho (Balaam and Balak)

Jordan

            The Lord told Moses to tell the children of Israel, When you go over Jordan into Canaan, drive out all the inhabitants of the land in front of you and destroy all their pictures, their molten images and quite pluck down all their high places.  Evict the inhabitants of the land and live in it.  I've given you the land to own.  Divide the land among your families.  The larger families will get a larger inheritance and the smaller families will get a smaller inheritance.  Each families' inheritance will be where his lot falls according to the tribes of your fathers.  If you don't drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, the people that you let stay will be like splinters in your eyes and thorns in your sides and they'll trouble you in your land.  Not only that, but if you don't drive them out, I'll do to you, what I planned to do to them.

            Keep in mind that many times in the Bible, you'll read where God says that things apply throughout all generations.  While it's true that the New Testament has replaced the Old Testament and grace has replaced law, there's still lots of things that do still apply to things God said way back when, like those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed.  Just take a look at (even recent) history, and you'll see how true that is.  Israel has traded some of it's land for peace (supposedly).  It sure seems like they have some splinters and thorns that they're dealing with because of that.  You'll want to keep your eye on Israel in the news always, because whatever happens there, affects the entire world.  It's God's nation.

            Come on back again as we follow the children of Israel on the last stretches of their journeys before they enter the Promised Land, here at Daily Bread.

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