All through these first chapters of Numbers, we see God's specific commands to Moses and the Israelites - from taking a census of the people to very specific details as to how they were to disassemble and transport the Tabernacle as they moved on to the promised land. Over and over again in these chapters I read that "they did just as the Lord had commanded." I was struck by the sheer amount of work that was required to break camp and move on. But God's presence guided them in the form of a cloud during the day and at night it appeared as fire. When the cloud lifted, the people followed. Sometimes they would stay in place only overnight, and sometimes for months at a time. These verses summarize what happened:
9:22 Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. 23 So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them through Moses.
So now in chapter ten I came to verses 11 and 12, where I see they've been traveling for two years - doing "just as the Lord had commanded", but they still haven't made it to the Promised Land. I would imagine the newness is wearing off and they are getting tired of the 'daily grind' - wondering if God really cares. Then I came across this conversation of Moses:
10:29 One day Moses said to his brother-in-law, Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, “We are on our way to the place the Lord promised us, for he said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised wonderful blessings for Israel!” 30 But Hobab replied, “No, I will not go. I must return to my own land and family.”31 “Please don’t leave us,” Moses pleaded. “You know the places in the wilderness where we should camp. Come, be our guide. 32 If you do, we’ll share with you all the blessings the Lord gives us.”
As I read this I thought, "WHAT??!!! What do you mean, 'be our guide?' God was guiding you with His presence in a cloud! Was even Moses beginning to doubt God?"
And I thought of how easy it is for us to doubt that God is really leading us and really cares for us. God forgive me for losing sight of You, even though You show me Your faithfulness, over and over again.
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Notice how Hobab refuses to do what Moses asked. Hobab may or may not have been told by God to refuse, but either way God stopped Moses from falling into sin. Also, imagine a group of a million people, carrying all of their possessions. I think that it would make the journey long. More than 500 miles of walking in the desert... God definitely scheduled some long rest stops.
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