Travelogue Series

Numbers 32

42 Stations

Chapter 33 of the Book of Numbers contains a comprehensive list of the forty-two places the Israelites visited during the Wandering in the Desert. They stopped and set up camp forty-two times in the forty years they spent in the wilderness. This record encompasses the itinerary of Israel’s travels from their point of departure in Egypt to their final encampment in Transjordan. "The wilderness ("ha-midbar") par excellence.” The forty years correspond to the forty days of the spies spent on Canaan, and they are reckoned at one time from the Exodus, and again from the return of the spies.

Most of the names of the stations cannot be located topographically, and a comparison of the data shows that the order of the stations varies as well as the events connected with them. Many of the names are those of stations in which even in historic days the nomadic tribes would encamp, being connected with oases (e.g., Elim). Of these, about twenty-four are named either in Exodus, or in Book of Numbers, or in Deuteronomy. However, the eighteen places which are mentioned in this passage found nowhere else.

Four Divisions of Numbers 33. Egypt to Sinai (Nu 33:1–15), wilderness wanderings (Nu 33:16–36), Kadesh to Moab (Nu 33:37–49), and Final orders for Canaan (Nu 33:50–56).

40 years of Spiritual Lessons:

1. Remembering God’s goodness in the past is preparation for the challenges of the future. (Enduring Word). Some lessons may be more significant; others may be insignificant but lessons are valuable and motivational for strengthening our faith journey. Please keep in mind that it was not the journal of Moses but it was the record reproduced by God for the sake of future generations.

2. It was a memorable history and well worthy to be thus abridged, and the abridgment thus preserved, to the honor of God that led them and for the encouragement of the generations that followed. This record is to preserve in writing an account of the providences of God concerning them, the constant series of mercies they have experienced, especially those turns and changes which have made some days of their lives more remarkable. (Matthew Henry).

3. Our spiritual journey brings honor to God and his interventions on different occasions with different measures. Count your blessings.

4. Israel departed Egypt with the highhandedness of God but they traveled with complaints, murmurs, and dissatisfactions. They had good committed leaders, they had miracle working God but never satisfied with what they had been provided by God.

5. Each stage in our lives, especially those of our spiritual blessings, is a place from which we are to set out for the next thing that God has for us. That does not mean that we should be restless, but rather simply ready to be obedient, fulfilling His will at each place, but always ready to move on when commanded to further and further blessings. (Pett’s commentary in Study light).

6. The long-suffering grace of God in preserving a people as He had originally promised, through all the experiences of this vast number of places. Even so, the rest-life of the Christians may enjoy this life depends ultimately on the same grace of God, who offers to give such a happy life to His own children. (Irvin Jensen in Austin Precept).

7. Ultimately the record is a recital of faith in the Lord’s blessing over his people for the extended period of their desert experience. (Ronald Allen in Austin Precept).

Discussions:

1. Do you reach your goals straightforwardly or roundabout? Reasons?

2. What are the spiritual lessons you learned from your failures?

(Please refer this series Exodus Events for further studies)