“Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they
came out of Egypt…” (Numbers 33:1 NIV)
Numbers 33 goes on to walk us through each of the campsites of the Israelites – forty pausing places in all. If we could follow along on a map, we’d see them gain ground only to lose it again.
This morning I read of their journey and laid it beside my own; starts and stops and turn arounds and more. Steps forward followed by steps backward. All of this is included in our personal sanctification process. Sometimes I “march out defiantly” (Numbers 33:3) sometimes, quite honestly, I camp out in “the Desert of Sin” (Numbers 33:11). Sometimes I give prolific thanks and sing songs of praise and other times I complain bitterly and sit down to throw fits.
The Israelites camping record is carefully recorded in Numbers 33, but what about ours?
“…all the days ordained for me were written down in Your book.”
(Psalm 139:16 NIV)
All our days are recorded. Each of our starts and stops and total failures are written down but like our Israelites, the faithfulness of God overshadows every entry. And one day, we will all stand or kneel or sob before the Throne and give reason for every word and deed.
“For we will all stand before God’s judgement seat. It is written “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before Me’ every tongue will acknowledge God.'” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” (Romans 14:10-12 NIV)
Just as the Israelites left a legacy of both obedience and disobedience – we also struggle. Forty camp sites in the same amount of years – disobedience is exhausting. Obedience is a far superior strategy when it comes to gaining holy ground.
Lord, help us to be more aware of our own record. Our story is being recorded; may we have more victories than failures. Help us follow You with both obedience and confidence. Extricate fear from our frames, replace it with faith. Swap out grumbling for gratitude. Make us less like the Israelites and more like Your Son. Amen.