The Promised Land Trip begins

Numbers Chapter 10

The Lord told Moses to make two trumpets of silver to be used for summoning the people to assemble and for signaling the breaking of camp. If both trumpets were blown the people would gather at the Tabernacle. If one was blown, the leaders of the tribes only would come to the Tabernacle. When the signal to move is given, the tribes on the east side of camp will move forward. When the signal is blown a second time, the tribes of the south will follow. Only the priests, Aaron's descendants were allowed to blow the trumpets. God said that when the people reached their own land and went to war against enemies, they should sound the alarm so the Lord would remember and rescue them from the enemies. He asked that they also blow the horns in times of gladness too, at festivals and rejoicing over burnt offerings and peace offerings. The trumpets would be a reminder to the Lord of his convenant with the people.

In midspring of the second year since the people departed from Egypt, the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle and the Israelites set out on their travel until the cloud stopped at Paran. When it was time to move on, the Lord gave the order to Moses. The people marched in divisions, each according to their tribe.

One day Moses asked his brother-in-law Hobab, son of Reuel the Midianite to come along on the trip to the Promised Land. But Hobab would not go. Moses pleaded with him to guide them because Hobab knew all the good places to camp, but he would not come.

The people marched for three days after leaving the mountain of the Lord, with the Ark of the Lord's convenant moving ahead of them to show them which way to go and which place to stop and rest. When they would begin the day, Moses would ask the Lord to arise and let the enemies be scattered and let them flee before the Lord. And when the Ark was set down, Moses would pray that the Lord would return to the countless thousands of Israel.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW what a unique, yet simple procedure God figured out to coordinate the moving tribes by blowing the silver trumpets. The blasts also kept the people reminded that God was over them.

But travel is difficult for people and change is difficult for people to handle too. The only stability they had was in the knowledge that God was always with them. I expect pulling up stakes and moving each day is going to wear on the people and I expect they will soon start to complain. Poor Moses.

How does this chapter relate to us today? Most of us have moved a time or two. Remember how hard it was to adjust to new surroundings? How hard it was to leave the familiar things behind? Leave people we love behind? We need to be reminded that God is with us in every circumstance, even though we do not have the cloud and Tabernacle leading the way. He loves us and cares for us. He continues to protect us from our enemies. He leads the way for a new life. A life with God as the center, the head, the ALL. Pray that he will continue to watch over you. He hasn't lost you, he knows where you are at all times.

Yours in Christ,
Mary