Numbers 33:1-16: a reflection

1These are the journeys of the children of Israel, when they went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. 2Moses wrote the starting points of their journeys by the commandment of the LORD. These are their journeys according to their starting points. 3They traveled from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the next day after the Passover, the children of Israel went out with a high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians, 4while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck among them. The LORD also executed judgments on their gods. 5The children of Israel traveled from Rameses, and encamped in Succoth. 6They traveled from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness. 7They traveled from Etham, and turned back to Pihahiroth, which is before Baal Zephon, and they encamped before Migdol. 8They traveled from before Hahiroth, and crossed through the middle of the sea into the wilderness. They went three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham, and encamped in Marah. 9They traveled from Marah, and came to Elim. In Elim, there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there. 10They traveled from Elim, and encamped by the Red Sea. 11They traveled from the Red Sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin. 12They traveled from the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah. 13They traveled from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush. 14They traveled from Alush, and encamped in Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink. 15They traveled from Rephidim, and encamped in the wilderness of Sinai. 16They traveled from the wilderness of Sinai, and encamped in Kibroth Hattaavah.

As Israel's long journey out of Egypt is remembered, Moses records, by God's command, the starting points of their journeys, stage by stage: from Rameses to Succoth, from Succoth to Etham, on and on through the wilderness. Every stopping place is written down, each stage of the journey marked and remembered. This careful record shows that God knew and marked every stage of his people's journey; not one leg of the way was forgotten or unnoticed. The whole pilgrimage, with all its stages, the hard places and the resting places alike, was known to God and recorded at his command. God does not lose track of the stages of our journey; he knows and marks each one, the whole way we travel, from beginning to end. Every stage of the pilgrimage is known to him and held in his record.

Notice what this record shows: God knew and marked every stage of the journey. The list is not a bare itinerary; it is a record, made at God's command, of every place his people stopped along the way. Not one stage was overlooked; each was known and marked. This tells us that God does not lose track of the stages of our journey; he knows the whole way we travel, each leg of it, the hard stretches and the resting places alike. The wilderness places where there was no water, the places of rest by the springs, all were known to him and recorded. God's knowledge of our journey is not general but particular, stage by stage. He marks each stage of the way, holding the whole pilgrimage in his knowledge. No leg of our journey is unknown to him or beneath his notice. He knows exactly where we have been and where we are.

That is worth resting in, for God knows and marks every stage of our journey, each leg of the way. We can feel that the particular stages of our journey, the hard stretches, the wanderings, the resting places, are unnoticed, that God sees only the whole in general; but God had Moses record every stage of Israel's journey, each stopping place known and marked. God knows the whole way we travel, stage by stage, not one leg overlooked. When you feel your particular stretch of the journey is unnoticed, remember that God knows and marks every stage of the way. Rest in the truth that God knows and marks every stage of your journey, each leg of the way, the hard stretches and the resting places alike, as he had Moses record every stopping place of Israel's journey; for God does not lose track of the stages of our pilgrimage or see only the whole in general, but knows each particular stage, the whole way we travel from beginning to end, holding it in his knowledge and overlooking none of it.

Lord, as Israel's long journey out of Egypt is remembered, Moses records, by your command, the starting points of their journeys, stage by stage: from Rameses to Succoth, from Succoth to Etham, on and on through the wilderness. Every stopping place is written down, each stage of the journey marked and remembered. This careful record shows that you knew and marked every stage of your people's journey; not one leg of the way was forgotten or unnoticed. The whole pilgrimage, with all its stages, the hard places and the resting places alike, was known to you and recorded at your command. Show me what this record shows: you knew and marked every stage of the journey. The list is not a bare itinerary; it is a record, made at your command, of every place your people stopped along the way. Not one stage was overlooked; each was known and marked. This tells me that you do not lose track of the stages of my journey; you know the whole way I travel, each leg of it, the hard stretches and the resting places alike. Your knowledge of my journey is not general but particular, stage by stage. Let me rest in that, for you know and mark every stage of my journey, each leg of the way. I can feel that the particular stages of my journey, the hard stretches, the wanderings, the resting places, are unnoticed, that you see only the whole in general; but you had Moses record every stage of Israel's journey. You know the whole way I travel, stage by stage, not one leg overlooked. When I feel my particular stretch of the journey is unnoticed, help me remember that you know and mark every stage of the way, Lord, holding the whole of it in your knowledge and overlooking none of it.