Dear Family,
Today is Sabbath, April 23, 2022. This is Day 7 of Week 1 in our Count to Pentecost.
Numbers 33:1-8 gives us specific details of Israel’s campsites in its account of their journey from its beginning from Rameses on the 15th of the month. After Israel “passed through the midst of the sea,” they headed into a wilderness area called Etham. It took them three days to reach their first major campsite outside of Egypt.
Numbers 33:1-8 (1) These are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. (2) And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD: and these are their journeys according to their goings out. (3) And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the Passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. (4) For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments (5) And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth. (6) And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness. (7) And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto Pihahiroth, which is before Baalzephon: and they pitched before Migdol. (8) And they departed from before Pihahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah.
Israel was entering unfamiliar territory, but they were blessed with marvelous proof of God’s presence with them. God had given them witness of His presence through a covering cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
Exodus 13:20-22 (20) And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. (21) And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: (22) He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. God was always the Leader; His presence was always with them. And, so it is with us. Once we have turned to the Living God in true repentance and set out on our journey, following His lead, He will never leave us. May God bless us so that we ALWAYS trust His leadership!
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
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