“THESE are the journeys of the children of Israel which went forth out of the land of Egypt.... And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the Lord.”
In this chapter we have the record of Israel’s journeyings through the wilderness just ended. They were almost ready to cross the Jordan and enter upon a new scene, so it was well for them to look back on every step of that journey. It is a record of the faithful guardian care of Him who in spite of their willfulness had ever led them “by a right way.” How wonderful it is to see that God Himself had kept account of every step His people took on that journey! He went over it all with Moses, telling him to write it in a book, and this Moses did for our instruction and blessing.
Two things travel along together in the wilderness journey — our ways with God, and His ways with us, and oh what a difference! Our ways have been marked by Him, and it is good for us to look back and see the wonderful grace that has met us in all our need and in spite of our sinful wanderings. This ought to bow our hearts in adoring worship and thanksgiving.
Soon we shall be called on high and enter that new scene of glory with Christ. Looking back we shall adore the love that never failed and the grace that bore with us and brought us home at last.
Taken up in resurrection, Desert ways rehearsed above, Tell the power of God’s salvation And His never-failing love.
The Lord told Moses to tell the children of Israel that when they crossed the Jordan and entered Canaan they were to drive out the inhabitants of the land. If they were to leave any of them they would be like thorns and briars to vex them.
Furthermore they must destroy all the pictures and images of those wicked people, and the places where they worshiped their idols. Surely this has a word for us as Christians today. With all the pictures and images which savor of this world’s darkness and evil, we should do what the children of Israel were told to do — destroy them. We all have the flesh within us and if we feed these sinful desires it will surely dishonor God and rob our souls of Christ.
ML-09/01/1974