Numbers 10:11-3211And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. 12And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. 13And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. 14In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 15And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 16And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. 17And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle. 18And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. 19And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 20And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 21And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came. 22And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 23And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 24And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni. 25And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. 27And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. 28Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward. 29And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel. 30And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. 31And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes. 32And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the Lord shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee. (Numbers 10:11‑32)
THUS FAR God had been graciously providing for the needs of His people for their journey across the wilderness to Canaan’s land. Now all is ready, and the march begins.
“And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.”
What a marvelous sight it must have been! — a vast host, perhaps two million strong, priests carrying the ark of God, the Levites bringing the tabernacle and its sacred vessels, men armed for war, fathers, mothers and little children, with all their cattle, all marching in orderly array, while overhead hovered the pillar of cloud, the presence of Jehovah, the God of heaven and earth who journeyed with them and marked out the way.
God has a people now who are journeying through this wilderness world, a people redeemed by blood, a vast company, marching on to their heavenly home, and He Himself is journeying with them. How wonderful, dear reader, to belong to that company! Can you say, I have been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, I belong to Him, and I am journeying on with Him and His people to heaven’s rest?
There was no pathway through the desert for Israel then, there was no guide through and out of it but the cloud of Jehovah’s presence. Nor is there any path for us through this world but that which the Lord Jesus has marked out. He has gone before and left the print of His footsteps behind that we might not miss the way.
And Moses said unto Hobab his father-in-law, “We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.
“And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes.”
Moses failed here, for it seems that he counted on the kindly help of his father-in-law who was acquainted with the wilderness. But this would never do. And it was not the mind of God that a natural child of the wilderness should be “eyes” of His people. Jehovah was their leader, and He would not have them to lean upon man. Hobab said, “I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land.” No doubt this was well; for they might have depended upon him instead of upon God, who had provided the cloud of glory to guide them.
On the other hand how sad that Hobab should have departed to his own land and to his kindred. Moses told Hobab of the blessing God had in store for His people, and that if he would go, this blessing would be his too. But Hobab never had another opportunity as far as we know, to come with the people of God. If one who reads these lines is unsaved, we would ask you now will you not decide to accept Christ as your Saviour and go with the people of God to that better home above. If you refuse, it may be your last opportunity; and then, how solemn, to be lost forever. God in His Word says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2).
ML-07/15/1973