JOSEPH’S DESIRE that his rains be carried back to Canaan had never been forgotten. Carefully preserved, they accompanied the departing company, just as Joseph had expressed: “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.” verse 19.
“And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.” The strip of land over which the journey commenced crossed over what is now the Suez Canal and, at the northern end of the Red Sea, led southward to the edge of the great wilderness —a dread journey to contemplate under normal conditions. Not only was it strange to them, full of dangers and rough ways, but it was barren and lacking in the food and pasturage so great a company would require. Watering spots, at best, were undependable. This was a land for the owl and the bittern, the serpent and the scorpion, not at all inviting for human habitation. Here lay a hostile area stretching beyond the horizon, scorched by the sun and buffeted by howling winds, while darkness concealed the fiercer terrors of the night-time.
From such a land the people would shrink in dismay, were it not for their anxiety to escape the cruelty of Egypt and for assurances of Jehovah’s safe-keeping. One by one He would take care of all these circumstances, all the while faith and obedience to His voice being put to the test for their soul’s good. Every thought of that dreary land is but a reminder of the very world in which God’s people are called to walk today. Testings, hardships and threats abound on every hand. This world is to the believer a hostile land, where dependence on God’s care and guidance is needed lest he fall by the wayside. May we remember that we as Christians are certain of reaching our heavenly home because God sees us as redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. But faith is put to the test in the wilderness and, where difficulties are committed to Him who is our true guide, the way will never seem unbearable, even though trials will be encountered.
“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: He took not away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night.” 10:21-22. Jehovah not only selected a path for His people, but came down to see them through it, as well. He Himself went before them in that welcome cloud, resting over them through daylight hours as a shelter from the fierceness of the sun. When the hazards of darkness would have appalled them, then it was that He appeared in the pillar of fire, dispersing the darkness and giving their enemies no opportunity to approach unawares. The cloud and the pillar, symbols of His presence, rained with them for the entire journey.
Memory Verse “THESE THINGS HAVE I WRITTEN UO YOU THAT BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD; THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.”
ML-06/08/1969