Num 33:1-5 These are the stages of the people of Israel, when they went out of the land of Egypt by their companies under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Moses wrote down their starting places, stage by stage, by command of the LORD, and these are their stages according to their starting places. They set out from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the day after the Passover, the people of Israel went out triumphantly in the sight of all the Egyptians, while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them. On their gods also the LORD executed judgments. So the people of Israel set out from Rameses and camped at Succoth.
Numbers 33:6-49 summarized: From Succoth to Ethan to Pi-hahiroth to March to Elim to Sin to Dophkah to Alush to Rephidim to Sinai to Kigroth-hattaavah to Rithmah to Libnah to Rissah to Kehelathah to Mount Shepher to Haradah, to Makheloth to Tahath to Terah to Mithkah to Hashmonah to Moseroth to Bene-jaakan to Hor-haggidgad to Jotbathah to Abronah, to Ezion-geber to Kadesh to Mount Hor (Aaron died here) to Zalmonah to Punon to Oboth to lye-abarim to Dibon-gad to Almon-diblathaim to mountains of Alarim to the plains by the Jordan at Jericho.
Moses recorded every time God led them to another location over the forty years in the wilderness. During the first two years the 10 commandments, temple worship of God, Priestly service, and sacrifices for sin were given. During the forty years many miracles were performed starting with the parting of the Red Sea, death to all of the Egyptian army, God was a pillar of smoke by day and pillar of fire by night, water from a rock, mana from heaven, quail, plagues, serpents, and the earth opening up and swallowing those who defied God, all in judgment of sin, the budding of Aaron’s staff, clothes and sandals that did not wear out over the forty years, invading armies defeated, and much more.
There is much in Numbers that is given to us as examples of both what is right in the eyes of God and what is wrong in His sight. We do well to take time to let them sink in and be remembered because they show God’s love, grace, and mercy, as well as His wrath, anger, and judgment.
