Numbers 33:9-14 (ESV Strong's)
And they set out from Marah and came to Elim; at Elim there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there. And they set out from Elim and camped by the Red Sea. And they set out from the Red Sea and camped in the wilderness of Sin. And they set out from the wilderness of Sin and camped at Dophkah. And they set out from Dophkah and camped at Alush. And they set out from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.
Subject: God's Guidance and Provision
Chapter 33 of Numbers is a Google map of where the nation of Israel traveled during the 40 years in the wilderness. The chapter begins when they left Egypt and ends were they stood when Moses delivers the next book, Deuteronomy. City after city is mentioned in this chapter. Yet, for a couple of the cities we are given some geographical data. Notice that Elim is mentioned having 12 springs and 70 palm trees. Notice also, that Rephidim is mentioned to have "no water for the people to drink." Rephidim is where God caused water to flow out of a rock to satisfy the needs of the nation. It would be tempting to think that in Rephidim God makes water flow from a rock but in Elim the water was already flowing (and there was some shade, too). Yet, it is important to remember that God was providing them with needs either through His taking them to something He already created (Elim) or to an act He would perform to provide. God takes us to places where His natural creation can care for us and He takes us to places where a miracle can happen. Both are from the hand of God. God wants us to be rejoicing and praising Him for either one. Both are from His hand. We tend to look at one (Elim) as nothing special. We want to experience one (Rephidim) as a special event. Yet, God leads us through life through Elim and Rephidim. Our responsibility is to praise Him for either and both!!
No comments:
Post a Comment