Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 13, 2023

“Nevertheless He looked upon their distress When He heard their cry; … Save us, O LORD our God”

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 33:1-49.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2033&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“These are the journeys of the sons of Israel, by which they came out from the land of Egypt by their armies, under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.  Moses recorded their starting places according to their journeys by the command of the LORD, and these are their journeys according to their starting places.  They journeyed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month;  on the next day after the Passover the sons of Israel started out boldly in the sight of all the Egyptians, while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn whom the LORD had struck down among them.  The LORD had also executed judgments on their gods.

Then the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses and camped in Succoth.  They journeyed from Succoth and camped in Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness.  They journeyed from Etham and turned back to Pi-hahiroth, which faces Baal-zephon, and they camped before Migdol.  They journeyed from before Hahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness;  and they went three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah.  They journeyed from Marah and came to Elim;  and in Elim there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.  They journeyed from Elim and camped by the Red Sea.  They journeyed from the Red Sea and camped in the wilderness of Sin.”  Numbers 33:1-11. 

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Today’s Scripture mentions Elim and the wilderness of Sin.  “They journeyed from Elim and camped by the Red Sea.  They journeyed from the Red Sea and camped in the wilderness of Sin.”  Verses 10-11.  So, I will present an example of Israel’s grumblings and God’s deliverance.  

“Then they set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the sons of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt.  The whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.  The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the LORD’S hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you;  and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.  On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.”  So Moses and Aaron said to all the sons of Israel, “At evening you will know that the LORD has brought you out of the land of Egypt;  and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, for He hears your grumblings against the LORD;  and what are we, that you grumble against us?”  Exodus 16:1-7.

Psalm chapter 106 presents a lengthy history of summary of Israel’s grumblings, rebelliousness, and their other sins through their journeys. Here is a link to Psalm chapter 106 –  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20106&version=NASB1995  

“43 Many times He would deliver them;
They, however, were rebellious in their counsel,
And so sank down in their iniquity.

44 Nevertheless He looked upon their distress
When He heard their cry;

45 And He remembered His covenant for their sake,
And relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness.
46 He also made them objects of compassion
In the presence of all their captors.

47 Save us, O LORD our God,
And gather us from among the nations,
To give thanks to Your holy name
And glory in Your praise.
48 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
From everlasting even to everlasting.” Psalm 106:43-47.


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