Today’ passage: Numbers 10
Helpful thoughts:
- In order to maintain order, God instructs Israel to blow trumpets to communicate the times to journey and times to gather. These trumpet blows gave instructions to the people, and they functioned as prayers or worship to God:
- “…that you may be remembered before the Lord your God.” (Verse 9)
- “They shall be a reminder of you before your God.” (Verse 10)
- About a month after the first celebration of Passover (One year after leaving Egypt), it was time for the nation to move again. This was their first movement after the completion of the tabernacle.
- It appears Reuel and Jethro (Exodus 3:1) are the same person, Moses’ father-in-law. This would make Hobab Moses’ brother-in-law. Apparently, others from their people went with Israel to the promised land as well (Judges 1:16). The Kenites were most likely a group of people within the larger Midianite people.
Questions to consider:
- It might be simple to think of Israel packing up their things and travelling three days journey, but what all would have been necessary for two million people to collect all their things and to journey on foot and with animals for three days?
- How would the trumpets and Hobab’s help have been critical? What could have easily have happened if two million people were trying to travel together without them?
- In what way did Moses’ invitation to his brother-in-law evidence his faith in God? What did Moses expect to see in Israel’s future? What has God promised to us in His word and how can it keep us moving in our journey of life?