For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments.
Numbers 33:4 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/num.33.4.KJV
Did they bury their first borns on the same day or period Israel left Egypt.
I can imagine, whiles Egypt buried ⚰ and mourned, Israel rejoiced and exited Egypt 🇪🇬.
It was in this state of mourning and fear 😱 that Israel 🇮🇱 spoiled Egypt 🇪🇬 and asked for gifts.
And they gave Israel much. https://bible.com/bible/1/num.33.4.KJV
And they took their journey out of the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah.
Numbers 33:12 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/num.33.12.KJV
Oh my oh my… All these movements was by the spirit of God, the cloud 🌥 directed where they were to camp and for how long.
And not only that but the lord asked for Moses to specifically records these journeys, journeys spanning 40 years.
Now come to think it, did God follow his initial script as intended or it was influenced and adjusted based on the preparedness of Israel 🇮🇱 to obey him and how willing they were to follow his commands judgements and statutes.
Oh ans many times Israel failed prolong their camping 🏕, causing change in directions and eventually leading to 38 extra years of wonderings till they were all dead and their children taking their place.
I wish I saw the places and the pattern these journey formed and the meaning thereof.
But alas the scriptures do not tell us. https://bible.com/bible/1/num.33.12.KJV
And they removed from Ezion-geber, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh.
Numbers 33:36 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/num.33.36.KJV
I’m wondering how much preparing had to go into each journey, the scouts that had to be sent ahead, the setting up ans setting down 👇.
The studying of the terrains. Moses at a point required and pleaded with the son of Jethro to be with them as he knew the wilderness better.
One would have thought 💭 that for a man 👨 who spoke to God face to face, it was just a matter of asking God.
But I believe that God was not at the beck and call of God but had to wait for long in prayer just like we all.
The only difference being God appeared in person to answer him rather than in shadows and patterns-dreams, impressions etc.
So he had to rely on his common sense, delegations and counsel from others to successfully lead his people.
This having to wait on God befoe he came is seen subtly in many places. For instances, the children of Israel went three days without finding water and were ready to stone Moses’s before God showed up.
If Moses could obtained instant answers from God, why else would he wait until the people were dying from thirst, the weak and elderly convulsing and being feverish before praying to the lord.
Moses could not just tell God, where is the nearest water source, best place to get bread and the next step to take to receive miracle of meat 🥩 ahead of the people being hungry and angry 😡.
Moses just could not do that as God was not that available.
He was visible, he could be seen and felt but he was available until he wanted to talk.
See how may days and nights Moses spent in the mount to receive the 10 commandment – 40 days and nights 🌃. https://bible.com/bible/1/num.33.36.KJV
And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month.
Numbers 33:38 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/num.33.38.KJV
Oh my God, just at the brink of entering the land.
Atleast he lived to the full because of his relationship with God unlike others who died earlier, just that he did not enter the promised land. https://bible.com/bible/1/num.33.38.KJV
But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.
Numbers 33:55 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/num.33.55.KJV
To preserve their own posterity they needed to drive out the inhabitants https://bible.com/bible/1/num.33.55.KJV
Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.
Numbers 33:56 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/num.33.56.KJV
Simple, God needed his agenda to be fulfilled and Israel 🇮🇱 was fulfilling that agenda.
The agenda was cleansing, cleansing the land of the filth of the people.
Later when Israel become filthy, they were also cleaned off the land by another people.
So in our world today, God will cleanse this world of the wickedness and moral filth before the great day of our lord https://bible.com/bible/1/num.33.56.KJV