Numbers 10:11-36 - Our Going Out and Coming In

Numbers 10:11-36

Departure from Sinai

11 Now it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle of the Testimony. 12 And the children of Israel set out from the Wilderness of Sinai on their journeys; then the cloud settled down in the Wilderness of Paran. 13 So they started out for the first time according to the command of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

14 The standard of the camp of the children of Judah set out first according to their armies; over their army was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 15 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar. 16 And over the army of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.

17 Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set out, carrying the tabernacle.

18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben set out according to their armies; over their army was Elizur the son of Shedeur. 19 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 20 And over the army of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

21 Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things. (The tabernacle would be prepared for their arrival.)

22 And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set out according to their armies; over their army was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 23 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 24 And over the army of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.

25 Then the standard of the camp of the children of Dan (the rear guard of all the camps) set out according to their armies; over their army was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. 27 And over the army of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.

28 Thus was the order of march of the children of Israel, according to their armies, when they began their journey.

29 Now Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said, I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well; for the LORD has promised good things to Israel.”

30 And he said to him, “I will not go, but I will depart to my own land and to my relatives.”

31 So Moses said, “Please do not leave, inasmuch as you know how we are to camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. 32 And it shall be, if you go with us—indeed it shall be—that whatever good the LORD will do to us, the same we will do to you.”

33 So they departed from the mountain of the LORD on a journey of three days; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them for the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them. 34 And the cloud of the LORD was above them by day when they went out from the camp.

35 So it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said:

“Rise up, O LORD!
Let Your enemies be scattered,
And let those who hate You flee before You.”

36 And when it rested, he said:
“Return, O LORD,
To the many thousands of Israel.”

When the cloud of the presence of the LORD lifted from the tabernacle of the Testimony in Sinai it then stopped in the Wilderness of Paran.  This was Israel’s first move out of eighteen guided by God on their journey towards the promised land since leaving Egypt.  They would continue to go out and come in as they dismantled the portable temple holding the Most Holy place and altar of atoning sacrifices and then journeyed to the next stop which they would be led to spend time and learn to follow God and His word together.  They moved by God’s command through the spokesman Moses as their leader under His authority to follow the word of the Lord God, just as we are now guided through our lives by the written word of the Lord through the preaching and teaching of those put over us under His divine authority.  As Israel journeyed, they would hear Moses lead them by calling on their LORD to disperse the enemy who hate them as they set out.  Then they would hear Moses speak rest in Him who kept them as they came in to rest on their continuing sojourn.  He spoke as the Ark of the Testimony of God’s covenant with the people set out and when it rested along the way until they arrived in the promised land through many toils and troubles that came to them in their faltering obedience and hard lessons, just as we struggle in our journey of sanctification until we reach the heavenly kingdom to come in the end of time beyond the day of judgment.  May we likewise long to hear of the victory (1 Corinthians 15:57) in Christ who leads us along life’s narrow way and find rest and peace in Him (Romans 5:1) along our journey of life together as His people in our going out and coming in to Him.  This account then is a picture of our own Going Out and Coming In along our sojourn in the Lord who sanctifies us.