We never have to walk alone……

On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle of the covenant law. Then the Israelites set out from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the cloud came to rest in the Desert of Paran. They set out, this first time, at the Lord’s command through Moses.  Numbers 10:11-13

Woohoo! Finally some movement! The Israelites are journeying to the Promised Land, but they have remained in the same place for a long time, getting the Laws and the Tabernacle sorted exactly as God commanded them to be.

And just before this movement, God repeats and highlights some of the important points to remember.

The seven lamps are to light the area in front of the lampstand.

Purify all the Levites because

They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me.  Numbers 8:16

All the male Levites between 25 and 50 are to work in the Tent of Meeting.

The Israelites are to celebrate the Passover at the right tine and in the right way (and if an individual is ceremonially unclean or away on travels, he can celebrate it exactly a month later. Every base is covered.)

When the cloud remains above the tabernacle, the Israelites are to stay put. When the cloud moves, they move.

Two trumpets are to be made of hammered silver to be the signal for the camps to gather together or to set out on the journey – different blasts for each command. They are also to be used at appointed feasts and festivals and at battles –

Then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies.  Numbers 10:9

Sounding the trumpet before battle reminds the people that God is with them. It grounds them in His promise so that they go out with confidence to fight in God’s strength and not their own. We need this reminder as we go out and face whatever battles the day throws at us – that we can face anything in the confidence that comes from knowing that we belong to God and we are not alone and we can fight in God’s strength and not our own.

And so the Israelites are on the move. They leave Sinai to travel to the Desert of Paran. The divisions of the camp move out in order, carrying their designated holy things. Each knows his role. Each knows his place.

All very calm and straightforward.

Unlike the next little passage –

Now Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place about 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.”

He answered, “No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own people.”

But Moses said, “Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the Lord gives us.”

So they set out from the mountain of the Lord and traveled for three days.  Numbers 10:29-33

Well, I thought Moses’ father-in-law was called Jethro? Different name for the same man? Or different father-in-law?

And why does Moses make this request? How can he promise this man will be treated well? Does Moses not trust God enough to lead them that he needs Hobab to be their eyes?

Does Moses have the right to share the good things the Lord gives the Israelites with whoever he chooses?

And most importantly of all, does Hobab relent and go with the Israelites or not?

And given all the confusion surrounding these four verses, why are they included at all?

It’s a mystery. Answers on a postcard please….for me, this interchange displays the humanity and fragility of Moses. Even after all that God has done, Moses still has his doubts and concerns and fears…heading into the unknown will always do that to a person.

Whenever the ark set out, Moses said,

“Rise up, Lord!
May your enemies be scattered;
may your foes flee before you.”

Whenever it came to rest, he said,

“Return, Lord,
to the countless thousands of Israel.”  Numbers 10:35-36

Emmanuel. God is with us. He walks before us and alongside us as we venture out into the world. Wherever we go, God has been there before.

And He is there to greet us as we return home.

This may not always feel enough and we may turn to others like Hobab to walk with us too – to be our eyes, our voice or our support. Sometimes we need that too.

But we never have to walk alone. We may have to ‘practise the presence of God’, practise opening our eyes to recognise his presence in every situation….but He is there, just as He was there for the Israelites all those years ago.

When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm, there’s a golden sky
And the sweet, silver song of a lark

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone
You’ll never walk alone