Issue 1255 – Gone Camping – September 23, 2023

We did a lot of camping as I was growing up, both as a family and in my teen years, solo or with friends. Even after Kathy and I married, we did our share of camping.

I’ve slept in tents, campers, camper vans, tent trailers, shelters I built myself, and under the stars. I have stayed in busy campgrounds, in isolated parks where only one or two other campers visited and off in the woods with no one else near.

I have some fond memories (and not so fond) of camping and many great stories. I remember well camping on an island in the middle of a river with family and friends and a moose walking through the tent. Another time, I recall a trip with a tent trailer where the power steering blew as I was backing the vehicle up; the rain never stopped, and Kathy hugged the house when we got home. I have plenty of bear stories gleaned from our camping experiences.

These days, I love the romance of the idea of camping. I’ve grown older and softer. My idea of a good camping spot is a Best Western Hotel, with clean, comfy rooms and a breakfast included. My bones don’t ache as much when I get up, and the biting insects aren’t typically a problem.

The Exodus story is often characterized as an extended camping trip. I am sure we have all seen the memes where Moses refuses to ask for directions to explain the years of wandering.

I have often pictured the Hebrews gathering their gear and moving their camp every day or so on a whim. Not only would that have been a logistical nightmare, but it isn’t an accurate picture.

Yes, the Israelites picked up and moved camp at times. No, it wasn’t on a whim but at God’s express leading. They were guided by a pillar of fire at night and a cloud in the day.

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.” And they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people. Exodus 13:17-22

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys. Exodus 40:34-38

Indeed, they had a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle, but it wasn’t 40 years of constant travel and camping.

They didn’t spend all that time wandering. Of the 40 years between the Passover in Egypt and the coming to cross the Jordan River, almost 38 years were spent at Kadesh Barnea. The shortest stay was 7 days. A detailed study of the journey is beyond the scope of a short Gleanings. Still, it is worth rereading the accounts in the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Bible) with fresh eyes.

Trying to read what the Scriptures teach is always worthwhile instead of just thinking we know because someone has told us or we made assumptions. 

May God open your eyes and your mind as you read His Word.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

__________________________________________ 

Please like and share this post with friends and your circle of influence. Also, feel free to comment. 

Did you know that we have an email version? It has the same great content but in a different format. Subscribe today https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/gleanings-1 

All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2023 KF “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV). 

___________________________________________

#love #peace #hope #Gleanings #theWord #devotional #gospel #death #trinity #encouragement #Biblestudy #faith #dailyBible #verseoftheday #grace #KevinCorbin #god #life #Jesus #father #son #HolySpirit #grace #mercy #hope #forgiveness #joy #rejoice #eternalLife #death #Exodus #PillarOfFire #PillarOfCloud #wilderness #desert #camping #Moses #40 years #KadeshBarnea #Exodus40 #Exodus40 #BestWestern #tenting #tentTrailer #UnderTheStars