Numbers 33:1-28 NKJV
33 These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. 2 Now Moses wrote down the starting points of their journeys at the command of the Lord. And these are their journeys according to their starting points:
3 They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the Passover the children of Israel went out with boldness in the sight of all the Egyptians. 4 For the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had killed among them. Also on their gods the Lord had executed judgments.
5 Then the children of Israel moved from Rameses and camped at Succoth. 6 They departed from Succoth and camped at Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness. 7 They moved from Etham and turned back to Pi Hahiroth, which is east of Baal Zephon; and they camped near Migdol. 8 They departed from before Hahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, went three days’ journey in the Wilderness of Etham, and camped at Marah. 9 They moved from Marah and came to Elim. At Elim were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there.
10 They moved from Elim and camped by the Red Sea. 11 They moved from the Red Sea and camped in the Wilderness of Sin. 12 They journeyed from the Wilderness of Sin and camped at Dophkah. 13 They departed from Dophkah and camped at Alush. 14 They moved from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.
15 They departed from Rephidim and camped in the Wilderness of Sinai. 16 They moved from the Wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth Hattaavah. 17 They departed from Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth. 18 They departed from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah. 19 They departed from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon Perez. 20 They departed from Rimmon Perez and camped at Libnah. 21 They moved from Libnah and camped at Rissah. 22 They journeyed from Rissah and camped at Kehelathah. 23 They went from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher. 24 They moved from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah. 25 They moved from Haradah and camped at Makheloth. 26 They moved from Makheloth and camped at Tahath. 27 They departed from Tahath and camped at Terah. 28 They moved from Terah and camped at Mithkah.
The journey of Israel from Egypt to the edge of Canaan was not a straight line. It wound through deserts, across wildernesses, past enemies, and around obstacles. In Numbers 33, Moses records the steps. One by one, each campsite is named. From Rameses to Mount Hor, the list reads like a map of memory—forty years of movement under the hand of God.
It might seem like a dry list at first glance, but it is far from meaningless. Every place marked a lesson. Some were places of rebellion, others of mercy. Some brought water from the rock; others revealed the bitter fruit of sin. But through them all, the Lord led. “At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they journeyed.” Israel did not wander alone.
This passage reminds us that God does not waste time or steps. Even in the long delays, even in the places they would rather forget, He was present. His cloud moved ahead of them, and His promise never failed. Though the people were often unfaithful, the Lord was not. He led them out, and He would lead them in.
Our lives may not be recorded in such lists, but we all have our own “campsites”—moments and seasons that mark the road we’ve traveled. Some are joyful. Some are hard. Some we look back on with gratitude, and others with regret. But if we belong to the Lord, none of them are wasted. He is not only the God of the destination; He is also the God of the journey.
Looking back can strengthen our faith. We remember how far He’s brought us. We see the mercy we once missed. And we learn again to trust that the same God who led us through the wilderness will keep guiding us until we reach our eternal home.
The Lord knew every place Israel stopped. He knows every step of your life, too. And if you are in Christ, He walks with you, from first breath to final rest—and beyond. Let us pray: Lord, thank You for leading us, even when we do not understand the path. Help us trust You with every step and remember Your faithfulness in every place. Amen.