The Book of Numbers – Looking Back

Num 33:1-2 “Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. At the Lord’s command Moses recorded the stages in their journey.”

We are at the tail end of the book of Numbers, and in this chapter, we take a pause to reflect on the past, the journey the Israelites have been through. It begins right from their journey out of Egypt, to where they find themselves, poised to enter the promised land. The chapter ends with God’s warning to ensure that the Canaanites, their idols and their ways are not meant to be a part of God’s people in the promised land, because if they are, the consequences would be heavy.

It was good for this new generation of Israelites to reflect on how it all started, what God led them from and through, and his faithfulness through the forty years for it would certainly serve to embolden them as they ready themselves to enter the Promised Land. The Lord, who brought them through the wilderness, will certainly not fail to grant them the inheritance in Canaan that he promised. The one constant through it all was God. His steadfast faithfulness would have been reassuring to dwell on.

Some of the places they journeyed through would also serve as a reminder of the sins that the people committed there, the rebellion that saw God’s anger and ultimately prolonged their time in the wilderness, delaying their passage to the Promised Land. And as the people are about to step into this new chapter of their lives, it was important to be reminded of how costly their unfaithfulness to God proved to be.

As in Numbers 33, we can apply much of the same principle of recalling our past moments, the highs, the lows and God’s presence through it all. Reflecting on how God has been faithful in the past helps us stay rooted in our faith as we wait on God in our present.

Journaling my prayers was something I always wanted to do, I started then stopped, started again but was not consistent, so stopped again. A few years ago, I got into the habit again (thanks to my friend and fellow blogger Bridget Thomas). I had to realise that just because I skipped a couple of days did not mean I had to stop it altogether. I just had to stick with it, and it would become a habit.

Prayer journaling has been such a blessing, it helps me focus during my prayer time. For those like me out there who start with praying for something and find yourself dwelling on your task list for the day and you wonder how you ended up so far removed from where you began; writing down your prayers help.  Besides helping me focus, when I look back and read my prayers, I recall the season I was in, the helplessness I felt at certain times, God’s hand through it all, providing for me in various ways while I was waiting. And as I read, I am humbled and filled with gratitude with God’s faithfulness and provision, and it bolsters my faith to keep trusting God with where I find myself right now.

I also remember moments when I faltered, tried to strive in my own strength, take control of things, ardently prayed for something that was not God’s will for me and felt his silence for a while. I could not understand it all then, but as I look back, I see how in all those moments God was shaping me to look to him, let go and surrender.

Whatever my prayers might have been, as I read them, I am always filled with an overwhelming sense of, ‘I cannot imagine how I would go through life without you, God, thank you for loving me.’

In the Psalms we often read David recalling God’s past faithfulness to mind in the midst of the reality of the tenuous time he finds himself in. And just as David comforted and bolstered himself, may we too take time to often reflect on God’s hand in our lives, rest in his faithfulness, reflect on our actions and hold onto what God taught us through those times and embolden ourselves to keep going when things are tough.

Psalms 40:5 “Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.”

God Bless.