Avoiding Irritation in Your Life. (Numbers 33:1-54)
Transcript
Have you ever had someone or something in your life that just irritates you? Not just a person, but anything at all? A few years ago, when I used to have to drive a lot with work my biggest irritation was traffic.
I would often have to spend three hours getting to or from my workplace that day when it should have taken, one.
We all have those things that irritate us for various reasons. However, there is one cause of irritation that is rarely mentioned. In fact, I'm not sure I've ever heard it discussed in relation to being irritated, but it definitely is a real thing, and it is is tucked away in an obscure passage in Numbers Chapter 33.
And it’s that which we are going to look at today in today’s episode of TBPDP….
In today’s episode we are going to look at what that the irritation I talked about in the introduction is. But before doing that, let me give you an introduction to this chapter. Remember 40 years ago the children of Israel left Egypt and travelled to Sinai, where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and other instructions.
They then left Sinai and went up to Kadesh Barnea. When they refused to enter the Promised Land, they wandered in the wilderness for 38 years. After returning to Kadesh Barnea, they moved to the east side of the Jordan River, into the land of Moab, where they camped until Joshua led them across the Jordan into the Promised Land. This chapter traces their journey from Egypt to Moab.
Let's look at verse 1:
1 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. 2 At the Lord’s command Moses to record the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages:
(Numbers 33: 1-2)
Let me pause here for just a moment. These opening verses tell us that Moses was told to keep a diary, a journal that traces the journeys of the children of Israel from Egypt to the land of Moab.
One fascinating detail is in verse 2, where it says, "Moses wrote." This is the only time in the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, that we are explicitly told Moses wrote something down. Based on this and other other evidence, we know he authored the other books, now some of it might have been dictated but this passage also says specifically that he wrote some of it down himself.
In this chapter, we see a record of the Israelites' itinerary from Egypt to the Jordan, listing 41 stages of their journey over 40 years. These stages were actually campsites, not necessarily towns, which is probably why most of them are unknown today. We don't know the exact locations of many of these places. Nonetheless, the Lord commanded Moses to write this down, likely as a reminder that God had taken care of them.
What follows is the detailed account of their journey. The first part covers their travels from Egypt to Sinai, as described in verses 3 and 4.
3 The Israelites set out from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians, 4 who were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had struck down among them; for the Lord had brought judgment on their gods.
(Number 33: 3-4)
The verses from 3 to 4 simply indicate that the Israelites left Egypt and travelled to Sinai. These verses provide more detail about their journey, but let's focus on an intriguing point. At the end of verse 4, it says, "The Lord brough judgments on their gods."
Do you remember the ten plagues in the book of Exodus? Specifically, the tenth plague? When we studied that, 4 seasons ago, I highlighted that these plagues were directed against the gods of the Egyptians. The first time I realized this, I was astonished, thinking, "How have I not noticed this before, the evidence is overwhelming. Various elements mentioned in the plagues align with what we know from sources outside the Bible that they Egyptians worshiped those things as gods. Frogs, cows, the sun (darkness) they even worshipping the river Nile which was turned to blood.
This verse confirms that the ten plagues were indeed judgments on the Egyptian gods.
From verses 5 through 15, the text details the journey from Rameses to Sinai. I paraphrase.
Rameses to Sukkoth to Etham, back to Pi Hahiroth, through the Desert of Etham, to Marah, to Elim, then into the Desert of Sin, then on to Dophkah, then to Alush then Rephidim, then the Sinai again.
(Numbers 33: 5-15 Edit)
In this section, we learn that they travelled through areas with springs of water and also places with no water. The names of most of these locations are largely unknown to us today but what is noteworthy is how the journey is described step by step, moving from one place to another.
The passage lists 12 locations where they camped. The repetitive phrasing emphasizes the transient nature of their journey towards the Promised Land. They didn't just set up camp and stay put they were always progressing towards their goal.
16 They left the Desert of Sinai and camped at Kibroth Hattaavah. 17 They left Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth. 18 They left Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah. 19 They left Rithmah and camped at Rimmon Perez. 20 They left Rimmon Perez and camped at Libnah. 21 They left Libnah and camped at Rissah. 22 They left Rissah and camped at Kehelathah. 23 They left Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher. 24 They left Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah. 25 They left Haradah and camped at Makheloth. 26 They left Makheloth and camped at Tahath. 27 They left Tahath and camped at Terah. 28 They left Terah and camped at Mithkah. 29 They left Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah. 30 They left Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth. 31 They left Moseroth and camped at Bene Jaakan. 32 They left Bene Jaakan and camped at Hor Haggidgad. 33 They left Hor Haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah. 34 They left Jotbathah and camped at Abronah. 35 They left Abronah and camped at Ezion Geber. 36 They left Ezion Geber and camped at Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.
(Numbers 33: 16-36) (Don’t read)
In verses 16 through 36, we see the journey continues from Sinai to Kadesh. It recounts their movement to Kadesh, and the place where they sent the 12 spies into the Promised Land, and their subsequent return. Remember, when the spies returned, 10 of them claimed it was impossible to conquer the land, while only 2 believed that was feasible.
The Israelites followed the majority opinion, leading to God's decree that they would wander in the wilderness until that generation died out.
During these 38 years of wandering, not much more detail is provided other than what we already know from the previous narrative texts through Leviticus and numbers.
While it's commonly said that they wandered for 40 years, technically, it was 38.
So, what were they doing during those 38 years? The Bible doesn't specify much beyond listing their campsites, which are mostly unknown today. It's suggested that Israel stayed at some locations for extended periods, indicating they were likely at rest rather than constantly on the move. The reality is, they were out of God's will, and we know little about that time in their lives.
Alright that takes us to verse 37 down through verse 49 and now we're going to go from Kadish to the plane of Moab and that's all these verses will tell us.
37 They left Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the border of Edom. 38 At the Lord’s command Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor, where he died on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. 39 Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor.
40 The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev of Canaan, heard that the Israelites were coming. 41 They left Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah. 42 They left Zalmonah and camped at Punon. 43 They left Punon and camped at Oboth. 44 They left Oboth and camped at Iye Abarim, on the border of Moab. 45 They left Iye Abarim and camped at Dibon Gad. 46 They left Dibon Gad and camped at Almon Diblathaim. 47 They left Almon Diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, near Nebo. 48 They left the mountains of Abarim and camped on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho. 49 There on the plains of Moab they camped along the Jordan from Beth Jeshimoth to Abel Shittim.
(Numbers 33: 37-49)
The only significant added detail is that it mentions Aaron, the priest, went up Mount Hor at the command of the Lord and died and that Aaron was 123 years old when he died. Apart from this, the passage simply tells us that they travelled from Kadesh to the plains of Moab. It specifically notes that Aaron died at the age of 123 during this journey.
In total, 42 places where the nation stopped or camped are listed in this chapter, and 18 of these do not appear elsewhere in the biblical record. Additionally, four places mentioned previously are absent from this list.
The selective nature of this list suggests to most bible experts that God did not intend to record every single place they stopped. But this raises the question: why did God choose to include these particular places?
The criteria for inclusion might involve significant events such as judgments by death, victories over enemies, or provisions of water and food, or event place were we witnessed internal opposition within Israel.
Remember the primary reason God asked Moses to keep this records was that it was likely intended to record to help the Israelites recognize two key points:
First, their repeated failure to learn from their past, and:
Second, God's unwavering faithfulness despite their failures.
Although the list seems like nothing more than a mere compilation of campsite names for us today, the way it is presented likely indicates and reminded the Israelites when they were generally in, and out of the will of God's.
They were meant to enter the Promised Land, but due to their disobedience, they wandered. Yet, God continued to care for them, honouring His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give Israel the land and despite the nation's failures, individuals like Moses and Aaron remained faithful to God.
One more observation: many names in this chapter have not been identified by archaeologists. While these places were likely known to travellers and merchants at the time, their exact locations remain unknown today, other than being within the Sinai Peninsula.
Alright, we've covered the journey of the children of Israel from Egypt to Sinai, to Kadesh Barnea, and finally to the plains of Moab. The first part of this chapter focused on their journey, and now we're going to look at their task as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.
The Lord addresses the Israelites, saying, "Alright, you're in the plains of Moab. Shortly, you will cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land. Here is your task."
50 On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the Lord said to Moses, 51 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. 53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.
(Number 33: 50-53)
So their job is clearly outlined:
· Drive out the inhabitants of the land.
· Destroy all their engraved stones.
· Demolish all their high places.
The emphasis on "all" in these commands highlights the importance of completely clearing the land of its idolatrous inhabitants and their pagan worship artifacts. God wanted all the inhabitants, idols, and high places removed.
This directive to exterminate all the inhabitants of Canaan might seem harsh and unjust to some today. However, consider two key points:
God's Patience: God had given the Canaanites 400 years now to turn to Him. In Genesis 15:16, He says, "I will give the land, but not yet for 400 years." This long period was an opportunity for them to repent.
The people of Canaan were among the most corrupt, immoral, and depraved cultures the world had ever known. God dealt with them patiently for over 400 years, but there was no change in their ways. Therefore, He commanded the Israelites to clean out the land to prevent them from being influenced by the Canaanites' immorality.
God's instruction was to destroy everything, effectively cleaning the slate so the Israelites could inherit the land free from corrupt influences. This task was crucial for their spiritual well-being and obedience to God's commands.
To emphasize how bad it was, scholars have described the Canaanites as "the one of the most depraved societies the world has ever known." Remember originaly God sent them into exile primarily because of their idolatry, but things just spiralled from there and things got even worse. The influenced many other cultures also and the Lord had had enough and he commanded them to be eradicated.
Let me tell you another crucial aspect of what was happening: the Israelites failed to fully deal with the inhabitants of the land. They absorbed some of the pagan practices, including the grotesque act of sacrificing babies.
The most horrifying thing I can imagine is sacrificing a newborn baby by burning it alive to please the gods. This was how depraved the practices were, and God commanded the Israelites to completely eradicate such wickedness. He had given the Canaanites ample time to repent, but they did not. Therefore, He instructed the Israelites to clean up the cesspool of immorality and idolatry.
Now, let's move on to the next part of their job as outlined in the passage. After driving out the inhabitants, they were to divide the land. Verse 54 says:
54 Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs. Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes. 55 “‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. 56 And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.’”
(Number 33: 54-56)
This was a straightforward process: the twelve tribes, some large and some small, were to receive land proportionate to their size. The division of land was to be determined by lot, which likely involved drawing stones with markings or other similar methods, ensuring a fair distribution.
So, their tasks were:
· Destroy the inhabitants.
· Divide the land.
· Obey God's commands.
But then, the closing verses provide a stark warning:
This warning is vivid and crucial. If they failed to obey, the remaining inhabitants would constantly trouble and harass them. The consequence of disobedience was clear: just as God commanded the Israelites to drive out the Canaanites, He would even drive out the Israelites if they disobeyed.
Indeed, Israel did fail to completely exterminate the Canaanites. The influence of these remaining people plagued Israel and eventually will lead to their captivity by the Assyrians and Babylonians.
They did not follow God's command, and as a result, the people they left in the land became a continual source of trouble, ultimately leading to their downfall.
Matthew Henry, a commentator from a couple of hundred years ago, said, "If we do not drive sin out, sin will drive us out. If we are not the death of our lust, our lust will be the death of our souls." In other words, we must deal with sin, or it will destroy us.
The Lord instructed Moses to tell the Israelites that they were to destroy the inhabitants, divide the land, and strictly obey His commands. Failure to do so would result in continuous harassment and ultimately their removal from the land.
The overarching spiritual lesson from this part of Israel's history is their repeated failure to fully obey God's commands.
Their failure to enter the land was evident from the moment they left Egypt. Almost immediately, they began murmuring and complaining. Even Moses had his failures, like when he struck the rock twice instead of once as instructed. It was one failure after another. However, a significant lesson we see is that God is longsuffering and patient. Despite their repeated failures, He preserved the people He had promised the land.
These two lessons—human failure and God's patience—are recurring themes throughout the Scriptures, especially in the Pentateuch, and certainly in this portion of Numbers.
But I think this passage teaches a third lesson: not doing what you're supposed to do when you're supposed to do it results in continuous irritation.
It's like having an irritant in your eye or a thorn in your side, causing trouble for the rest of your life until God intervenes.
That’s the underlying message of these verses. Disobey the Lord, and that disobedience will irritate you continuously until you address it, much like God disciplining the Israelites.
Think about it. Not doing something you know you should do can be a source of irritation. It’s like having a closet that needs cleaning. Every time you see it, it bothers you because you know it needs to be done.
Or think about owing someone money or having promised to do something but failing to follow through. Every time you see that person, you feel uncomfortable and tend to avoid them. Their presence becomes an irritant because of your unfulfilled obligation.
These are simple illustrations of the discomfort that comes from unfinished tasks. But the irritation from disobedience is much more severe. It’s about failing to obey the Lord, which is far worse than a cluttered closet or a broken promise.
Is it possible that this irritation could be physical? Absolutely. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11 that some are weak, sick, or even dead because they practiced the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner.
Disobedience can manifest in physical ailments. Doctors often talk about psychosomatic diseases, where physical symptoms stem from mental or emotional issues rather than organic causes.
This underscores the point that many physical symptoms can be rooted in emotional or spiritual issues. Therefore, unaddressed disobedience can lead to continuous irritation, impacting both our spiritual and physical well-being.
The phrase "an irritant in your eye and a thorn in your flesh" can be very literal. But hundreds of years ago doctors noted that sometimes, people went to the doctor with a pain in their neck, only to be told, "Who is it?" indicating that it might be someone causing them stress.
It where that expression comes from.
In this passage from Numbers, the harassment is more than physical; it's also emotional and spiritual. Disobeying the Lord can result in a persistent irritant, whether physical or emotional.
As I pondered this, I realized that one of the main issues here is possibility anger. I've known people who harboured anger, making them irritable and unhappy.
Their unresolved anger was a symptom of unforgiveness and became a constant irritant, a thorn in their side, causing long-term illness.
I recall an older couple I knew years ago. The wife, a very well to do, sophisticated lady, opened up to me about an irritation that had plagued her for years. Underneath her polished exterior, she was deeply troubled. She shared that when she was ten years old, her father said something that made her very angry.
She held onto that anger for the rest of her life. Despite knowing the Lord, she carried that irritant with her for 84 years, until she died at 94. Her unresolved anger became a psychological thorn in her side, harassing her continuously because of her disobedience in not letting go of it.
In conclusion, the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the plains of Moab teaches us powerful lessons.
Firstly, their failure to enter the Promised Land due to disobedience led to a prolonged period of wandering and suffering.
Secondly, God’s patience and longsuffering are evident throughout as He continually protected His people despite their repeated failures.
Thirdly, not doing what we are supposed to do—disobeying God—results in continuous irritation and harassment, both physically and emotionally.
We must be vigilant in our obedience to the Lord, recognizing that unresolved issues can become irritants in our lives, affecting our spiritual, emotional, and even physical well-being.
Whether it's anger, unfulfilled promises, or plain old disobedience, these unresolved matters can cause long-term suffering.
Let us learn today from the Israelites' journey and strive to address our own irritants through obedience and faithfulness to God.