Mattot/Massei “Tribes” / “Journeys”
Numbers 30:2–36:13
Jeremiah 2:4–28, 3:4
Hebrews 1-6

Stages of the Journey

This week we come to the end of the Book of Numbers. It has taken us a few short weeks to read what took the Hebrews some forty years to live. We have read of success and failure, and of life and of death, as they have made their way to the land Elohim promised to give them. They stand now with the Promised Land in sight. All that holds them back now is a river called the Jordan and a sermon called the Book of Deuteronomy.

I can just imagine the excitement that must have been in the camp during these last days of the journey. Seeing their destiny on the horizon must have brought forth a flood of mixed emotion. There was the excitement of knowing that in a few short days they would be walking into a life that no other people had ever known. At the same time there must have been a sense of sadness as they thought back to those who did not make it. Those who stood on the shore had the memories of parents, grandparents and friends who had died during the course of the last forty years and would not be able to see this great day.

I can not help but think how their lives are in many ways a mirror of ours today. From every angle we look we are able to see that we, like the Hebrews of long ago, are standing on the shore of a river. On the horizon we can see His promises coming into view. With each passing day they draw clearer. We, as they had, have a great sense of excitement as we gaze into the days ahead. We, as they could, can also look back and remember those who are not with us. There are those who have turned back, those who have rebelled and have been swallowed up by this world, and those who simply did not have the inward strength to make it for the duration of the journey.

There is another thought I cannot help but ponder as we stand on this shore. I wonder if there are others who, like Moses, will have to be taken out of the picture before the rest can go in. I wonder, even closer to home, if I may be one that must be removed? Is there baggage that I am still holding which is causing others to be held back? I wonder if there are areas of my life that are not yielded to Him which will cause me to come up just a few steps short?

During the past four days I have had one of the greatest honors to befall me since I began ministry some twenty years ago. During these days I have been honored to be with a group of youth who have gathered in Anadarko OK for the event called Camp Yeshua. There are almost 150 campers plus junior and senior staff. All total there are over 200 on site. I have spent these days not only speaking to these youth, but also watching them. In these days I have seen everything from 100 plus youth dancing under the stars, to personal Bible study and prayer, to the hunger that many of them have to soak in every word of truth spoken by the leaders. In fact, I just looked at the time and had to put this writing on hold for a few minutes so I could go and witness the mikvah (immersion) of well over 50 of these young people. Each was asked who Yeshua was to them. I heard answers like, savior, friend, husband, redeemer and life just to name a few.

As I have looked into the eyes of these young men and women and seen many of them change from the inside out in such a short time, I have thought back to the Hebrews standing on the bank of the Jordan. I believe this week I have seen the same passion and vision as Moses and Joshua saw so many years ago.

I cannot today say for certain if I will be as the multitudes who did not make it to the Promised Land, or whether I will be able to walk in as Joshua, Caleb and the faithful did. However I do know that these young people have given me a new drive. It is a drive to ask The Father to examine my life, to root out the areas of my life that may hold me back. But I can say today, with greater fervor, that if I am allowed to take that infamous walk, it would be a honor to be able to walk in the midst of such an awesome group of young people as I have been honored to be with and get to know this week.