Chapter 33 recalls the places Israel passed through to get to the Promised Land after the people came out of Egypt. They left on the first month, on the fifteenth day also the Passover when they left triumphantly before the sight of the Egyptians while they were burying their firstborn whom God had struck down as a judgment against their gods (verses 1-4).

There were at least 42 places where Israel camped before they arrived at the Jordan River that were named and listed for us here in verses 5 to 49. They left Egypt, Rameses to camp at (1) Succoth. From Succoth, they went to camp at (2) Etham before camping at (3) Migdol. They took a three-day journey to camp at (4) Marah then camped at (5) Elim. They left and camped by the (6) Red Sea then camped at the (7) Wilderness of Sin, and left to camp at (8) Dophkah. The next two place they camped were (9) Alush and (10) Rephidim. There was no water at Rephidim so they left to camp in the (11) Wilderness of Sinai, and to camp at (12) Kibroth-hattaavah, and camped at (13) Hazeroth, They moved on to camp at (14) Rithmah and then at (15) Rimmon-perez.

From Rimmon-perez, they left to camp at (16) Libnah, and to camp at (17) Rissah. From Rissah, they travelled to camp at (18) Kehelathah and then to camp at (19) Mount Shepher. From Mount Shepher, they moved on to camp at (20) Haradah. From Haradah, to camp at (21) Makheloth. From Makheloth, to camp at (22) Tahath and camped at (23) Terah. From Terah, to camp at (24) Mithkah and camped at (25) Hashmonah. From Hashmonah, to camp at (26) Moseroth and then at (27) Bene-jaakan and to camp at (28) Hor-haggidgad. From Hor-haggidgad, to camp at (29) JotBathah, and to camp at (30) Abronah. They left Abronah and camped at (31) Ezion-geber, and to camp at (32) the Wilderness of Zin (Kadesh)/ From there, they left Kadesh to camp at (33) Mount Hor at the edge of Edom.

God commanded Aaron to go up Mount Hor where He died there in the fortieth year after they came out of Egypt on the first day of the fifth month. He was 123 years when he died. The Canaanite king of Arad heard that Israel was camped at Negeb in the land of Canaan.

From Mount Hor, they went on to camp at (34) Zamonah, and then to camp at (35) Punon. From Punon, they left to camp at (36) Oboth, and then to camp at (37) Iye-abarim. From Iyim, they went on to camp at (38) Dibon-gad, and onto (39) Almon-diblathaim. From here, they went and camped in the (40) mountains of Abraim before Nebo. They left the mountains of Abarim to camp in the (41) plains of Moab at Jericho, and camp by the Jordan from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab.

41 And they set out from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah. 42 And they set out from Zalmonah and camped at Punon. 43 And they set out from Punon and camped at Oboth. 44 And they set out from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, in the territory of Moab. 45 And they set out from Iyim and camped at Dibon-gad. 46 And they set out from Dibon-gad and camped at Almon-diblathaim. 47 And they set out from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo. 48 And they set out from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho; 49 they camped by the Jordan from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab.

What is significant about these places was they took forty years to reach the Jordan River. They could have done so much quicker if they did not rebel against God in Numbers 14. God instructed Moses to lead them southwards to go a big round instead of northwards, a shorter route if they had listened to Joshua and Caleb instead of the ten spies.

Likewise, many times we can achieve what God calls us to do in a faster and quicker way if we would trust God and His servants instead of our own wisdom and ideas. God uses His servants to lead His people, but they always want to lead the servants of God instead. May we trust in God as He uses His servants to lead us into the “Promised Land!”

My Prayer: Father, may I have faith to trust You and the servants You have appointed to lead us into our “Promised Land.” I will follow those who follow Jesus instead of following those who follow their own wisdom and ways.