Oh the Places You'll Go!

One Israelite, two Israelites, grumbling Israelites, disobedient Israelites - when will you finish this long, lengthy plight? Okay...in all seriousness...chapter 33 is a review of AALLLLL the places the Israelites have wandered to during their 40 years in the wilderness. Interestingly enough, Moses states in verse 2 the fact that HE wrote down this review of the Israelite's journey. All of the other books of Moses were said the be given to Moses BY God. Another interesting tidbit of information from this chapter is that 17 of the places Moses records they camped in are not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible and the only known information regarding these places is simply that the Israelites camped there. This chapter also reflects the form of a military itinerary, which was very common of certain literary genres recorded around the countries bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Having stated all of these very note-worthy facts, what can we see in this chapter about our lives? When I look back on my life, I can see the places where I have just wandered around. God was ALWAYS there beside me, patiently waiting for me to "get it". But until then, he just had me going here and there, but NEVER in vain! I ALWAYS learned something from these years of wandering! And He ALWAYS provided for me during these times just as He did for the Israelites during their wanderings.

In Chapter 34, God gives to Moses the boundaries for the Promised Land. Simply put, the land of Canaan consisted of the land between the Mediterranean and the Jordan, plus modern day Lebanon and a portion of modern day Syria. Interestingly (again) is the fact that Israel never occupies ALL this territory - it represents the Promised Land, not the actual occupied land of Israel. This got me to thinking about boundaries in our lives. Many of them exist for our protection, for our privacy, and to determine appropriate behavior by us and by others. Certainly the boundaries (or rules/laws) that God has given to us are for our protection and we are under His umbrella of protection when we follow these boundary limits. How many times have I pushed the "limits" of these boundaries and gotten myself into BIG (and I mean BIG) trouble? PLENTY!!!!!! Each time I have wandered outside of these boundaries, God lovingly brings me back into them and waits patiently for me to return! So, have you wandered outside of God's boundaries of protection He has established for your life? If you have, God is waiting with (HUGE!!!!) open, loving arms for you to return to within these boundaries! It is NEVER too late!