They set forward

They set forward

And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers. – Numbers 2.34

It was time to go. No one knew exactly what was going to happen. No one knew how they were going to do it. But it was time to go.

After all the rebellion and complaining and questioning and crying and doubting it was indeed time to move.

Leaving, no matter where you are leaving from, can be a scary thing. It reminds me of the quote where Frodo in quoting Bilbo he is beginning his classic journey. “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,” he used to say. “You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to."

Israel, no matter what, had to take that first step onto the unknown road. They could have had no idea where that first step would take them.

And, in a moment of faith and obedience, they set forward in obedience to the Lord and to Moses. They were on their way. They had struggles and trials disasters ahead, but they were on the road.

There are times in our lives when we are called on to take that first step and set forward. The road may not be clear. We may very well be called into the great unknown. We have to set out in faith.

And just like Israel our road might be hard and troublesome and we are going to slip up on the way.

But we have to take that first step.