We are in chapter forty of Exodus with our word for today which is the very last word in the book of Exodus. מַסַּע breaking camp, departure, daily march, wandering, pulling up, setting out, journey. It is used 12 times in the Old Testament, 2 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of traveling from one place to another, often by foot or over a long distance. Genesis 13:2-4 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. And לְמַסָּעָ֔יו he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord. We find our word used referring to the breaking of camp when the Israelites would travel toward the land God promised them. Numbers 10:2, 6 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation וּלְמַסַּ֖ע and for breaking camp … And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever לְמַסְעֵיהֶֽם they are to set out. Deuteronomy 10:11 And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise, go on your לְמַסַּ֖ע journey at the head of the people, so that they may go in and possess the land, which I swore to their fathers to give them.’ This is how our word is used twice in our chapter today. Exodus 40:36-38 Throughout all מַסְעֵיהֶֽם their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all מַסְעֵיהֶֽם their journeys. Whenever you travel knowing the where you are going and the how you will get there are important. Or as believers knowing God how knows both of these is far better. Throughout the Bible God moves us to where he wants us to go if we are willing to trust that he knows where we need to go and the best way to get there. Exodus is a great example of this because at the beginning we have the people in slavery but now they have been delivered by God and are beginning their journey to the land he promised to give them. So God knows what he is doing. I’ll close with these great passages on trusting God with our journey. Hebrews 11:1-2, 6, 24-29 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation … without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him … By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned … they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
