Israel was living in the region of Shittim at the time of Balaam. After
averting the curse of Balak, it was here that they fell into the sin of
immorality and idolatry (Numbers 25:1). From this city, Joshua sent the
first spies into the Promised Land (Joshua 2:1).
According to Joshua 4:19, Gilgal was the first camp of Israel in the
Promised Land. In Gilgal, Joshua circumcised all the men who had
travelled through the wilderness (Joshua 5:8-9). The first Passover
celebration in the Promised Land took place in Gilgal, and it was at Gilgal,
the Lord’s daily provision of manna stopped (Joshua 4:10-12). This city
would be Israel’s base as they conquered the Canaanite nations and settled
into the land (Joshua 10:7-8). By pointing His people to what took place
from Shittim to Gilgal, the Lord reminded His people of how He protected
them from the days of Baalam until they took possession of the Promised
Land.
The Lord presented His evidence. He revealed how He cared for and
delivered His people from their cruel bondage in Egypt. As they wandered
in the wilderness, He protected them, gave them overwhelming victory, and
settled them into their land. Admittedly, life was not all ease and comfort
for Israel, but God had always been faithful.
The temptation of Israel was to look at the struggle of the moment. She saw
the enemy and felt God had abandoned her. She ate manna for the seventh
time in the week and felt rejected because God did not give her more
variety in her diet. Instead of seeing the provision and protection of God,
she grumbled and complained. Looking back over time, however, Israel
would see the hand of God giving victory over every enemy attack. She
would also marvel at the love of a God who, faithfully without fault,
provided manna every day for forty years to sustain them.
While God’s ways were different from her ways, He had always been
faithful to Israel. He has a purpose for what He does. His objective is not
just to make us comfortable but to train us in godliness and draw us closer
to Himself. This training requires that we be stretched at times. While God
may not always make our life comfortable, He will certainly make us better
people through the experiences He sends our way.