TUESDAY, AUGUST 19
Scripture: Numbers 33:1-4

Numbers 33:1-4 says, “These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. Now Moses wrote down the starting points of their journeys at the command of the Lord. And these are their journeys according to their starting points: They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the Passover the children of Israel went out with boldness in the sight of all the Egyptians. For the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had killed among them. Also on their gods the Lord had executed judgments.” If we ever wondered how the Israelites after 350 years of slavery became a cohesive army with confidence, all we have to do is read this passage. And perhaps we can learn something about God today. Verses 3 and 4 are very clear. Verse 3 says, “Israel went out with boldness in the sight of all the Egyptians…” because the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn that the Lord had killed. Also, the Lord had executed judgment on their gods. All the gods of Egypt came under a death sentence. So there was more than just the death of a firstborn. All the gods of Egypt came under a death sentence. Egypt was glad when Israel left. Where does true boldness come from for the church? Boldness comes when we see the judgment of God on our enemies. That is the answer in this passage. It was what transitioned slaves into warriors. They saw the judgment of God on their enemy and they walked out with boldness because of that great transformation. Will God transform the church in the same way? Will He prepare the church for the last days through judgment? If He does, then we can expect some very amazing days ahead. It certainly does not hurt to ask for covenant justice!