We read in the Exodus that God gave the Israelites a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to guide them. This means that they were sometimes journeying through the bitterly cold desert nights. Maybe this was because it often was too hot to move forward under the scorching desert sun. Whatever the reason, night travel was included in the journey.
Is it possible for us to imagine this, dragging along tired infants whose biological clock told them it was time to sleep, urging on the reluctant older folk who wanted to rest and keeping unruly youngsters in check. They would be carrying everything they possessed. Their burdens would become heavier and children more fractious. It is no wonder that their thoughts would sometimes longingly return to Egypt.
Our life-journeys are often longer than forty years. Do we become tired? We need to keep sight of God’s pillars today and not grow weary.