God led the people around by way of the wilderness of Yam Suph, and by Israel’s third day, they camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness that hugged both sides of the Gulf of Aqaba. According to the Hebrew calendar in the Exodus year, Etham marked the first day of Israel’s seven-Sabbath count toward holding a festival to worship YHWH in the desert (Exo. 3:18; 5:1, 3).

Led by YHWH’s glory pillars of cloud and fire, the journey formed Israel by testing and refining them. YHWH tested Israel to know what was in their heart, whether or not they would keep His commands. He humbled them, causing them to hunger, and then fed them with manna to teach them that no one can live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of YHWH so that in the end it might go well with them (Deu. 8:2-3, 16). YHWH alone shielded and cared for Israel during their wilderness transformation, guiding them safely to His holy mountain so that they would know that He was YHWH their Elohim (Deu. 29:5; 32:10; Psa. 78:52-53).

Just as Yeshua taught His followers that suffering comes before glory (Jhn. 7:7), YHWH caused Israel’s trials to build trust and dependence upon Him so they could share His glorious holiness. In our transformation, the old self must die while the new person forms. The new man must choose suffering over iniquity (Job 33:21), for the pains of suffering are a teacher and the change agent to beauty. Typically, the world tries to bypass suffering and sacrifice en route to glorification. Christ’s glory reflected His unquestioning oneness to the Father’s will and the fruits it produced through learning by the things He suffered (Heb. 5:8; 1Pe. 2:23-24).

From His promise to Abraham (Gen. 15:13-14) to Joseph’s faith (Heb. 11:22), YHWH’s purpose in the Exodus was to declare His name in all the earth, showing the world that He alone was the God of gods. No other gods could make a promise and carry it out four hundred years later exactly at the appointed time (Exo. 12:41-43). No other god could perform such signs and wonders as did YHWH’s mighty hand and outstretched arm when He brought Israel out of Egypt with His Presence (Deu. 4:32-39). None of the gods had ever redeemed a nation, carried them on eagles’ wings, and guided them in strength to his holy habitation (Exo. 15:13). All these things were done in the sight of the nations so that all the ends of the earth saw the salvation of YHWH, that there was none like Him anywhere (Exo. 9:14; Psa. 98:1-3). Far-reaching in its aim, ultimately those in heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth will bend their knees to YHWH and confess that He alone is God (Isa. 45:23; Rom. 14:11; Phi. 2:10-11).

For humanity to know the most powerful Being in the universe was the goal of the Exodus seven-Sabbath route, by YHWH bringing Israel to dwell with Him at Sinai, in the Tabernacle, and in the Promised Land. Filled with His glory, the house of YHWH, His dwelling in Israel’s midst, mimicked the Eden Garden filling the whole creation with His glory. For those who join themselves to YHWH, to serve Him and love His name, everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath and holds fast to His covenant, He will bring to His holy mountain to joyfully worship Him, making YHWH’s dwelling place “a house of prayer for all nations” (Isa. 56:6-7). Like YHWH leading Israel to Mount Sinai in seven-Sabbaths, Sabbaths He gave to them as a sign between them and Him, that they might know He was YHWH who sanctifies them (Eze. 20:12), He will also bring the nations to worship and dwell upon His holy mountain. In the latter days, YHWH’s house will be established on the top of the mountains and all nations shall flow to it. He will teach them His ways and they will walk in His paths, for out of Zion shall go forth the law and the Word of YHWH from Jerusalem (Isa. 2:1-4).

During the seven-Sabbath count, YHWH brought judgment upon Egypt’s gods and destroyed the Egyptian army in Yam Suph so that not one was left (Exo. 12:12; 14:27-28). The outcome of YHWH destroying humanity’s false gods is that many people will come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of YHWH, to the house of the God of Jacob” where He will judge between the nations and rebuke many people. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore (Isa. 2:3-4).

Takeaway:
YHWH purposed to lead Israel to Himself on a certain path that lasted a determined amount of time, stamping it with the number of finishing His work, the Sabbath. The seven-Sabbath journey involved walking humbly with God and trusting in His hand. It involved suffering as the old nature dies, and joy as the new creation is formed so that we might dwell with Him. The route of 7² leads to YHWH’s dwelling, the place from which healing and peace flow out to all the earth.

Fun Factors:
Deuteronomy 8:2, “Remember how YHWH your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands” has 87 letters in 23 words, totaling 7240, 40 × 181, 78² + 34². The number value of the God who orchestrated the Exodus, I AM who I AM is 543, 3 × 181. The time of testing in the wilderness, 40, when multiplied by the factor of His name, 181, shows YHWH tabernacling with Israel to bring about His new creation, the victory (34, 2 × 17) of His name (78, 3 × 26).