How did ancient travelers find their way?
In Parshas Masei, the Torah lists every stop Bnei Yisrael made on their 40-year journey through the desert, 42 in all. But before GPS or road signs, how did anyone know where they were going?
Ancient travelers who did not have Hashem guiding them used the sun, stars, and natural landmarks. At night, they watched the North Star, which is always in the same spot. During the day, the position of the sun and shadows helped tell direction and time. Some used the wind, the shapes of hills and mountains, or even animal tracks. Sailors learned to read clouds and wave patterns, and desert nomads knew how to find north by moss growth or sand dune formation.
Hashem has given us a world full of signs to help us move forward.
