Trumpets were to be used for calling the leaders and the tribes together, and preparing them for setting out, and for battles. This is the background for some of the allusions to trumpets in the New Testament, eg giving a clear sound on the trumpet ( 1Cor 14:8). When in battle they were to sound the trumpet to call on the Lord. So the trumpet was sounded to call the people to do the Lord's will, and then once in battle they were to call upon the Lord. So it is with us. When God calls us to do something, we should expect to need to call upon the Lord once we are in the midst of the battle.
The cloud lifted to lead the Israelites on their way. Moses wanted to take Hobab, his brother-in-law, but Hobab refused to go. Judges 1:16 indicates that he may actually have gone with them in the end.
The journey was not a happy one. Three days into the journey the people started complaining. This was a repeat of their behaviour at the Red Sea (and afterwards). At that time they might have been excused, but they had then seen the deliverance of the Lord, so they should have learnt from this. Instead, they continued to complain, and fire from the Lord came and destroyed some of them. We need to learn from our experiences.
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