Chapter Six

The week of February 26


 Wandering

With much travail the Law had been given through Moses to the people of Israel. So the entourage began their northward trek to Canaan: about 2 million people (600k men), animals, possessions, the tent of meeting and the movement of an alternating pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. The people should have been grateful for God’s provision: freedom from slavery, food and water, the plumb line of the Law. With all their quarreling and insubordination, it was only a matter of time before they would meet a dead end.

P72 How many ways are there to cook manna? Though they desired variety in their diet, should the Israelites have complained about the food? Can you remember when you complained about your provisions? How did the cook feel?

P73 How was Moses like Jesus disciples in the feeding of the 5000- 'We could not feed them if all the herds were killed or with all the fish in the sea'? Yet they were fed.

P73-4 Aaron has already been insubordinate in casting the golden calf. Now Miriam joins in challenging her brother Moses for his marrying the wrong woman. Is God fair in causing a skin disease? How is this resolved?

PP 74-77 What was the similarity between the reports of the two groups of Israelite scouts? What were their main differences? Why did the majority report become the decision? What were the long-term consequences?

PP 78-79 After 40 meandering years the grumbling people had gotten to Moses. In response to the need for water he struck the rock one too many times. The rock would bear water for all but Moses and Aaron would not be allowed to enter the promised land. Like these two, will we take things into our own hands and not finish well? If we live for God with 40 years of service as adults, will we finish well?

P 80 Grumbling transpired again and, this time, some died from snakebites. Notice how this becomes a metaphor for Jesus on the cross in John 3.

PP 81-2 It certainly is a strange story of a donkey speaking to the false prophet Balaam. Yet, is anything impossible with God?

PP 83-88 All people will ultimately die. 120 yo Moses prepared for succession by choosing 80 yo Joshua to lead Israel into Canaan. And he prepared Israel by charging them to remember: from Egypt to Sinai to Canaan. God is good; God is trustworthy. So Moses went up to Mount Nebo to die. He would not enter the promised land but he would see it. When I visited Mount Nebo in Jordan, you could see past the Jordan River, past Jericho and to the twinkling lights of Jerusalem. From Moses’ eyes this was all God’s; the Israelites just needed to take it.

Read more of the heart of Moses in Psalm 90.

Chapter Five

The Week of February 19


The Israelites have, with God¹s intervention, successfully escaped to the other side of the Red Sea. They are free and safe. Now where do they go? The shortest distance to Canaan is about 150 miles NE. They go South!

Direction is needed, both geographically and spiritually. The spiritual comes first. They have maintained their connection as a community; now they need their connection to God Who has saved them.

Read Exodus 18 where Moses' father-in-law Jethro tells that Moses is blocking fair justice by having all the people come to and through him. He needs to delegate for others to administer justice so the people and Moses will not wear out. But what standards will these designated judges use? They need the law from God.

P 59 God makes an if-then promise to Israel: If you obey Me and keep My commandments, you will be My treasured people. After over four centuries, how would that feel to have this re-commitment proposal from God?

P 60 A pyrotechnic display of lightning, thunder and smoke introduced God¹s coming to Mount Sinai. This was truly and awe-inspiring sight.

P 61 The first four of the commandments deal with honoring God, the last six with honoring people. Which of these would you have deleted? What would you have added?

P 62-3 The people gathered and agreed with their part of the covenant: We will do everything the Lord has said. And they consecrated their vow with a sacrifice. More fireworks gave the appearance that God was a consuming fire.

 P 64 After 40 days the people became impatient. Aaron, the brother of Moses succumbed to their lack of trust and helped them make a calf of gold (these are your gods), at the very place they had worshipped the only true God. Why are we so vulnerable that we may go from sincere worship to idolatry? (Don't miss that this was a violation of the first three commandments that had just been given.)

P 64-5 When God indicated He would destroy the Israelites, Moses asked that this not happen because God's name would be defamed in the nations (God had brought them out only to kill them). Do you think God would have really done this or was He testing Moses?

P 66 Aaron led the idolatry and then lied about it (I threw it in the fire and it came out a calf?) How did he avoid punishment? Yet Moses asked forgiveness for their sin and a blotting out of Moses if they were not forgiven. How is his attitude show the marks of a leader?

P 69 God is exclusive with Israel and He expects Israel to be exclusive with Him. What are the positive aspects of Him being a Jealous God?

P 69 Moses had a reflective glory from being in God's presence. In 2 Corinthians 3: 7-18 Paul compares this glory with the Law and our freedom in Christ with the Spirit. How do we have something greater than what Moses experienced?

A nation needs organization. Now Israel had the Law, people to help to determine judgments, sacrifices to make when the Law was broken, and priests and a tabernacle that would be the place of meeting with God. They also had a pillar of fire by day and a cloud by night; God was with them.

Chapter Four

The week of February 12


With the death of Joseph much of the memory of why the Israelites had traveled to Egypt was forgotten. They amalgamated into the culture. They were taken advantage to such a degree that they actually became slaves to Pharaoh. Almost 400 years passed. The Egyptians recognized that submission comes by being ruthless. One way to control the population is to kill the male children. So after hiding her son for several months, the mother of the baby Moses had a scheme of her own. She put her son in a waterproof basket, having her daughter watch for his safety. Then when Pharaoh’s daughter came to bathe, Moses was discovered. And, “Oh, do you want me to get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby?” How about Moses’ mother?

P 44 Like Moses’ mother and sister, aren’t we able to help and cooperate with God’s plan?

P 44 On the other hand, Moses set to help his own people and killed an Egyptian. The next day he was found out and went to the Sinai to escape Pharaoh. What was different between what Moses and his mother did?

P 45 About 40 years passed and God heard their groaning. The Israelites likely had been groaning all along. Why did God finally hear to act? Does it feel like God takes awhile to hear you?

PP 45-6 In the burning bush God identified Himself as I AM WHO I AM. Moses had his first of many personal encounters with Him. What is the significance of this first person relationship? What is your first person relationship with God?

PP 46-7 When Moses told God that he was slow of speech, God sent Aaron from Egypt to find him. When have you had someone speak for you?

P 47 The Israelites were challenged to make bricks without straw. When have you been asked to accomplish work without the necessary equipment?

P 51 Ten plagues follow. Kids love this story but the injuries and death is pretty pervasive. Finally, if blood from the lamb is on the home doorpost, the angel of death will pass over the house. Blood on the doorpost prefigures blood of the Lamb of God on the cross.

P 52 After 430 years Israel was prepared to leave Egypt. At the Red Sea, Moses was caught between Pharaoh and the faithless people of Israel. God prevailed and provided deliverance. When leading have you felt caught between two people(s) you loved.

P 55, 56 The people were a grumbling lot, even with God’s miraculous intervention. He comes through successively with water, quail and manna. When will they ever learn to trust Him? When will we ever learn?

Chapter Three

The week of February 5


All families have some dysfunction. Jacob's family was no exception. The oldest son slept with one of his wives. The brothers loathed the eleventh son, Joseph. They disdained him so much that they were going to kill him, then opted to sell him as a slave to a traveling tribe. 'But father, an animal must have eaten him,' they said showing the ripped and bloodstained coat of the favored son. They could no longer take Joseph's self-serving dreams and the special treatment he received. But by selling him into slavery they became slaves themselves of their own jealous natures.

 P 31 Joseph was sold into a plush situation and showed his prowess at administration, running the household and business for Potiphar. Why, do you think, was his wife's name not mentioned? I believe it is because Joseph (who related the story) saw her belonging to Potiphar and not belonging to him. And he resisted her temptation by acting that way. She was Potiphar’s wife. Joseph was not rewarded but punished for being honorable. Why does God allow that to happen to people?

 P 32 Joseph had already spent two years in prison. Pharaoh found no one who could interpret his own fantastic dreams. Finally someone remembered that a man in prison could interpret dreams. Joseph interpreted for Pharaoh and was rewarded by becoming the administrator of the nation as it went through a boom and then bust in food. He would be a savior of Egypt. After being rejected by his brothers, owner and the person he preserved, he finally was rewarded. Can you name a time when things went bad time after time before a good thing happened? What was your attitude during that time?

 P 34 In the second set of seven years things were bleak in the known world. The drought was killing everything. So Joseph's brothers came to Egypt for the only food around. Why did Joseph have things hidden in the saddlebags and imprison one of the brothers? Why did he not just reveal himself during their first trip?

 P 36 When the brothers wanted to return to Egypt for more food for the drought, Jacob balked at the plan, even though one of his son’s was imprisoned. (Would he have gone after Joseph if he had known he was enslaved?) Abraham earlier was willing to give his only son, but Jacob had already given up two of his sons and was not going to give up his favorite, Benjamin. What is something or someone important that you would not give up?

 P37 The brothers finally returned, this time with Benjamin. Joseph had them seated at the table in order of age and fed Benjamin five times as much as the others. He was a growing boy. Then, as they were leaving, another cup was found in a sack: Benjamin's! Can you imagine the horror on their faces. This was the horror they did not have when they sold Joseph into slavery.

 P 39 Listening to his brothers tell the story of their family history, and hearing of his father's trauma, Joseph could take no more. He revealed his true identity. Notice there was no projecting of guilt. There was no lording over. There was the grace of embrace and healing. When have you received or offered this form of outrageous grace?

 P 41 Jacob and the extended family are brought to Egypt. Joseph has saved them. They have bowed down to him (the dreams come true), but he never holds it over them. Joseph has learned humility. The rest have learned to swallow their pride. But when Jacob dies, they are certain Joseph will kill them, because Jacob no longer needs to be honored. The brothers have not learned. They had meant their deeds for evil; God had turned these into good. Joseph was the instigator of that lesson, and he would not forget it. Why do we persistently think people or God are out to get us? When have you had a 'you meant it for evil; God turned it into good' lesson of this magnitude? Why is that so hard to learn?