Monday, May 1, 2017

Daily reading assignment: Exodus 17-20 (part 2)

Continuing our reading in Exodus, we find the children of Israel again murmuring against the LORD and His servant Moses (17:1-3) because “there was no water for the people to drink” (17:1).  So grievous were the complaints of the people, they accused Moses of bringing them into the wilderness to “kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst” (17:3).  In desperation, Moses cried out to the LORD and the LORD heard and promised to answer his prayer (17:4-7).

The children of Israel encountered the Amalekites, their first enemy in the wilderness, and the LORD magnified Moses before the people, giving Israel victory (17:8-16).

In Exodus 18, Moses enjoys a reunion with his wife and two sons when Jethro, his father-in-law brings his family to join him.

Moses and the children of Israel arrive at Mount Sinai in Exodus 19 and the LORD directs His servant to instruct the people to hear His Word and keep His covenant, promising they would be “a peculiar treasure…above all people” (19:5-6).  Calling “for the elders of the people”, Moses rehearse all the LORD had commanded him (19:7) and the people affirmed they would keep the LORD’s covenant (19:8).  In preparation for meeting and establishing His covenant with Israel, the LORD directed Moses to “sanctify” the people and command they wash their clothes (19:9-15).

On the third day, the LORD made Himself known to the people by “thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud” (19:16) and the LORD “descended upon it [the mount] in fire: and the smoke ascended” (19:18) and the “trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder” (19:19).  The response of the people was predictable as they witnessed the power and majesty of the LORD… “all the people that was in the camp trembled” (19:16b).

Out of the thunder, lighting, sound of the trumpet, and the fire and smoke the LORD introduced Himself as “the LORD [Jehovah; Eternal, Self-Existent God] thy God [Elohim], which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (Exodus 20:2).

As part of His covenant with Israel, the LORD set forth Ten Commandments that Israel was to hear, heed and obey (20:1-17).  For the sake of brevity, and fearing adding to or taking away from the Commandments by mine own explanations, I will list the Commandments of God’s covenant with Israel.

Copyright 2017 – Travis D. Smith