The Promised Land
Wed, 29 Jun 2011
What a miracle the Israelites had witnessed as they crossed to the other side of the Red Sea. This great miraculous act of God even alarmed neighbor nations (Exodus 15:14-16). The Israelites continued on their journey to the Promised Land, the Land of Canaan. After three days in the wilderness they had found no water that they could drink (Exodus 15:22-23). They began to grumble and complain as the hardships of wilderness life began to affect their attitudes. They thought of the full flesh pots back in Egypt rather than the Promised Land. They found fault in Moses and accused him of bringing them out of Egypt to die in the wilderness, their children and their livestock (Exodus 16:2-3, 17:3). Then the Lord stepped in and provided them with water and food. Manna, a small round flake, used for bread, tasting, it is said like wafers made with honey, was made plentiful by the Lord (Exodus 16:31). Quail was also provided by the Lord but not as much as was the manna (Exodus16:13). The Lord provided for the Sons of Israel even though they grumbled and complained. It sounds like this fits some of us even today. We fail to trust and have unwavering faith in the Lord. He will provide for us, we just have to learn to wait on Him and be patient.
The Lord fed and provided water by sending heavy dew each morning for them to drink as water to quench their thirst. Finally, the grumbling became so much that Moses went to God to ask for His help in quieting the discontent among the Israelites. The Lord heard the cry of Moses and told him to take the staff that he had used to strike the Nile and for him to strike the rock at Horeb (Exodus 17:5-7). Moses did as God said and water came forth from the rock in plain view of the elders of Israel and the people drank of the water.
Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had heard of all that God had done for the Sons of Israel. He gathered up Moses' wife, Zipporah and her two sons, and journeyed to Mt. Sinai, the Mountain of God. Jethro sent word to Moses that he was coming and Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and his family. Moses related to Jethro all that God had done for the sake of His children, the Israelites (Exodus 18:7-10). Now Jethro began to see and understand all that which Moses was doing for the Israelites (Exodus 18:14). Jethro gave counsel to Moses and told him that the Israelites would soon wear him out if he continued to listen to and adjudicate every complaint that the Israelites might have. Therefore, Jethro showed Moses how to organize the Israelites in a more efficient way so that Moses would not have to listen to every problem himself. Only the more serious problems would be referred to Moses (Exodus 18:15-27).The Israelites arrived at the wilderness of Sinai three months after they had left Egypt. The people camped at the foot and around Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:1-2). God called Moses to the top of Sinai and gave him the Law which is known as the "Mosaic Law" beginning with Exodus19:3 through Exodus 40:38, plus the book of Leviticus and the first ten chapters of the book of Numbers. This Law was like a treaty between a powerful king and his vassals. The Law contains a preamble, benevolence of the king, specific responsibilities of the vassals, witnesses to the treaty and a list of the consequences if the treaty should be broken. Moses related all that God had said to him and the people promised to keep the covenant that God had given them through Moses.
Then God told Moses and Aaron to come back up the mountain and He gave to Moses the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-26). The Ten Commandments and all of the ordinances written to govern the everyday lives of the Israelites were given to Moses to be obeyed by the Sons of Israel. Then God instructed Moses to come up on the mountain and He would give him stone tablets with the law and commandments written for the Israelites (Exodus 24:12-13). Moses stayed on the mountain of God for forty days (Exodus 24:18).
When the Israelites saw that Moses did not come back down the mountain right away they began to feel insecure with no God going before them for protection. Their confidence in Moses was shaken since he was gone from their sight (Exodus 32: 1). They gathered around Aaron and convinced him to make them a God they could see. Aaron asked them to bring their gold rings "which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, your daughters, and bring them to me" (Exodus 32-2). The people gathered the gold as Aaron had instructed them to do. Aaron fashioned for them a golden calf using the gold brought to him by the people. Remember when God told Moses to tell the Israelites to plunder the Egyptians when they left Egypt? Well, here is why. The Israelites were looking back toward Egypt and not keeping their eye on God and what He had already done for them. I have read theses passages concerning the Golden Calf many times. It was a long time before I realized where the gold came from since the Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians and had no gold of their own. You have to read God's word carefully and prayerfully and if you still don't understand it, He will open our eyes and mind at some point and reveal His Word to us.
After forty days on the mountain God told Moses to go back down, that the people had corrupted themselves by building a molten calf and worshipping this idol (Exodus 32:7-8). God's anger burned against Israel and He determined that He would destroy this "obstinate people" (Exodus 32:9). In Exodus 32:11-35, Moses intercedes on behalf of Sons of Israel and God changed His mind. However, Moses unleashed his wrath on the Israelites when he descended from the mountain. When Moses came in sight of the golden calf his anger burned beyond his control. He took the stone tablets written by the finger of God and slammed them to the ground and they shattered at the foot of the mountain (Exodus 32:19). Moses picked up the calf and burned it with fire, ground it up and mixed it with water and made the Sons of Israel drink it (Exodus32:20). Then Moses thoroughly rebuked the Israelites for their corruption. Moses once again went to God asking for forgiveness for the Israelites. God relented and told Moses to come unto Him on the mountain a second time. God told Moses to cut out of stone two tablets and He would write out the words that were written on the first tablets (Exodus34:1). Exodus 34:1 specifically tells us that the Ten Commandments were written by the hand of God. Moses was on the mountain of God again for forty days and nights. When Moses descended the mountain he did not realize that his face shone because of having spoken with God (Exodus 34:29). God was in Moses.
In Exodus chapters 35 to 40, the Tabernacle and all its furnishings were built. It was built in accordance with the plans given to Moses by God. The Israelites remained in the Sinai region for about 11 months before they began again their journey to the Promised Land.Moses experienced many trials and tribulations with the Sons of Israel as he led them out of Egypt to the Promised Land. Soon after leaving Egypt the Amalekites attacked, as Joshua was placed in command of the army under the protection of God. A year later at Kadesh, the Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, Amorites, and Midianites, all joined forces to attack the children of Israel trying to block their path to the land of Canaan. The people had constantly complained about something, before even leaving Egypt. They were terrified at the Red Sea and accused Moses of taking them out of Egypt to die in the wilderness. It seemed no matter what God would do for them by miracles through Moses, the people were never satisfied. Moses' heart must have been broken when the Israelites refused to go any further even with the Promised Land in sight. At this point the previous generation that Moses had led out of Egypt had passed on during the 40 years of wandering in the Wilderness. Moses was now dealing with a new generation of Israelites.
In the Wilderness of Zin there was no water for the people and they were against Moses and Aaron (Numbers 20: 1-2). Once again the murmurings and complaints came to haunt Moses. Moses took this to the Lord and asked for His help. God instructed Moses exactly what he was to do in order to get water for the people. Carefully read Numbers 20:8 and clearly see what God told Moses to do. Now go down a few verses and read Numbers 20:10-11. Numbers 20:12 specifically tells us why God did not permit Moses to enter into the Promised Land. Moses' Sin, which cost him the Promised Land, seems to have been his failure to GIVE GOD CREDIT for the Miracle of Water.
Moses wrote down the Law in a book as he was told by the Lord. When he had finished Moses had the Levites place the book beside the Ark of the Covenant (Deuteronomy 31:24-26).
Moses had lived in Egypt for forty years before he had to flee to the land of Midian. He tended the sheep of Jethro forty years before God had him go back to Egypt to bring the Children of Israel out of bondage. Moses was now 120 years old, still able to go before the Israelites and guide them in the ways of God and rebuke them when they disobeyed. Moses climbed Mt. Pisgah in the land of Moab and God showed him all the land (Deuteronomy34:1-4). God allowed Moses to view the land from a distance but Joshua would lead them into the land flowing with milk and honey. It at first seems to be a very sad ending for Moses but God had a Better Land for him. Moses died there in the land of Moab and God buried him there. To this day no one but God knows the burial place of Moses (Deuteronomy. 34:6).God performed great miracles in delivering the Children of Israel from the land of Egypt. God provided food, water, and shelter, for over 2 million Israelites plus all of their livestock. Someone once analyzed what God had done from a logistics standpoint. It was determined that Moses would have to have had 1500 tons of food each day delivered by two freight trains each a mile long. In order to cook the food, 4000 tons of firewood would have been needed each day, thus requiring several more freight trains each day. Keep in mind these supplies would have been needed for 40 years every day. They would have needed 11,000,000 gallons of water each day for drinking, cooking, bathing and providing for their animals in the wilderness every day for 40 years. Did Moses figure all of this out before he left Egypt? I don't think so! Moses left all of the planning to God and it worked out perfectly! When you stop and think about what God did through Moses, you get chill bumps. None of the obstacles that confronted the Israelites was ever too big for God to overcome, nor are they too big for Him today.
Ref:
Wiersbie Commentary, Ryrie Study Bible, Halley Bible Handbook