There was at least one thing that was certain during the long period of time the Israelites were meandering through the desert on the way to the Promised Land--they rarely stopped complaining! If it wasn't that they were getting tired of "manna", they were thirsty for water and the complaints came regularly and they grumbled tirelessly to Moses. And he was getting tired of it.
He took it to the Lord in prayer, and the Lord said, "Walk ahead of the people and when you come to a rock, strike it with your staff." So, Moses did this, and water came out of the rock as God had promised. And the Lord also helped when a group of Amalekites same and attacked the Israelites. As long as Moses held the staff given to him by the Lord over his head, the Israelites fought well. If he put his arms down, not so good. But the Amalekites were finally defeated, and Moses built an altar, calling it The Lord is my Banner, for hands had been lifted up to the throne of God.
Now, Jethro, Moses father-in-law, together with Moses' sons and wife, came to him in the desert where he was camped near the mountain of God, Mt. Sinai. Moses had earlier received word of his coming and went to meet him. Jethro was glad to hear all the good things the Lord had done for Israel in rescuing them from the Egyptians.
The next day, Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, the people standing around him from morning to night. When his wise father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning until evening? What you are doing is not good! Let me give you some advice. Be the people's representative before God and let them bring their disputes. But, first teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live, and what their duties are. And select capable men, men who fear God, and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens of people. Have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied." This was to be good advice, and Jethro went on his way, returning home to his own country.
Through all their traveling, the Israelites finally reached Mount Sinai, God's holy mountain. Much happens there, including the receiving of the Ten Commandments. but the Israelites, and also, Moses and Aaron, had much yet to learn for God was not through with them as yet.
Through the experiences of Moses, Aaron, and the Israelites we have much to learn about the importance of obedience in our relationship with God. The Commandments, too, are good for us to know and obey as they give us our standard of righteous living. These things are what we begin with, and God's Spirit, now available to us through the power of Christ's death on the cross, will teach us more, each one of us individually, those things we need to know in our own lives.
Happy Learning, dear friends, and me, too!!
Jo INMN
No comments:
Post a Comment