Chronological Bible Study – Feb 4

What I Noticed Today (Exodus 16-18)

Exodus 16

Chapter 16 tells how the Lord provided quail and manna in the Desert of Sin.

In verses 1-12, the Israelites complain to Moses about being hungry:

• The Israelites journeyed on to the Desert of Sin, arriving on the fifteenth day of the second month after they left Egypt.

• The people complained to Moses and Aaron saying they had plenty of meat and bread to eat in Egypt, and now they were in the wilderness and would die of hunger.

In verses 13-36, the Lord provides quail and manna to the people:

• The Lord immediately responded by telling Moses that He would rain bread (manna) from heaven. Each person was to go out in the morning and gather enough manna for the day. On the sixth day, they were to gather twice as much.
• Moses and Aaron told the Israelites what the Lord would do to provide for then and what they were to do. He also told them this evening they would eat quail. And then they would know that I am Yahweh, your God.
• That evening quail came.
• In the morning, as the dew evaporated there was manna on the ground. Moses told them to take two quarts of manna per person. Whether they gathered much or a little, each person had just enough.
• Moses warned them not to let any remain until morning. Some people saved some until morning, but it spoiled and had worms, and Moses was angry because they did not obey.
• They gathered manna every morning, and when the sun came up, the manna melted.
• On the sixth day, Moses told them to gather twice as much because the next day was a day of rest. What they set aside did not spoil or have worms, and they ate it on the seventh day.
• Some people went out on the seventh day and did not find the manna. The Lord was displeased and spoke to Moses because the people had not followed His commands. They were to gather twice as much on the sixth day, and the seventh day was to be a day of rest.
• The manna resembled coriander and tasted like wafers made with honey.
• Moses told Aaron to take two quarts of manna and preserve it in a jar for future generations as a testimony to what the Lord had done. So Aaron filled a jar with two quarts of manna and placed it before the Lord.
• The Israelites ate the manna for 40 years until they reach the border of Canaan, the Promised Land.

Some thoughts for additional consideration:

• God made a deal with the Israelites, saying if you will listen to Me and do what I tell you, I will protect you. God says this twice in a slightly different way (Exodus 15:25-26). Listen and do. Listen and do!
• Imagine witnessing the parting of the Red Sea, the tower of clouds and the pillar of fire, and then a mere three days after singing about all God had done, start to complain about not having enough water. God provides water, and a few weeks later, you complain again about not having enough food, so God provides food.
• How often do we do the same thing! We sing praises to God when conditions are good, but the minute life turns hard, we start to complain to Him. How often does God ask us to listen and do, yet we fail even to follow the simplest of instructions!

Exodus 17

Chapter 17 opens up with the Israelites complaining about a lack of water again, and they face their first enemy in battle.

In verses 1-7, the Israelites journey from the Desert of Sin and camp at Rephidim:

• The people complained to Moses again that there was no water, saying Moses had brought them into the desert to die of thirst.
• Moses cried out to the Lord for help.
• The Lord told Moses to gather some elders and go to the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock and water will flow out.
• Moses did this, water flowed out of the rock, and they named the place Massah (testing) and Meribah (arguing) because the people tested the Lord saying, Is the Lord among us?

In verses 8-16, the Amalekites came and attacked the people of Israel:

• While they were camped at Rephidim, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites.
• Moses appointed Joshua to select some men to fight the Amalekites.
• The next day Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill.
• As long as Moses held up his hand with the staff of God, the Israelites prevailed in the battle; when Moses put his hand down, the Amalekites prevailed.
• So they put a stone under Moses so he could sit on it while Aaron and Hur stood on either side of him and held up his arms until the sun went down and the Amalekites were defeated.
• The Lord told Moses to write this down on a scroll as a reminder to Joshua that He would completely blot out Amalek.
• Moses built an altar to the Lord and named it, “The Lord is my banner.”

Exodus 18

In Chapter 18, Jethro, Moses’ father in law, comes to visit and gives advice to Moses.

In verses 1-6, Jethro arrives with Moses’ wife and children:

• When Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, heard about the Exodus, he visited Moses while they were camped at Rephidim. He brought with him Moses’ wife Zipporah and his sons Gershom and Eliezer (Moses had sent them to Jethro when he started to leave Egypt).

In verses 7-12, Jethro praises Moses and God:

• Moses went out to meet Jethro and greeted him respectfully. Moses told Jethro about all the Lord had done for the Israelites in delivering them from the Egyptians and the hardships they had endured.
• When Jethro heard all this, he praised God for all He had done for the Israelites. He said Yahweh is greater than all gods because of what He had done.
• Then Jethro brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God.
• Moses, Aaron, and Jethro ate a meal in God’s presence.

In verses 13-27, Jethro gives advice to Moses:

• The next day Moses went out and received people from morning to night as he judged between them teaching them God’s statutes.
• Jethro asked why are you doing this by yourself. He said you would wear yourself out because you cannot do it alone.
• Jethro suggested that Moses should represent the people before God, and he should instruct them in God’s statutes. However, he also suggested Moses select able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating bribes and place them over commanders of thousands, hundreds, and fifties. These men should judge the people.
• Any difficult cases they can bring to you, but all the minor cases they should judge themselves.
• Moses listened to Jethro and did all he suggested. He chose able men and put them over groups of thousands, hundreds, and fifties, and they judged the people.
• Then Moses said goodbye to Jethro, and he returned to his own land.

What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.

Tomorrow: Day 36 Exodus 19-21