Journey to SINAI

                After three days journey in the wilderness without water the CHILDREN of ISRAEL come to a place called Ma' -rah and there they found water. However the water was not drinkable as it contained large amounts of minerals and there were sulfur deposits in it. MOSES PRAYED to GOD for help as the people were complaining about their not having any water to drink. THE LORD shows MOSES a certain TREE and tells him to cut it down and put it into the well of the bitter water.

            Once MOSES did as THE LORD had told him to do, the water immediately became drinkable. MOSES tells the people that they should TRUST in THE LORD and obey HIS COMMANDMENTS. MOSES also says if the people were to be obedient to GOD, THE LORD would provide for them ALL that they NEEDED and would not allow any of the PLAGUES that were  brought to bear on Egypt to come upon them.

               After ten days had past, the CHILDREN of ISRAEL then come to a place called E'-lim, which has an oasis with TWELVE WELLS Of WATER and SEVENTY PALM TREES in the midst of it. While one month had passed since they had left Egypt, the CHILDREN of ISRAEL had run out of food and began to complain to MOSES about their hunger. GOD, after hearing the cry of the people, tells MOSES that HE would rain upon them food from HEAVEN, and that they were to gather up only enough of that food for one day. However on the sixth day they could gather enough to eat for the two days so they would not have to violate THE LORD'S SABBATH, by gathering food on the SEVENTH DAY.

            THE LORD every morning thereafter, rained MANNA from HEAVEN within the borders of their campsite, and they gathered up the MANNA for their food as THE LORD had said. Those who gathered more than one day's portion of MANNA on any one day other than on the sixth day, found a worm in the MANNA the day after they had gathered it and could not eat it. It was only on the sixth day that they could gather a two days portion of food and the worm in the MANNA was not present on the SEVENTH DAY.

           After a short period of time with them eating only MANNA, the people again complain to MOSES about not having any meat to eat. THE LORD hearing their complaints tells MOSES, HE will give them the meat they have asked for. On that very evening at EVEN (Sundown) THE LORD did as HE said HE would do. The ground throughout the entire area suddenly became covered with quail as far as the eye could see. Now the people had bread (MANNA) in the morning to eat and quail in the evening. (Note13)

          Note 13: One must keep in mind that GOD was feeding an entire NATION of people. The population of the HEBREW NATION, ISRAEL, consisted of about one million and five hundred thousand people. Therefor, they required an enormous amount of food and water. The Scriptures indicate the people gorged themselves with the quail. If each person were to eat only a single quail, then one million and five hundred thousand quail would be required for each and every meal. During the entire FORTY YEARS that the CHILDREN of ISRAEL wandered in the wilderness, GOD provided them with the MANNA from HEAVEN to eat every morning.

              The MANNA from HEAVEN did not cease until The Children of ISRAEL crossed over the River Jordan and entered into THE PROMISED LAND, where there was an abundance of food.

       With the CHILDREN of ISRAEL continuing on their journey towards Mount Sinai, in Horeb, the people once again ran out of water. Their complaints to MOSES had now become more like violent demands and they were saying to MOSES and amongst themselves that they would have been better off if they had stayed in Egypt. MOSES, in his frustration with the people cries out to THE LORD for help, and tells HIM that the people haven't any water to drink and they are now becoming violent towards him and Aaron.

         THE LORD tells MOSES to gather up the Elders of the TWELVE Tribes and to stand upon a certain rock once they are assembled. THE LORD further tells MOSES, once HE had gathered the Elders together THE LORD would stand before him, and MOSES was to strike the rock with his ROD. Once MOSES had struck the rock, THE LORD would then bring forth water out of the rock.

           With MOSES still being angered at the people for their continual complaining, HE strikes the rock two times in anger and says: Shall we bring forth water out of this rock? After saying these words, water suddenly gushed out of the rock creating a stream the people could drink from. Although MOSES had done as THE LORD so COMMANDED, the way MOSES had behaved himself while striking the rock displeased THE LORD. This displeased GOD because MOSES did not GIVE THE GLORY for the MIRACLE UNTO GOD, but had rather implied that it was HE and Aaron who were going to bring forth the water out of the rock.          

Psalm 106:32 They angered HIM also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with MOSES for their sakes:

Psalm 106:33 Because they provoked HIS SPIRIT, so that HE spake unadvisedly with HIS lips. (Note 14)

Note 14 : Later on in THE BIBLE, in the Book of Deuteronomy, GOD tells MOSES just prior to the CHILDREN of ISRAEL'S crossing over the RIVER JORDAN that he could not go with them into the PROMISED LAND. The reason given by THE LORD to MOSES why he could not go into The Promised Land, was because he failed to GLORIFY GOD at the bringing forth of (P248) water out of the rock at Mer'-i-bah Ka'-desh (Deuteronomy 32:51-52). With this being the TRUTH, it was not the only reason why MOSES could not enter into The Promised Land. 

            Even if MOSES had GLORIFIED GOD at Mer-i-bah Ka-desh, HE would have still not been allowed to cross over with the CHILDREN of ISRAEL and enter into the PROMISED LAND. The PRIMARY REASON for this was that MOSES was born of THE HOLY SPIRIT, and at the time of the crossing over the RIVER JORDAN HE would have been 120 years old. This means that MOSES could NO LONGER be in possession of THE HOLY SPIRIT due to his reaching the TERM LIMIT in which THE HOLY SPIRIT can dwell with a man!

Genesis 6:3 And THE LORD said, MY SPIRIT shall not always strive with man, for that HE also is flesh: yet HIS days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

Am'a-Ielz goes to war against ISRAEL

             Am' -a-lek, a local leader is informed that the CHILDREN of ISRAEL have entered into his land. He then comes down to where The Children of ISRAEL have entered in, to go to war against them and force them back out. MOSES and JOSHUA being informed by GOD that Am-a-Iek is about to attack them, select men from the CHILDREN of ISRAEL to go out and fight against him. During the battle, MOSES strategically places himself upon a hill where them fighting can see him, and when he holds up his ROD where it is visible to the CHILDREN of ISRAEL, they prevail in their battle.

          But when his arms became tired and HE could no longer hold up the ROD where it could be seen, then Am' -a-lek prevailed in the battle. Once Aaron becomes aware of this, then both he and Hur go up onto the hill where MOSES is standing and sit MOSES down on a rock, and both Aaron and Hur hold up MOSES' arms so that the fighting men could see the ROD. The CHILDREN of ISRAEL then defeated Am' -a-lek, and THE LORD after the battle CURSES Am' -a-lek forever, for his coming out against ISRAEL!

                Once MOSES and the CHILDREN of ISRAEL reach the base of MOUNT SINAI, MOSES' father-in-law Jethro, comes out to meet him, bringing with him Zip-po' -rah and MOSES' two sons, Ger' -shorn and E-li' -e' -zer. After Jethro spends a few days with MOSES and sees how many people there were of The Children of Israel, and how they depended on MOSES for all matters and disputes, Jethro makes the following suggestion to MOSES. Jethro suggests MOSES appoint Captains over various size groups of the people. Some of these Captains should be over tens, some over hundreds, and some over thousands of the people. Jethro suggests by doing this,

      it would allow MOSES time to take  care of the more serious matters by allowing the Captains to resolve most of the trivial matters within their own respective groups. After being told this by Jethro, MOSES confronts THE LORD on Jethro's suggestion and THE LORD says that HE should do as had been suggested.

         Now in the third month of journeying since their departure from Egypt, and ISRAEL being camped at the base of Mount Sanai, MOSES then goes up to the FOUNTAIN of GOD (MI. Sinai) to MEET with GOD.

Exodus 19:3 And MOSES went up unto GOD, and THE LORD called unto him out of the mountain. saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of JACOB, and tell the CHILDREN of ISRAEL;

Exodus 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on EAGLES' WINGS, and brought you unto MYSELF.

Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey MY VOICE indeed, and KEEP MY COVENANT, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto ME above ALL PEOPLE: for ALL THE EARTH IS MINE.

               MOSES after HIS meeting with THE LORD, then goes and tells the people what GOD had said to him. Once the people had heard THE WORDS of THE LORD, given by MOSES to them, the people tell MOSES they would do all that GOD should COMMAND them to do. THE LORD tells MOSES that on the third day, the people should be SANCTIFIED, and wash their clothes so that they might be presentable before HIM, and once they had done this, THE  LORD would come down to the people.

           THE LORD also WARNS MOSES that the people should BEWARE, and that no one should come near to, or even touch the mountain once HE had come down. Neither man nor beast should come near to GOD and if anyone were to violate this warning, they would be put to death. THE LORD also tells MOSES that on the THIRD DAY, THE TRUMPET WILL BE SOUNDED, and when the people hear the TRUMPET, the men should gather themselves together to HEAR THE WORD of THE LORD. THE LORD COMMANDED MOSES that the men should not have any sexuall relations with their wives prior to their coming, and should be CLEAN and PRESENTABLE prior to their gathering together to HEAR GOD'S WORD!

          On the third day, THE TRUMPET did SOUND just as THE LORD had said it would. The SOUND of THE TRUMPET being HEARD by the people, was ear piercing! After the SOUNDING of the TRUMPET there was a QUAKING  of the ground, and there were THUNDERINGS and LIGHTNING  unlike anything the world had seen before.

          Then THE LORD DESCEND in the whirlwind of FIRE and SMOKE ascended up from the fire like a FURNACE and the TRUMPET SOUNDED AGAIN! As THE TRUMPET became LOUDER AND LOUDER THE EARTH SHOOK and the people became more and more frightened, and then MOSES SPOKE OUT to THE LORD. THE LORD called MOSES then to the top of the mountain, and when the people LORD as HE SPOKE to MOSES they trembled out of fear, VOICE of GOD!

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

           Once MOSES had reached the top of the MOUNTAIN, THE LORD then tells MOSES that he should go back down and get Aaron and return back to the top of Sinai. GOD WARNS MOSES that HE should not allow either the Priest or the people to come any closer to HIM than they were. For if they any closer they would be consumed by FIRE for approaching HIS PRESENCE THEN GOD spoke these WORDS, AND HE SPOKE THEM ALOUD, so that all the PEOPLE could HEAR THEM!

          Exodus 20:2 I AM THE LORD THY GOD, WHICR BROUGHT THEE OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, OUT OF THE HOUSE OF BONDAGE.

Exodus 20:3 THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER gods BEFORE ME.

Exodus 20:4 THOU SHALT NOT MAKE UNTO THEE ANY GRAVEN IMAGE, OR ANY LIKENESS OF ANYTHING. THAT IS IN HEAVEN ABOVE, OR THAT IS IN THE BENEATH, OR THAT IS IN THE WATER UNDER THE EARTH:

Exodus 20:5 THOU SHALT NOT BOW DOWN THY THEM, NOR SERVE THEM: FOR I THE LORD THY GOD. AM A JEALOUS GOD, VISITING THE INIQUITY FATHERS UPON THE CHILDREN UNTO THE THIRD FOURTH GENERATION OF THEM THAT HATE ME

Exodus 20:6 AND SHEWING MERCY UNTO THOUSANDS OF THEM THAT LOVE ME, AND KEEP MY  COMMANDMENTS.

Exodus 20:7 THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN; FOR THE LORD WILL NOT HOLD HIM GUILTLESS THAT TAKETH HIS NAME IN VAIN.

Exodus 20:8 REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY, TO KEEP IT HOLY.

Exodus 20:9 SIX DAYS SHALT THOU LABOUR, AND DO ALL THY WORK:

Exodus 20:10 BUT THE SEVENTH DAY IS THE SABBATH OF THE LORD THY GOD: IN IT THOU SHALT NOT DO ANY WORK, THOU, NOR THY SON, NOR THY DAUGHTER, SOR THY MANSERVANT, NOR THY MAIDSERVANT, NOR THY CATTLE, NOR THY STRANGER THAT IS WITHIN THY GATES:

Exodus 20:11 FOR IN SIX DAYS THE LORD MADE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH, THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IN THEM IS, AND RESTED THE SEVENTH DAY: WHEREFORE THE LORD BLESSED THE SABBATH DAY, AND HALLOWED IT.

Exodus 20:12 HONOR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER: THAT THY DAYS MAY BE LONG UPON THE LAND WHICH THE LORD THY GOD GIVETH THEE.

Exodus 20:13 THOU SHALT NOT KILL.

Exodus 20:14 THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.

Exodus 20:15 THOU SHALT NOT STEAL. Exodus 20:16 THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST THY NEIGHBOR.

Exodus 20:17 THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR'S  HOUSE, THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR'S WIFE, NOR HIS MANSERVANT, NOR HIS MAIDSERVANT, NOR HIS OX, NOR HIS ASS, NOR ANY THING THAT IS  THY NEIGHBOR'S.

              ONCE the people HEARD the WORDS SPOKEN by THE LORD, they were afraid and trembled out of FEAR at THE VOICE of GOD, as the very  ground they stood upon shook as HE SPOKE. The people asked MOSES if HE alone could act and speak on their behalf to GOD, because they FEARED HIM.  The CHILDREN of ISRAEL from that time forward no longer heard THE VOICE of GOD!

              MOSES remained on the mountain with GOD for forty days and forty nights, and while on the mountain GOD gave MOSES all of HIS PRECEPTS and STATUTES regarding SPIRITUAL and MORAL BEHAVIOR. Then GOD WROTE with HIS FINGER into the first set of STONE TABLETS, HIS TEN COMMANDMENTS.

               THE LORD also gave MOSES the dimensions and the materials that were to be used in the construction of THE ARK of the COVENANT and all the details for the construction of the TABERNACLE of GOD.  GOD also gave MOSES instructions on the PRIESTS' GARMENTS that were to be worn while in HIS PRESENCE, and the RULES and CONDUCT governing the HANDLING of the ARK and the setting up and the taking down of THE TABERNACLE.

         When MOSES finally comes down from the mountain after being there for forty days and forty nights, HE finds the people worshipping a golden calf that Aaron had fashioned for them. In OUTRAGE, MOSES throws the stone tablets to the ground, breaking them in pieces. THE LORD tells MOSES that HE is going to kill all the people for breaking HIS LAWS and HE WILL make MOSES a new NATION using different people.

        But MOSES tells THE LORD, if HE kills all of the people, the Egyptians will say that the GOD of ISRAEL brought the CHILDREN of ISRAEL out of Egypt just to kill them! After hearing what MOSES had to say, GOD withholds HIS anger. MOSES, to appease  GOD, gathers together the Levites (who are destines to be the Priests and servants for GOD), and directs them to take up their swords and slay all of those (three thousand people) who had taken part in worshipping the golden calf. Afterwards, MOSES goes back to the mountaintop of Sinai and GOD engraves two NEW TABLETS of STONE, CONTAINING THE WORDS of the TEN COMMANDMENTS. (Note 15, 16)

NOTE 15: The TWO SETS of TABLETS of STONE represent the OLD and the NEW COVENANT. The first COVENANT (the first TABLETS of STONE) was broken due to GOD'S people disobeying THE COMMANDMENTS of THE LORD. Just as MOSES broke the first set of STONE TABLETS when he had found that the people were worshipping the golden calf .   THE NEW TABLETS of STONE, (the second set of STONE TABLETS) represent THE NEW COVENANT that was put into effect after the crucifixion and RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST.

Note 16: If you could see into the THIRD LAYER of the OLD TESTAMENT the PROPHECY given by the events that had taken place at SINAI, then you would see that the PROPHECY PROCLAIMS a breaking of the OLD COVENANT and the making of the NEW COVENANT! This is why GOD’S PEOPLE live in accordance with THE GOSPELS of JESUS CHRIST which is a COVENANT by FAITH and not according to the OLD COVENANT which was a COVENANT governed solely by LAW.

          However, just as the second set of STONE TABLETS had the SAME WORDS that were WRITTEN on the first set of STONE TABLETS, so do GOD’S LAWS REMAIN, and apply to the NEW COVENANT, as well as the OLD COVENANT. The only difference between the TWO COVENANTS is in the NEW COVENANT, BY FAITH in GOD WILL ALL LAWS BE FULFILLED, JUST AS THEY WERE ORIGINALLY WRITTEN. JESUS CHRIST verifies that GOD’S LAWS still apply in HIS GOSPELS.

Matthew 5:17 THINK NOT THAT I AM COME TO DESTROY THE LAW, OR THE PROPHETS: I AM NOT COME TO DESTROY, BUT TO FULFIL.

Matthew 5:18 FOR VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, TILL HEAVEN AND EARTH PASS, ONE JOT OR ONE TITTLE SHALL IN NO WISE PASS FROM THE LAW, TILL ALL BE FULFILLED.

            The Book of Exodus concludes with MOSES having the people build the TABERNACLE of GOD and THE ARK of the COVENANT. They also fashioned the Priests’ Garments and all the articles that were to be used in the TABERNACLE. MOSES had these ARTICLES made in STRICT ACCORDANCE with THE LORD’S SPECIFICATIONS, all of which were given to MOSES on Mount Sinai.

            THE LORD remained with the Children of ISRAEL both by day and by night throughout their journey in the wilderness, and GOD provided them shade by day and LIGHT by night so the people were ALWAYS aware of GOD’s CONTINUAL PRESENCE!

Exodus 40:38 For the CLOUD of THE LORD was upon the TABMERNACLE by day, and FIRE was on it by night, in the SIGHT of ALL the house of ISRAEL, throughout all their JOURNEYS. NEXT