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EXODUS 19 GOD CALLS THE ISRAELITES TO FAITHFULNESS

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June 22

EXODUS 19

On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, 3 while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” 7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” – Exodus 19:1-3

EXODUS 19 GOD CALLS THE ISRAELITES TO FAITHFULNESS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As the Israelites arrived in the wilderness of Sinai

God called Moses up to the mountain to instruct him what to say

The Lord reminded his people all the things he had done for them

He demanded their faithfulness to all the commands that he laid down

From a thick cloud, God made himself heard by his own people.

And the Israelites answered and promised that they will do so

We witness how God provided, protected and rescued the Israelites all those years in the wilderness. This time, God laid down his expectations from his people. He wanted to show himself to them, but if he did, they would die, so he hid himself in a thick cloud, but allowed the people to hear his instructions to them through Moses.

The Lord wanted devotion and loyalty to him and obedience to his laws. The Israelites promised that they would do that. It is amazing how God’s steadfast love manifests here.

REFLECTION

  • How have you responded to God’s call to faithfulness to him?

EXODUS 18 JETHRO’S ADVICE TO MOSES

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June 21

EXODUS 18

9 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. 21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” 24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country. – Exodus 18:9-27

EXODUS 18 JETHRO’S ADVICE TO MOSES

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Jethro advised Moses to delegate some of the tasks he did to able men

He told him to choose trustworthy men to take care of small matters

Moses was to deal only with greater issues and leave them with the rest

This way, he will not exhaust himself and bear all the burden

Then Moses sent off his father-in-law Jethro to go back to Midian

He followed all that Jethro advised him to do as he led God’s people.

God continued to take care of his people through Moses’ leadership but the Lord also brought his wise father-in-law Jethro. He witnessed himself how Moses could easily burn himself out from taking all the burdens and responsibility of leadership and shepherding God’s people. It was wise of Moses to heed advice from a very wise God-fearing man. Without another person watching what he was doing, he would have continued on with his ways and depleted all his energy by doing it all himself. Jethro was a Godsend to him.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it important to heed the advice of someone wiser than us?

EXODUS 18 JETHRO’S CONCERN FOR MOSES

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June 20

EXODUS 18

10 Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.” 12 And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.  – Exodus 18:10-18

EXODUS 18 JETHRO’S CONCERN FOR MOSES

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Jethro reunited with Moses, he saw the Lord’s favor on him

He was very thankful for his son-in-law’s blessings in their journey

Jethro brought a burnt offering and sacrifice to the Lord

But he also saw how Moses was not taking care of himself

He addressed Moses’ tendency to do everything on his own

Jethro pointed out that he can’t do things all alone.

We are given a glimpse of the character of Jethro in this account. We see how caring he was to Moses to address the issue of not delegating some tasks to others. As a priest in Midian, he took the opportunity to thank God for all the providence and protection and triumphs that he provided the Israelites.

Jethro pointed out how Moses was burning himself out by doing everything himself and not distributing and putting others into working towards God’s calling for his people.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it important to recognize that one person cannot do everything?

EXODUS 18 JETHRO MEETS MOSES IN THE WILDERNESS

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June19

EXODUS 18

Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Now Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her home, 3 along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land”), 4 and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). 5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. 6 And when he sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,” 7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. – Exodus 18:1-9

EXODUS 18 JETHRO MEETS MOSES IN THE WILDERNESS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Moses’ father-in-law Jethro heard of their deliverance

He brought back Moses’ family to him in the wilderness

Jethro rejoiced for all the good things that Moses went through

Moses told Jethro all the hardship that had come their way

He also bowed down to his father-in-law and kissed him

He was like a real father to Moses all those years in Midian.

We hear in this account that Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law brought Moses’ wife, Zipporah and his children Gershom and Eliezer to reunite with him in the wilderness after the Israelites were delivered from the Egyptians. This must have been an emotional reunion after many years of being separated from each other. We witness the close bond that Moses and Jethro have in this account. When Moses fled to Midian after escaping Egypt Jethro took him in and also gave his daughter to marry Moses.

REFLECTION

  • What can we learn from this reunion of Moses and his family?

EXODUS 17 JOSHUA TAKES AMALEK DOWN

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June 18

EXODUS 17

8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So, his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner, 16 saying, “A hand upon the throne of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” – Exodus 17:8-16

EXODUS 17 JOSHUA TAKES AMALEK DOWN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim

Moses told Joshua to form an army to fight with them

Each time Moses raised his hands, Joshua won the fight

But every time his hands were down, they would be defeated

His hands grew tired and Aaron and Hur held it up on each side

Later, they put a stone so it won’t fall down to ensure their win

Joshua overtook the Amalekites and they were obliterated

The Lord instructed his people to write this in their memorial book.

In this account, we witness once again the Lord’s blessing and favor over his people. The Lord instructed Moses to form an army and Joshua will lead them. When the Amalekites attacked the Israelites, they were ready to defend themselves. God ensured victory to his people through the visual raising of Moses’ hands. Moses built an altar and called it “The Lord is my Banner,” as a memorial for this event.

REFLECTION

  • Share a time in your life when God blessed you with triumph over evil.

EXODUS 16 WHEN THE ISRAELITES TESTED THE LORD

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June 17

EXODUS 17

All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massahand Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

                                                             – Exodus 17:1-7

EXODUS 16 WHEN THE ISRAELITES TESTED THE LORD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When God’s people moved into Rephidim and camped there

There was no water source and they began to complain again

They blamed Moses once more for dying there of thirst

They began to doubt and questioned the presence of God

Despite God’s faithfulness to provide everything to them

They still had the audacity to grumble and not totally trust him.

The Israelites journeyed the wilderness for many years. During those times, they have witnessed God’s power and steadfast love for them by providing their food and ensuring they were protected from the elements. But when they moved to this place called Rephidim and they found not one water source, they began to grumble again and blamed Moses for taking them there to die of thirst.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think people automatically grumble each time there is a lack?

EXODUS 16 REMEMBRANCE OF THE MANNA

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June 16

EXODUS 16

31 Now the house of Israel called its name manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Let an omer of it be kept throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” 33 And Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the Lord to be kept throughout your generations.” 34 As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the testimony to be kept. 35 The people of Israel ate the manna forty years, till they came to a habitable land. They ate the manna till they came to the border of the land of Canaan. 36 (An omer is the tenth part of an ephah.) – Exodus 16:31-36

EXODUS 16 REMEMBRANCE OF THE MANNA

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord faithfully provided his people in the wilderness with manna

It nourished them all those times until they arrived in Canaan

God wanted them to remember this provision of the manna

They were to pass on this memory to the generations to come.

During those forty years in the wilderness, the Lord provided the Israelites with bread from heaven called manna. They didn’t go hungry for four decades and God was faithful to provide for their needs. Can you imagine being one of Israelites, eating that bread day in and day out for forty years? Would they have died from hunger if this manna wasn’t provided for them? They would have died and not survived all those forty years. I think God wanted them to remember that without his grace and provision, they would have died. The Lord wants them to remember the giver of this manna, their covenant God.

At the beginning it was probably a novelty for them to be provided with bread to eat daily but later on, it must have been tiring to have the same thing over and over again for forty years.  And because they are humans, they will eventually grumble when their needs and cravings are not satisfied.

REFLECTION

  • How can we prevent taking for granted what we were provided for by God?

EXODUS 16 ON FOLLOWING THE SABBATH

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June 15

EXODUS 16

22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23 he said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’” 24 So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. 25 Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.”27 On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. 28 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? 29 See! The Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day. – Exodus 16:22-30

EXODUS 16 ON FOLLOWING THE SABBATH

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After the Israelites were provided with their bread and meat,

Moses instructed the people not gather manna on the seventh day

The Lord wanted them to set aside the seventh day to rest and honor him

But the Israelites were stubborn and some didn’t stop gathering manna that day

Those who gathered on the seventh day didn’t find any manna

Since they were given extra on the sixth day, they were to rest on the Sabbath.

It amazes me how stubborn and disobedient God’s people were that time. We are no better because some of us also forget to follow and respect the Sabbath. It is a day for us to honor, thank and praise the Lord. He rested from creation on the seventh day and since we were made in his image, he wanted us to emulate what he did. Because of sin, it is hard for humans to give God the glory on our own, but if we walk in the Spirit and obey his commands, he will give us the ability to rest and set aside this one day of the week to praise the Lord who provides for all our needs.

REFLECTION

  • Share some challenges you’ve had on respecting and honoring the Sabbath?
  • Why do you think God requires this rest from work on this day?

EXODUS 16 QUAIL & MANNA FROM HEAVEN

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June 14

EXODUS 16

13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. 14 And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’” 17 And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. 18 But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. 19 And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” 20 But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. 21 Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted. – Exodus 16:13-21

EXODUS 16 QUAIL & MANNA FROM HEAVEN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As the Israelites grumbled about food to Moses and Aaron

The Lord provided them with quail and manna from heaven

It was a test for them to rely on God’s provision day by day

They were only to gather enough as much as they could eat daily

If they gathered much, the manna would breed worms and stank

If they gathered less, that person will still have enough and no lack.

We witness God’s faithfulness to provide and to protect his people. After they grumbled and regretted what they were missing in terms of food supply, God sent quails. They were craving and recalling how they were not hungry when they were still in Egypt. God also sent them manna, which they were to gather only enough for what they needed for that day. They could not get more than what’s needed. This was actually a protection against the sin of greed. Those who decided to store more and hoard the manna were left with manna that had worms and stank that they cannot eat anyway.

REFLECTION

  • How has God shown his provision and protection in your life?

EXODUS 16 THE SIN OF GRUMBLING

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June 13

EXODUS 16

6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “At evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against the Lord. For what are we, that you grumble against us?” 8 And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.” 9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, ‘Come near before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’” 10 And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 And the Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’”   – Exodus 16:6-12

EXODUS 16 THE SIN OF GRUMBLING

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When the Israelites grumbled to Moses and Aaron

They had no idea that they were doing it unto the Lord

Moses asked Aaron to explain to them that it was a sin against God

And the Lord appeared in the cloud as Aaron spoke to the congregation

The Lord responded to their grumbling by providing them their desires

It was to make them see that he is faithful despite their complaints.

What makes one grumble? Isn’t it about something that you currently do not possess? It could be a desire to be comfortable, to be respected and honored or to be looked up to or fully satisfied or to be clear of discomfort or pain or many other reasons. Isn’t craving or desiring something you don’t have the culprit of such complaints? Aaron pointed out to God’s people that it was a sin against God. They thought that if they complained to Aaron and Moses, they could ask God to give them what they wanted. We saw here how God provided what they were whining about but he also showed them that it was a sin of mistrust on him. They were impatient to wait on the Lord to provide for their needs.

REFLECTION

·       What causes you to grumble? Why is grumbling considered a sin against God?