Israel in the Wilderness

I. God Guides the People

A. God appears in a Pillar of Fire; also a pillar of cloud (like smoke)

B. God STAYS with the people

C. God teaches the people as they go

II. Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Cloud

A. Fire = light, warmth, guide

B. Fire = danger, power

C. Cloud = mystery

III. God Teaches the People

A. In Egypt—teaches the people that He is more powerful than Egypt’s “gods”

B. In the Desert—teaches the people that he can AND WILL take care of them

C. Trust is a hard lesson to learn after sin

D. Mount Sinai—teaches people reverence for HIM

IV. The People Resist God

A. Egypt—the people fault (blame) Moses

B. Leaving Egypt—in fear the people blame Moses and Aaron

C. In desert—the people ask to go BACK to Egypt

D. Who are the people REALLY blaming? Moses or God?

V. Mount Sinai

A. Same mountain as Burning Bush

B. God reveals Himself to the people in the Desert of S’in

C. God reveals His majesty –the people are afraid—they can’t handle it

D. From now on, God reveals Himself to Moses alone, and Moses gives the message

VI. The Manna—Trusting God

A. God sent bread from heaven

B. Fed them for 40 years

C. God set commands regarding the bread:

1. One omer (1/2 gal.) per person in family

2. Only enough for the day

3. 6th day (Friday)—enough for 2 days

4. No leftovers

VII. Water from the Rock

A. The people murmur against God AGAIN!

B. Meribah and Massah—the place where the people were

C. God commands Moses to strike stone with the staff—water pours out