TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 13:17--14:9
I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord. - Exodus 14:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Although Moses provided amazing leadership to Israel during the confrontations with Pharaoh in Egypt and the departure to the Promised Land, there were some aspects of leadership in the Exodus that God took directly upon Himself.

This included the guidance of a caravan of about two million Israelites and a sizable horde of foreigners who came along. There's a good reason Moses did not simply step out in front of the people and say, ""Follow me. We're going this way."" Apparently, he did not yet know which way God wanted the Israelites to go.

So God went ahead of them in the form of a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. The Lord did not lead the people by the most direct route to Canaan to keep them temporarily from the dangers of war (v. 17). And besides the military threat, Moses and the children of Israel needed to head toward Mount Sinai for a very special meeting with God.

God's regulations for Israel were very important to their obedience, and we urge you to read Exodus 13:1-16 on your own. The dedication of every first-born male in Israel was a perpetual reminder to God's people of their redemption (see v. 14).

The importance of remembering is also illustrated by Moses' care to bring the bones of Joseph out of Egypt. Joseph had prophesied the Exodus hundreds of years earlier on his deathbed, and made his people swear they would not leave his body behind (Gen. 50:25-26). Like his father Jacob (see Gen. 47:29-30), Joseph wanted his final resting place to be in the land God swore to his people, not in Egypt.

With the Israelites safely out of Egypt and on their way to the promised land, why did God stir up Pharaoh to change his mind and chase after his former slaves? Again, we have God's answer (v. 4). The Egyptians would see the glory of God.

We need to remember that Amenhotep II was under judgment. This proud king, worshiped as a god by his people, had disdained and disregarded the God who is faithful to keep His covenant with those who fear Him and to judge those who disobey Him. So when the Pharaoh heard that the Israelites were pinned against the Red Sea, he gathered his great army and headed toward his own doom.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
There are important truths God wants His people to remember. He also wants us to forget some things.

If you want an eye-opening Bible study, get a concordance and look up the references for the words ""forget"" and ""remember."" We often encourage our readers to purchase a concordance and keep it close at hand. Your pastor, church librarian, or local bookstore clerk can help you find a concordance that lists all the Bible's words in your favorite translation.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 14:10-31
Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. - Exodus 14:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
The ""Miracle of Dunkirk"" is one of the best-known incidents of World War II. Hundreds of thousands of British and French troops were trapped in Dunkirk (also spelled Dunkerque) in northern France after the Low Countries surrendered to Nazi Germany. But during late May and early June of 1940, a total of about 338ꯠ men were ferried across the English Channel to safety in Britain. The rescue vessels included everything from destroyers and cruisers to yachts and fishing boats.

This is about as close as secular history has come to anything resembling Israel's miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. The staggering logistics of the Dunkirk rescue, and the week-and-a-half it took to accomplish, give us a small idea of the astounding miracle God performed under the leadership of Moses.

Think about it. The Israelites crossed the Red Sea in one day--and there were more than two million people to move, not 338ꯠ. This included elderly people, children, and livestock too--a line of people and animals that is hard even to imagine. And the escape from a hostile army was accomplished on foot over dry ground.

Several generations of Bible critics have tried to deny and dismiss this miracle. But the Word speaks for itself. At the heart of this great deliverance stood Moses, rallying the people and stretching his staff out over the sea in response to God's command.

The salvation of Israel and the annihilation of Pharaoh.and his army completed this chapter in Exodus. As the Red Sea's waters crashed over the Egyptians, they ceased to.be a problem.

When the people saw their enemies' dead bodies and began to comprehend what God had done, they responded with fear and trust toward God and trust in Moses (v. 31). It's too bad they did not retain this attitude for long, but that's a later part.of the story.

The people revered Moses after the Red Sea crossing, but Moses gave all the glory and praise to God in his song of deliverance (15:1-18). This helps us understand why the Holy Spirit directed Moses to describe himself as ""humble"" in Numbers 12:3.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It's safe to say things were happening in Moses' life that could not be accounted for on purely human terms.

Is this true for you? You don't have to confront kings or part waters to display the supernatural work of God in your daily Christian life. In fact, as Christians we are supposed to have an unexplainable aspect to our lives. So the question today is whether you can point to something in your life that can only be accounted for by the power of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 15:22--16:12
These things happened to them as examples, and were written down as warnings for us. - 1 Corinthians 10:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
With his usual clarity and wit, the late Bible teacher and conference speaker Vance Havner once said, ""Most church services begin at eleven o'clock sharp and end at twelve o'clock dull.""

That's probably true more often than we would like to admit. Havner was describing a condition of spiritual dullness that can develop when we allow our faith to become routine, and when our relationship with God causes us to yawn instead of jumping into action. The people who followed Moses out of Egypt are one of the best biblical examples of this problem. Within days of their miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea, the people were grumbling about the hardships of life on the move.

That's amazing in itself, but even more so when we realize that the people had barely finished singing their song of praise to God (Ex. 15:1) when they started griping. There was something deeply wrong with their ""church service,"" to use Havner's observation.

The problem was that even though the people of Israel were no longer in Egypt, they still had a lot of baggage from their slavery experience. Someone has said that while it took only a few days to get Israel out of Egypt, it took forty years to get Egypt out of Israel. Today's lesson shows the truth of that statement.

The trouble began with the need for water (15:22-24). God provided water by a miracle made visible to the people when Moses threw a piece of wood into the bitter waters of Marah. God used this incident to offer His people blessing for obedience, a choice they would need to make again and again.

The people got the water they needed, but their food supply began to run low. The empty knapsacks caused them to complain again, and the intensity of their murmuring increased. Moses was accused of bringing the nation into the desert to kill everyone--a complaint that God took personally (16:7-8).

God was faithful to His people despite all this. Moses announced God's promise of meat and bread, two more miracles that would display His glory and let the people know He was the Lord.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In Exodus 16:12, God made a statement we have become familiar with this month. He told the people He would supply their needs so ""you will know that I am the Lord your God.""

This was the same purpose for which God showed His mighty power in Egypt, because the Egyptians had refused to believe in Him. In one sense, the Israelites were exhibiting the same kind of unbelief through their griping. Are you being tempted to grumble about your circumstances? This Lord's Day would be a great time to turn griping into gratitude for His faithfulness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 16:13-36
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. - John 6:51
TODAY IN THE WORD
God never wastes His time with trivial things. When He makes a statement, it's because we need to hear and heed what He is saying. When He asks a question, He expects an answer. And when He causes us to ask a question, it's because we need the answer--whether we know it or not.

As an example of this, take Israel on the way from Egypt to the Promised Land. The people were hungry and in a foul mood. They were even reminiscing about the good old days back in Egypt (v. 3) while accusing Moses and God of bringing them into the desert to starve them to death. The Israelite assembly was saying, in effect, ""We're hungry, Moses. What are you going to do about it?""

God would answer their question, which was really an accusation and a statement of terrible unbelief. He answered it first with quail to satisfy their craving for meat. But for the people's day-to-day needs, God sent a provision that caused them to ask the question, ""What is it?"" (v. 15a).

That was a question God wanted the people to ask, because the answer was, ""It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat"" (v. 15b). The Israelites called this flaky substance on the ground manna, which basically means ""what?"" in Hebrew.

So every time an Israelite husband asked his wife, ""What are we having for dinner tonight?"" the answer was another reminder of God's miraculous provision. ""We're having the 'what is it?' that God provided this morning.""

God's instructions for the gathering of the manna included the command to observe the Sabbath as a day of rest (vv. 23-30). God had set aside the seventh day when He rested from His creation (Gen. 2:2-3), and now He was making this an ordinance in Israel. Sabbath observance would be written in stone on Mount Sinai when Moses received the law (Exod. 20).

God also commanded Moses to put an omer (about two quarts) of manna in a jar and keep it in the ark of the covenant along with Aaron's rod and the two tables of the law, called here ""the Testimony"" (v. 34, cf. Heb. 9:4. Manna thus became a perpetual reminder of God's power to provide.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We don't have ""heavenly corn flakes"" appearing in our yards every morning--but everything we have is still a gift from God's hand.

You could spend all day trying to list the ways God has provided for you and your family. This includes both the objects around you that you can see and measure, and the things of eternal value such as salvation and the opportunity to serve God. Let's continue in the spirit of gratitude we talked about yesterday by thanking the Lord for His daily provision.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 7:1-7
It is also written: ""Do not put the Lord your God to the test."" - Matthew 4:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Winston Churchill once made an observation that seems appropriate in light of today's story. The former British leader said, ""Criticism is easy; achievement is more difficult.""

The children of Israel were quickly perfecting the art of criticism, as the caravan of more than two million people and countless animals moved farther away from Egypt. Actually, the problem was more serious than just criticism. In their complaining the people were ""[putting] the Lord to the test"" (v. 2), trying His patience, and questioning Him rather than trusting Him as their promise-keeping God.

The grumbling was getting so out of hand that Moses felt his life was in danger. The congregation's actual threat to stone Moses is not recorded, but it isn't hard to imagine. This was the second time the people had accused Moses of bringing them out of Egypt to die. The people were parched, and they were mad.

Once again, God was patient with His grouchy people. He graciously provided water through Moses and the same staff he had used to turn the Nile River to blood and part the Red Sea. This was a reaffirmation of the power God had given to Moses as Israel's leader. And the fact that the miracle occurred in the presence of Israel's elders was another testimony to Moses' authority over the nation.

This incident occurred at Horeb (v. 6), which was another name for Mount Sinai. The people were probably in the region of Horeb rather than on the mountain itself, but they did not camp there until later, when God gave Moses the law (Ex. 19:1).

Moses gave this place two fitting names: Meribah, which means ""argument,"" and Massah, a form of the word ""test."" The Israelites wanted to know, ""Is the Lord among us or not?"" (v. 7).

That question had already been answered very dramatically. But these grumblers had a short memory. We have to wonder if they discussed their dismal situation over dinner while eating the manna the Lord had provided that morning!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you ever noticed that no matter how much you do for a grumbler, it isn't enough? For every blessing people like this receive, they can name ten things they think they still deserve.

We suggested that this is a serious spiritual problem, not just a personality quirk. Jesus' rebuke to Satan amidst the temptation (see today's verse) reminds us that we should never question the love and goodness of the Lord. We have dwelt on this theme of gratitude vs. grumbling the past few days. Today, let's ask God to keep us from a spirit of ingratitude.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 17:8-16
You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other. - Deuteronomy 4:35
TODAY IN THE WORD
A man who owned a Model-T Ford once had his car broken down by the side of the road. He tried every adjustment he knew to get the car going, but nothing worked. Just as he was about to give up, however, a car pulled up, and a tall, thin man got out of the back seat to help. He worked under the hood for a few minutes, and told the man to start the car. It started immediately. The tall man then introduced himself as Henry Ford, the one who designed and built the Model-T.

Amazing things can happen when the person in charge shows up. This was true for Israel in its first battle. The people were attacked by the Amalekites, the bad ""in-laws"" who were nomadic descendants of Jacob's brother Esau (Gen. 36:12). This was a cowardly assault from the rear when Israel was ""weary and worn out"" (Deut. 25:18).

Moses sent his assistant and heir, Joshua, into battle, the first time this valiant man of God is mentioned in Scripture. But as God's representative, Moses also knew that the key to the battle lay not with the armies on the field, but with the God of Israel.

This is a great story of God's power and another high point of Moses' leadership. What a sight it must have been to see Moses standing with his hands stretched out, holding the staff of God in his hands.

But Moses was more than eighty years old, and his legs and arms became tired after a while. Aaron was there to support him along with Hur, a man who tradition says was the husband of Moses' sister Miriam.

The two put a stone under Moses for him to sit on, and held up his hands until sunset. Joshua won the victory for Israel and the children of Amalek came under God's withering judgment.

Where were the rest of the Israelites during this remarkable day? Watching from a distance, no doubt. They must have seen Moses on the hill, and as the battle went on, they must have realized that their well-being depended on Moses' total dependence on God.

Once again, God delivered His people through Moses.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
When we talk about holding up someone's hands when that person is weary and in need, we are using imagery taken from this story.

What a great ministry to have in the life of another Christian. Maybe you know somebody who needs your prayer support right now, or who is facing a material need. Share the blessing of a helping hand, and watch what God does. And if you are the one in need, don't be afraid to ask for help. You probably know a Christian friend who would be happy to pray with you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 18:1-14
Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods. - Exodus 18:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
The tragic airline crash in the Andes mountains near Cali, Colombia, that took 160 lives, has become the impetus for research on a new computer system to warn pilots of dangerous terrain. The pilots of American Airlines Flight 965 had an alert only eleven seconds in advance that the mountain ridge was ahead. The plane gained altitude, but not enough to clear the obstacle.

As he tried to administer the affairs of an entire nation, Moses was heading for a different kind of crash. But, thankfully, God sent this overwhelmed leader an early warning message in the person of Jethro, Moses' father-in-law.

Jethro's visit reveals the important role this man played in Moses' life at a crucial point in Israel's wilderness journey. After the exhausting but victorious battle against the Amalekites, Moses needed the blessing and encouragement Jethro brought. Jethro also brought Moses' family back to him, since Moses had sent Zipporah and his sons back to Midian while he dealt with Pharaoh.

Moses gave Jethro a warm welcome and showed his respect by greeting him with a bow and a kiss. Moses then recounted to Jethro the incredible story of God's deliverance. Even though Jethro was probably a pagan priest at this time, he gave praise to the God of Israel.

The events of the Exodus had most likely caused Jethro to become a believer in Yahweh. Jethro even offered sacrifices to God and shared a meal with Israel's elders.

Jethro became a strong witness to the true God; he also provided sound advice for Moses, who operated a one-man court with a staggering case load.

Moses was the unquestioned leader of Israel, and the people wanted him to hear their disputes. He spoke the will of God in the cases he heard, but Moses was becoming overloaded and some people had to wait a long time for justice.

Jethro sounded the warning that would eventually keep Moses from collapsing under the weight of his responsibilities.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Evidently Moses felt it was his responsibility to try and do it all when it came to serving God and the people.

We can develop the same syndrome, and the idea that we have to do it all can spill over into all areas of our lives. How do you know when you're headed for a crash? One telltale sign is your schedule. Is your daily planner packed with work and activities? If so, maybe it's time to step back and make sure you're not neglecting important mainstays like God's Word and prayer.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 18:15-27
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. - Proverbs 15:22
TODAY IN THE WORD
If you asked people, ""Who invented the automobile?,"" it's likely that most would answer Henry Ford. As designer and builder of the Model-T (see the May 19 study), he is often given this credit. But the line of automotive pioneers is a long one, including not only Ford but also Charles and Frank Duryea, the first to successfully build a gasoline engine vehicle in 1893. It also includes Charles Kettering, who invented the electric starter that helped make cars accessible to everyone. The list wouldn't be complete without Ransom Olds, who became the first mass-producer of gasoline cars in 1901 when he built 425 vehicles.

Automotive history illustrates the same principle we find in spiritual history: leadership is not a one-person job. We find this to be true in the case of Moses, when he attempted to provide godly leadership for a huge assembly of people. At this time, Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, could see what Moses was too busy to see. Not only was Israel's leader wearing himself out, the people were disappointed because their disputes weren't being settled. Something had to be done.

Jethro wisely advised Moses to appoint leaders at various levels who could handle the lesser cases on which Moses had been spending an exorbitant amount of time. Credit Jethro with good sense and a keen eye. Credit Moses with being wise enough and secure enough in his own leadership to relinquish some of his responsibility without feeling threatened.

The delegation of authority did not diminish Moses' importance at all. He was still ""the people's representative before God"" (v. 19).

Moses followed Jethro's advice and chose leaders of godliness and impeccable integrity, although in Deuteronomy 1:9-18 Moses indicated that he did not actually initiate the new system until after the law had been given. Because the administration was instituted after the giving of the law, this allowed Moses to focus his primary attention on the teaching and enforcement of God's commands.

The division of leadership in Israel among capable people became a model for the later administration of the church.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Moses learned the importance of focusing on the ""one thing"" God had called him to do (see Phil. 3:13).

Yesterday we discussed how easy it is to fall into the trap of feeling like we have to do everything. Take another look at your weekly schedule. Do you see anything that could qualify as a distraction, based on your primary calling as a Christian to love and serve God? If so, how will you deal with it?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 19:1-25
You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. - Exodus 19:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
When President Ronald Reagan visited a Dallas suburb some years ago, a passerby was amazed to see city police officers, county sheriffs, and state troopers filling the streets and side roads in a wide radius around the arena where the president was speaking. Access to the area was limited, even though President Reagan had already arrived and was safely inside the building. It certainly wasn't an ordinary day in that city.

The day God came down to Mount Sinai to meet with Moses in the sight of Israel was no ordinary day either. The people arrived at Sinai three months after leaving Egypt, and it was the most important stop on their trip. This was not a one-day visit by the Lord. Altogether, Israel would remain at this spot for more than eleven months as Moses spent many days on the mountain with God, receiving His law.

Once again, God laid the blessings, benefits, and demands of His covenant before the people (vv. 3-6). He clearly explicated Israel's unique relationship to Himself as His ""treasured possession"" chosen from among all the nations on earth. In order to live in the full realization of the covenant, the Israelites had to obey God. Obedience has always been God's demand for those who want to enjoy His blessings.

Moses relayed God's message to the nation, and the people responded as they previously had, saying, ""We will do everything the Lord has said"" (v. . Then preparations began for God to appear before His people.

In Hebrews 12:18-21, the writer confirms the impression we get from the events of Exodus 19. It was a terrifying day for the Israelite community when God descended in awesome glory on Mount Sinai. The people knew something unusual was going to happen because of the instructions Moses had given them to cleanse themselves and come to the foot of the mountain.

There they saw the mountain trembling from the smoke and fire of God's presence, they heard the trumpet blast, and they trembled. Moses then disappeared into the cloud to meet with the Lord, and the people awaited his return.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We don't come before God today to the accompaniment of awe-inspiring sights and sounds, but we approach the same holy and awesome God who met with Moses.

When compared to the people of the Old Testament, we are privileged beyond words. They were warned against trying to see God, but we can see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6). Do you come to the Word each day with a sense of the greatness of God and the greatness of our privileges in Christ?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 24:1-18
The glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. - Exodus 24:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
Throughout this month we have seen Moses as the liberator, the human instrument God used to lead an entire nation from slavery to freedom in the face of their oppressors. It's doubtful that anyone else will be called by God to do what Moses did.

In today's lesson, we see Moses in his other God-ordained leadership role, that of Israel's great lawgiver. When Israel encamped at Mount Sinai, Moses spent many days in God's presence, receiving His laws and commands for the people.

Throughout these chapters, Moses' leadership of Israel is affirmed again and again. The Lord said He would make His presence visible to the Israelites so that they would hear Him speaking with Moses and put their trust in him (19:9).

Through this act, God was displaying to Israel His choice and commission of Moses as the one who would bring His law to the people. This important duty of Moses is very evident in today's reading, which describes the ratification ceremony for the Mosaic covenant.

Once again the people agreed to God's conditions, promising twice to obey God's law (vv. 3, 7). Moses built an altar and erected twelve stone pillars, one for each tribe of Israel. After this, a number of young men offered a series of burnt offerings, which were to be burned entirely, and fellowship offerings, part of which were saved and eaten in a meal.

Moses sprinkled the altar and the people with the blood, symbolizing the ratification of the covenant. Israel was now set apart to God as His people. (Jesus ratified the new covenant with His blood, see Luke 22:20.)

After this ceremony, Moses and Aaron, Aaron's two sons, and seventy elders of Israel went up to Sinai and saw God. The ""pavement made of sapphire"" (v. 10) was under God's feet, so they may have seen a manifestation of God's glory. The fact that they were not struck down suggests that, whatever they saw, they were in the visible presence of God.

But it was Moses alone who was called to the top of the mountain--into the very cloud where God waited. Moses was, without a doubt, God's chosen leader for Israel.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Yesterday we addressed the importance of entering God's presence with a sense of His majesty and holiness.

Today, we want to offer a follow-up suggestion that will help you prepare to enter God's presence and hear Him speak through His Word. Before you open your Bible each day, offer this prayer of the psalmist: ""Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law"" (Ps. 119:18). You may want to write this prayer on a card to mark your place each day.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 25:1-22
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy. - Hebrews 4:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
After leaving the U.S. presidency, Thomas Jefferson pursued a wide variety of interests. He was convinced the state of Virginia needed a new university, and he decided to build it. Jefferson worked tirelessly to establish what is now the University of Virginia. He organized the curriculum, hired faculty members, and even selected books for the library. He also designed the buildings and supervised their construction, sometimes watching the progress through a telescope from Monticello, his home that overlooks the university. No detail escaped his attention.

When the Lord God decided to build a dwelling place on earth, He also gave great attention to every detail of the construction. The tabernacle was to be unlike any other structure on earth--a place where the God of the heavens would dwell among His people. God would give Moses precise plans for every portion of the tabernacle, and the following chapters of Exodus record how Moses and Israel followed the plan to the letter.

The most important piece of furniture in the tabernacle was described even before the tabernacle itself. This was the ark of the covenant, a gold-covered box that would stand in the inner portion of the sanctuary, the most holy place.

The ark's lid was made of pure gold, with two cherubim facing each other on opposite ends. According to Hebrews 9:4, the ark contained the two tablets of the law, a gold jar of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded (see Num. 17:8-10).

This lid was far more than just a covering for the ark. It was also the place where God's presence dwelled, and where the blood of the sacrificial lamb was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement to cover the people's sins. God signaled His intention for this piece of furniture when He called the lid ""an atonement cover"" (v. 17).

This atonement cover (""mercy seat,"" King James Version) was a beautiful symbol of Christ, who came as the Lamb of God to make atonement for our sins (John 1:29; Rom. 3:25). We no longer have a need for the ark because Christ has made full and final atonement for sin. Because of this, the throne of God is a place of mercy for us.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's verse reminds us that because Jesus Christ knows our weaknesses and temptations (Heb. 4:14-15), we can come to Him for mercy and help in our time of need.

You may be in a time of need right now. No matter what your struggle or temptation, you can bring it to Christ in total confidence that He will hear and understand, and provide the strength you need to stand firm in your faith. The beginning of a new ""work week"" is the perfect time to avail yourself of the rich resources of mercy you have in Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 32:1-18
You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything. - Exodus 20:3-4
TODAY IN THE WORD
It has been said that sin will take you farther than you ever wanted to go, cost you more than you ever wanted to pay, and keep you longer than you ever wanted to stay.

The Israelites proved the truth of this statement when they became consumed by their desire for a visible leader and their idolatrous background in Egypt. Many Bible commentators believe the people's request for a god that they could see was not a substitute for Yahweh, but a visible representation of Him that the nation could follow.

In either case, the people violated one of God's first two commandments, quoted briefly in today's verse. Moses had been on Mount Sinai for forty days, and the people were afraid that he wouldn't return.

The Israelites' sin of idolatry took them farther into degradation; Aaron's ""festival to the Lord"" (v. 5) became an occasion for immorality.

In the meantime, Moses was receiving God's law on the mountain, with Joshua waiting somewhere below. God repudiated Israel as His own when He told Moses, ""Your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt"" (v. 7, emphasis added). Then God announced His intention to annihilate the sinful congregation and begin again with Moses.

But Moses acted as an intercessor--someone who pleads on behalf of another--between God and the people. Moses told God that destroying Israel would give the Egyptians reason to mock Him. Moses also reminded God about the great covenant promises He had made to Abraham and his descendants.

God heard Moses' plea and ""relented"" of His plan (v. 14). God is merciful, and responds to the cries of His people. Since His intention to judge Israel was not one of His fixed, eternal decrees, God was able to turn from His anger without damaging His changeless nature.

Having gained a reprieve for Israel, Moses headed for the camp with Joshua. He knew there was no defense for the people's behavior, and as their leader, it was time for him to take action.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It's amazing how sin ""snowballs"" until what seemed like a small matter suddenly becomes a very big problem.

We have all seen this downward process develop in our lives and in the lives of others. That's why the Bible urges us to be ruthless in dealing with sin before it takes us too far, costs us too much, or keeps us too long. As you examine your heart today, ask the Holy Spirit to show you any ""pet sin"" you may be harboring, and what it will take to eliminate it.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 32:19-35
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. - 1 John 3:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
A monument stands in Japan to honor twenty-six believers who gave their lives rather than deny Christ. Several centuries ago, a new leader became convinced that he needed to eliminate the Christians in his province. To identify believers, he placed a painting of Jesus on the ground and demanded that each citizen step on it. Twenty-six people, including two missionaries and one child, refused to walk on the picture. The new leader had them crucified.

We are amazed at the courage of people who remain faithful to the Lord even in the face of suffering. Many of us will never have to make that kind of decision. Instead, the challenge is to be faithful in the everyday circumstances that threaten to draw us away from Christ. Today's reading reminds us how quickly God's people can be tempted to turn from Him. Moses' 40-day absence was all it took for Israel to come unglued.

When Moses returned to the camp after receiving the law from God, he set about a painful process of judging and purging the evil from Israel. Smashing the stone tablets of the law perfectly symbolized the people's violation of God's commands even before they had been communicated to the congregation.

Then Moses pulverized the calf idol and made the people drink the concoction. This provided a vivid illustration that they would have to taste the consequences of their sin.

The most poignant step of judgment for Moses was probably his confrontation with his brother Aaron. Aaron's ridiculous excuse, ""Out came this calf!"" (v. 24), underscores the fact that his actions as the leader in Moses' absence were indefensible. In his retelling of the story, Moses said God was so angry with Aaron He would have killed him if Moses had not intervened (Deut. 9:20).

Moses then had to take the painful step of judging those who persisted in their sin. Verses 27-29 are startling because they demonstrate the horror of sin in God's sight.

Moses' leadership in cleansing and preserving Israel is remarkable. He was truly a man of God, willing to have his name blotted out of Israel's registry rather than see God destroy the nation He had redeemed from Egypt (v. 32).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Spiritual leaders often have to make hard decisions--the kind that don't win friends and influence people.

The leaders God has given us need our prayers and support. Our culture is a spiritual wilderness, and it takes real maturity and wisdom to guide God's people through the hazards. A midweek note from you to your pastor or other leader might be just the encouragement they need right now. Why not take a minute to bless someone who helps to ""keep watch over you"" (Heb. 13:17)?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 33:1-11
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. - Proverbs 14:34
TODAY IN THE WORD
Whenever God's people fall to the level of sin and unfaithfulness that led Israel to make the golden calf, usually a downward process can be traced. One Bible teacher has suggested four steps that can take us away from the Lord, whether as individual believers or as a culture. See if these steps sound familiar in our modern world.

The first step away from Christ is when we drift from the Word, no longer taking it seriously. Then we begin to doubt the Word because it sounds foreign to us. This leads us to become dull about the Word, not really caring what it says either way. Fourth and finally, we develop disdain for the Word.

Compare this process to the story of Israel's sin in the desert, and you will see the similarities. The people did not have the written Word in their hands, but they had the visible presence of God and the knowledge of His will through His servant-leader Moses.

But the Israelites began to doubt Moses' leadership, and quickly forgot what God had done for them. They ended up with disdain for Moses--and by extension, for the Lord--when they said, in so many words, ""Moses brought us out here and then disappeared. We don't even know what he's doing or whether he's coming back.""

When Moses returned, severe judgment followed. But it would have been much worse without Moses' exercising his all too familiar role as the people's advocate. God wanted to destroy the entire nation once again (see Ps. 106:23). Even the most spiritually obtuse among them knew the party was over when God spoke the chilling words, ""I will not go with you"" (v. 3).

God's disgust, and His order that the people remove all the jewelry they had worn in their orgy, sent the congregation into mourning. Like disobedient children, the Israelites stood sheepishly at the doors of their tents while Moses entered the ""tent of meeting"" to plead for their forgiveness.

This presents such a contrast between the people's distance from God and Moses' intimacy with Him! The relationship Moses had with God was of fellowship ""face to face"" (v. 11).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The steps listed above are a good checklist you can use to help keep your heart focused on the Lord.

In fact, as a faithful reader of Today in the Word you are already taking positive action to protect yourself against drifting from the Word, the first step in a downward spiritual spiral. We encourage you to remain steadfast in your commitment to daily spend time in God's Word and prayer. Let's pray for each other along that line today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 33:12-23
Teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. - Exodus 33:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
One day the famed hymnwriter Fanny Crosby was visited by William Kirkpatrick, a talented gospel musician who had just written a tune he felt needed suitable words to become a hymn. As Kirkpatrick sat at the piano and played his new composition, Fanny Crosby's face lit up. She knelt in prayer, according to her usual custom, and the words began to flow from her heart and her pen. The result is the comforting hymn ""He Hideth My Soul.""

One line of this beautiful song says, ""He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock."" Crosby drew her inspiration for the imagery in these words from verse 22 of today's reading. God's willingness to reveal Himself to Moses was the culmination of another face-to-face exchange between the Lord and His appointed leader for Israel.

Let's not forget the context of Moses' prayer. He was pleading for the very survival of the chosen nation. The Israelites' sin at Mount Sinai was so repugnant to God that He expressed the intention of destroying the people. But, as Moses said later in recounting this incident, ""Again the Lord listened to me"" (Deut. 9:19).

That's exactly what happened. God had told the people to go on to the promised land without Him, a clear indication that He was removing His presence, protection, and blessing from them. But Moses prayed, ""Remember that this nation is your people,"" and God immediately responded, ""My Presence will go with you"" (vv. 13-14). Moses' intercession once again moved the heart of God to change His intended plan.

Now don't misunderstand. Moses is not the central character in these narratives. Israel's sovereign, holy, gracious Lord is our focus. God Himself said in answer to Moses' prayer, ""I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name"" (v. 17).

Then Moses asked to see God's glory, and his request was granted. Moses was allowed to see as much of God's presence as anyone has ever seen and lived to talk about. Why Moses? Because he knew the holy and gracious nature of God, and he knew how to pray in a way that moved heaven. What an example for us to follow!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The writer of Hebrews says that we can also come to God ""with confidence"" (Heb. 4:16) because of Christ's work on our behalf.

What request is at the top of your prayer list today? If you are confident that your prayer for this situation or person is in line with God's Word, then continue to bring it to the Lord in confidence.

If you're not sure what God's will is, ask Him to show you, confident that He will answer.