This next section goes into the Egyptian's time wandering in the desert after they have escaped from the Egyptians. There are two major themes here. One, we continue and finish off the theme we have been seeing earlier: God hardening Pharoah's heart and supporting the Israelites. Two: we see the Israelites continually complaining and wishing they were back in Egypt as slaves when times get tough, and the Lord continues to address their concerns.
Finishing Theme 1: Pharoah's last "hardening" of hearts
Pharoah again finds out the Israelites have left and decides to pursue them. He brings his chariots to follow them. The Israelites freak out but Moses assures them to trust in God. Moses parts the Red Sea and the Israelites cross on dry land. Pharoah's army follows, but God messes up their chariots and eventually allows the water to run back, drowning all of them. The Israelites were much awed by this and feared the Lord, putting their trust in Moses.
We see the lyrics to a praise song the Israelites have written about this event: "The horse and its rider he has hurled in to the sea."
However memories are short, and soon, the Isralites begin to complain, over and over again!
Complaint 1: "We are Thirsty!!!!"
The Israelites wander in the desert for three days without water and are thirsty. They complain. Moses cries out to God, and God provides wood, which he throws into a bitter pool of water, making the water drinkable. Here, God set his conditions:
"If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."
Complaint 2: "We are hungry!"
About 45 days after leaving Egypt, the Isralites head out to the Desert of Sin. There, AGAIN, the Israelites somehow forget how difficult it was to be slaves, and can only remember how they could eat "pots of meat" while in Egypt. They wish to be back there. God told Moses he would rain down manna as food for them, but they were only to collect enough for the day. Some tried to collect more, but it would go bad, filled with maggots. On the 6th day they were supposed to collect double because they were not supposed to work (or go out!!!) on the sabbath. On that day, miraculously the manna did not go bad.
They ate this for forty years!!! (until they reached Canaan)
Complaint 3: We are Thirsty!!!
The Israelites head out from the Desert of Sin to Rephidim, but there was no water there. Again, they demanded to Moses "Give us water to drink!!!" Moses AGAIN pleaded with the Lord, and God gave him a stick, told him to hit a rock, and water would come out.
Soon after, a foreign people, the Amalekites, attached the Israelites!!!! Moses sent Joshua to bring some people to fight. God was with the people, and, as long as Moses held his hands up high, the Israelites would be winning. If he got tired and his hands fell, they would start losing. With help from Aaron and others to prop his hands up high all night, the Israelites were victorious.
A Judicial System is Born!
Moses had previously sent his wife and sons back to be with her father (Jethro) in Midian. One day, Jethro heard about the great things God was doing and decided bring his daughter (Moses' wife Zipporah) and their kids to go visit Moses & the Israelites . They had a wonderful time together, sharing stories. Jethro was thrilled to hear about the wonderful things God had done.
The next day, Moses again sat and listened to disputes among the people, giving out his advice. Jethro thought Moses was nuts, and that this would surely tire him out. He advised Moses to choose a few people to serve as judges. Moses did just that, appointing a few judges, who took care of most of the disputes. Moses would only take care of the difficult, complicated ones.
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