February 6: Exodus 16:1 – Exodus 19:25

Bread from Heaven – Exodus 16

• Israel journeys on from Elim and ends up in the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Sinai (about two months after they left Egypt). The people all grumble against Moses, saying that at least in Egypt they had food.
• The Lord tells Moses that he will rain down food from heaven, and tells them they are to bring in only what they can eat in one day, except on the sixth day they can bring in enough for two days. He and Aaron tell the people that the food will be on the ground—meat in the evening and bread in the morning. When Aaron tells the people what Moses instructs him to, the glory of the Lord appears in a cloud.
• In the evening quail covers the camp, and in the morning a flake-like food (manna). Moses tells them to gather only an omer per person so none is left over, but they do not listen. The food that is leftover breeds worms and stinks. Moses becomes angry with them for disobeying.
• The people go out on the seventh day to try to gather the food, even though God told them not to do so since the Sabbath is a day of rest, and God asks Moses how long the people will refuse to keep His commandments and laws.
• The people of Israel will eat manna for forty years, until they come to the land of Canaan.

Water from the Rock – Chapter 17

• Israel moves on from the wilderness of Sin and camps at Rephidim, but there is no water for them to drink there. They grumble against Moses again, asking why he has brought them out of Egypt to die in the desert.
• Moses cries out to God, telling Him that the people are on the verge of stoning him. God tells him to go before the people with some of the elders, taking his staff, and strike a rock and water will come from it. He does as instructed and water flows.
• Amalek comes and fights with Israel, and Moses tells Joshua to choose men and fight him. Joshua does and commanded, and Moses, Aaron, and Hur watch from a hilltop. Whenever Moses holds his hands up, Israel prevails, but when he lowers his hands, Amalek prevails. Aaron and Hur hold up Moses' arms, and Joshua's men overwhelm Amalek's.
• Moses builds an altar to the Lord and names it "The Lord is My Banner."

Jethro's Advice – Chapter 18

• Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, hears about all God has done for Moses and Israel (Moses had sent Zipporah and their sons, Gershom and Eliezer, back to Jethro). Jethro takes Zipporah, Gershom, and Elizer and goes to meet Moses in the wilderness. There he rejoices for all the Lord has done to Egypt for Israel's sake and burns offerings to Moses's God.
• Jethro sees how Moses sits before the people and questions him. Moses tells him that he helps them with their disputes using God's statutes and commands. Jethro tells him what he's doing is no good and will certainly wear him out. Jethro suggests Moses select upright men from among Israel and make them judges, then have the people take smaller issues to them and larger issues to Moses.
• Moses does as Jethro suggested, and Jethro returns to his own country.

Israel at Mount Sinai – Exodus 19

• Israel reaches the wilderness of Sinai and camps before the mountain. Moses goes up onto the mountain to God. God tells him to tell the people that they have seen what He has done, so they should obey His voice and keep His commands, and if they do they will be His treasured possession. Moses tells the people, and they agree.
• God tells Moses to have the people consecrate themselves and be ready for the third day, because He will come down from Mount Sinai to meet them. He instructs that they must not go up into the mountain or touch it.
• Moses goes down from the mountain and tells the people, and they do as instructed.
• On the third day, there is thunder and lightning, and a thick cloud forms on a mountain and a loud trumpet blast sounds. The people are scared, but Moses brings them out of camp to meet God. God calls Moses up onto the mountain and tells him to go down and warn the people not to look at Him. Moses tells Him they cannot come closer (come onto the mountain), and God instructs him to go down and bring Aaron up but have the people and elders stay below. Moses does as instructed.