Year 1, Week 10, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 10, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Exodus 17-19.

Today’s reading covers the completion of Israel’s journey to Mt Sinai. Since their departure from Egypt, the Israelites have been traveling to the place where the LORD first appeared to Moses and declared that they would return to that spot after they were delivered. Exodus 17 describes another incident of grumbling due to a lack of water, but also an attack on the Israelites by the Amalekites. Exodus 18 reports the advice of Jethro (Moses’ father-in-law) concerning how Moses could better administrate the needs of the nation. Exodus 19 introduces us to Israel’s experience at Mt. Sinai, as the LORD makes a covenant with Israel as a nation. 

As a structural observation concerning Israel’s time at Mt. Sinai, I wanted to point out the amount of material devoted to Israel’s stay at the foot of the mountain. Israel will dwell near Mt. Sinai for eleven months. It is interesting to divide up the five Books of Moses in light of Israel’s stay at Mt. Sinai. From Exodus 19 to Numbers 10 (57 chapters) Israel will stay put. Compare this amount of coverage with a before and after. Moses devotes Genesis 1 to Exodus 18 (68 chapters) covering approximately 2,600 years; and then he devotes Numbers 11 to Deuteronomy 32 (59 chapters) to cover about forty years. A little more than thirty percent of the first five books of the Bible is allocated to Israel’s time at Mt. Sinai.

What struck me from today’s reading is the LORD’s stated purpose for His people: "you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5-6). The nation Israel was redeemed by the LORD to live in a special relationship with Him—a relationship marked by reliance upon the LORD as well as obedience to the LORD. They agreed to this: “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” (Exodus 19:8). The nation’s trust and obedience would not earn their redemption, but it would give evidence of it. Their relationship  with the LORD was designed to reflect the greatness and goodness of the LORD to all the other nations. Israel was to serve as a witness before the world. While the LORD established a special covenant with Israel, His agenda was global: "Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.” (Psalm 67:4). The Law was to be a vital component defining how they were to trust and obey the LORD, for the Law would show God’s goodness and greatness.

Therefore, knowing and keeping the Law would be vital for the nation. One of the important contributions of Exodus 18 is that it explains something of the organizational structure that Israel would need for the purpose of obeying the Law. Moses alone would not be able to accomplish his role. As Moses explained his assignment to his father-in-law, “I make them know the statutes of God and his laws,” (Exodus 18:16), Jethro questions the wisdom of Moses’ process, "What you are doing is not good. 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 18:17). Jethro provides Moses a better way: “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. 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.” (Exodus 18:21-22). Rightly grasping the Law was so vital to Israel’s calling that having it well administered was key. Moses was to share his important work.

While Israel’s mission is clear, we haven’t read much up to this point in Exodus that would suggest that Israel will faithfully accomplish their calling. Exodus 17 provides another example of Israel’s refusal to faithfully turn to the LORD: “there was no water for the people to drink. 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?” (Exodus 17:1b-2). While the LORD has been using a lack of food and water to test the hearts of the Israelites, the Israelites were now testing or putting the LORD on trial for His lack of timely provision. The LORD instructs Moses on what to do: “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.” (Exodus 17:6). The LORD had instructed Moses to strike the Nile with the result that Israel was delivered and the Egyptians destroyed. Now Moses is instructed to strike the rock in order for water to come forth. And yet, in striking the rock, keep in mind that the LORD had placed Himself in front of the rock. The imagery that is given to us is that the LORD Himself is being struck in order for the provision of water to flow to Israel. The LORD had placed Himself in the position of receiving judgment in place of the Israelites with the result being that Israel would receive the blessings that flowed. This incident previews an ultimate fulfillment of judgment and blessing found in Jesus: "For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe