Old Testament - Exodus 15 - April 5, 2022

4/5/2022 – Exodus 15

The Israelites made it through an absolutely miraculous and amazing escape from the great Egyptian army. In their rejoicing, they literally sing songs that will remind them of the Lord’s power and strength and wonderful care taking. (v’s1-19)

Then Miriam, a prophetess and the sister of Aaron, led the women in dancing and singing praises to the Lord. (v’s 20-21)

Moses then starts them on their journey through the desert (22). The Israelites are happy to follow him, but after 3 days of travel with no water, they come to Marah and find water there (v 22) but it is bitter and not safe to drink. Their immediate reaction was to forget their beautiful songs of praise and and begin murmuring and complaining to Moses—who had his belief in the Lord and had an understanding of the importance of keeping close to the Lord---and who immediately went to the Lord in prayer. 

The student manual put it this way: The Israelites lived so many years in slavery, which was similar to that of a person in prison. “Because the children of Israel had limited freedom to make choices, they were spiritually immature. …Because the Lord is interested in our growth, He wants—even requires—that we make choices. He is interested in our growth.” He wants us to learn that He is always there to help us, and He often leads us to complete difficult solutions that will build and strengthen us. They had been miraculously saved, then in just a few days they found another challenge…bad water. Their immediate reaction to this problem was almost instant complaining and significant murmuring. Murmuring against the Lord only shows our lack of faith that He knows what is best for us. What they should have done, was to go to the Lord and ask for guidance in overcoming this difficulty. Thankfully, Moses did exactly that, showing them how to approach a problem….

Moses had been taught by the Lord, and knew exactly what to do. “And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him” what to do. There was a tree near the waters and Moses was to chop it down so that it fell into the water, and when that happened “the waters were made sweet” (v 25). 

But Moses didn’t stop there. It was his job to lead and to teach the Israelites about Heavenly Father. He said to them: to “diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and… do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to the commandments, and keep all his statues “ (v 26) He’s basically telling them that they will find worldly protection from following the Lord. 

We’re going to see that the Israelites were not fast learners. Their slavery status in Egypt had severely limited their freedom. The bare necessities of life had been provided for them for many years. And now, we can read of them and their actions, and learn a great deal about how to make our efforts to be close to the Lord. If we stop our murmuring, and work on learning from Him, we will experience a great and wonderful calmness in our minds and in our hearts, and find strength as we go forward in our lives.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pearl of Great Price - Moses 6:24-52 - January 19, 2022

 1/19/2022 – Moses 6:24-52 The Old Testament tells us just a little about Enoch, but the Book of Moses greatly increases our understanding of his life, his ministry and his teachings. Enoch was the seventh generation from Adam. In those seven generations, many had left the teachings of the Lord. It was when Enoch “journeyed in the land among the people” (v 26) that “He heard a voice from heaven, saying, Enoch, my son, prophesy unto this people, and say unto them—Repent, for thus saith the Lord: I am angry with this people, and my fierce anger is kindled against them; for their hearts have waxed hard, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes cannot see afar off.” (v 27). I read this and I feel the warning to us that we are not to rely only on our ‘earthly vision’. The Lords rewards are not always immediate. But if we keep the commandments, keeping our eyes focused on the ultimate reward that the Lord holds in store for us, THEN we will be able to “see afar off”.  In v...
Read more

Pearl of Great Price - Moses 7:16-47 - January 29, 2022

  1/29/2022 - Moses 7:16-47 I didn’t realize I was repeating Moses 6 until I was finished with it the 2nd time. But what was beautiful to me is that studying the same scriptures a second time simply brought more thoughts and understanding and desires to be sure to return to my Father in Heaven….to finish my earthly life with the same goals that I started it. I LOVE studying the scriptures! There were now so many people on earth who had chosen not to follow the ways of the Lord. V 16: And from that time forth there were wars and bloodshed among them; but the Lord came and dwelt with his people, and they dwelt in righteousness.”  V 18: “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.” V 19: “And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in his days that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion.”  Zion was est...
Read more

Pearl of Great Price - Moses 6:40-56 - January 27, 2022

 1/27/2022 – Moses 6:40-59 [I’m still in Moses 6—haven’t figure out I’m reading this again) Enoch has seen and spoken with the Lord, and he follows the Lord’s instructions no matter what they entail.  President Monson once said: “It’s not enough to wish, it’s not enough to dream, it’s not enough to promise. We must do.”  And that’s just what Enoch did! He is going into areas where there is much evil. When the people there ask about him, he tells simply and honestly: “I came out of the land of Cainan, the land of my fathers, a land of righteousness unto this day. And my father taught me all the ways of God.” (v 41) Enoch answers their questions, he teaches them many things about God, but he keeps the profound spiritual things the Lord has revealed unto him to himself. The people he is teaching, are not ready to receive a higher law or standard. In v 46 Enoch tells them that his people keep a “book of remembrance” that they have written, according to the pattern given by th...
Read more