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Hebrew History Part 3

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We continue our study of Hebrew History this week with the Wilderness Journey which is covered in Exodus 13:17-22

Exo 13:17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

Exo 13:18 But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

Exo 13:19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

Exo 13:20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.

Exo 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

Exo 13:22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

We see several places named as the people of Israel take their journey into the wilderness. We realize that they basically wandered in circles for 40 years being led by God with the pillar of fire by night.

 

In verse 20, we see they came from Rameses to Succoth and then to Etham.

Num 33:7 And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto Pihahiroth, which is before Baalzephon: and they pitched before Migdol.

Num 33:8 And they departed from before Pihahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah.

We see from Etham they went to Pihahiroth. This was the area where they crossed over the red sea. We studied last week how that the people stayed in bondage as prophesied for 400 years. They were in Egypt a total of 430 years before God sent Moses to lead them out.

 

Exo 14:9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.

Exo 14:10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.

Exo 14:11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?

Exo 14:12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

Even though they had been in bondage, the people cried out against Moses because they thought they were pinned in and would be destroyed. Remember how many times Moses went and Pharaoh would say they could go, and then would back out. God brought plague after plague to cause Pharoah to release the Jews, but time and time again he would change his mind and not let the people go.

 

Num 33:8 And they departed from before Pihahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah.

The people moved from Pihahiroth to a wilderness area called Ehtam. While being in a wilderness may not always seem good, God promises to make all things work to good to us. (Rom 8:28) When we are living in good prosperous times, it is easy to accept God’s provision for our lives, but when we are distressed or out in the wilderness, we then must accept the sovereignty of God. He truly knows what is best for all of us, and if we are going through the wilderness today, we may very well come out in the "promised land" tomorrow if we faint not.

 

Exo 15:22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

Exo 15:23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

We see that it was called the wilderness of Shur in Exodus. Shur is first mentioned in the narrative of Hagar’s flight from Sarah.

 

Gen 16:7 And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.

Gen 16:8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.

 

It should be pointed out that Shur may have been a fortified town east of the ancient head of the Red Sea; and from its being spoken of as a limit, it may have been the last Arabian town before entering Egypt.

 

There are 4 wildernesses mentioned in Israel’s journey that are of importance:

 

Three days journey into the wilderness of Etham

They traveled 3 days from the wilderness of Etham to Marah.

Exo 15:22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

Exo 15:23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

 

We see the people murmur against Moses for the first time at Marah.

Exo 15:24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

Exo 15:25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

 

The tree mentioned in verse 25 was a type of Christ and the cross. Notice how it made the waters sweet. Christ giving his life on the cross of calvary has made many a life sweet that was bitter in sin. None of us in ourselves can truly live a life that is sweet until we come to know Christ. He and He alone changes us and gives us a reason to go on.

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

 

We see in verse 27 of Exodus 15 that they left Marah and came to Elim.

Exo 15:27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

 

Note that there were 12 wells of water and 70 palm trees at Elim. The exact significance of this is not clear, but we do know that there were 12 tribes of Israel, and any multiple of 7 is significant. 6 is the number of man and imperfection, while 7 is the perfect number of God. We know that the mark of the Beast in the upcoming tribulation will be 666. Pay attention as you study the Bible about how the number 7 repeats itself over and over. God has a reason for that perfect number, and one day we will find out its significance.

 

We see the children of Israel going into the Wilderness of Sin in Numbers 33:10

Num 33:10 And they removed from Elim, and encamped by the Red sea.

Num 33:11 And they removed from the Red sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.

 

Every person outside of the protective love of Jesus Christ is in the wilderness of Sin today. So many are in bondage of sin and don’t have a clue. Satan blinds the eyes of men and women and tries his best to keep people from coming to the Lord. But if you are here and have never accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, I pray that you will consider the way you are headed, and come to the one who can deliver you from the wilderness and bondage of sin.

Acts 4:7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

Acts 4:9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Acts 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

 

We see that the people came to the wilderness on the 15th day of the 2nd month after they had left Egypt.

Exo 16:1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.

 

We then find them murmuring against Moses the 2nd time. This time against both Moses and Aaron. I think that any leader of God’s people had best be prepared for some hard times with the people, because you will never please all the people all the time. But just like Moses, our goal should be to serve God and please Him.

Exo 16:3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

 

Exo 16:8 And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.

Note that their murmurings were against God, not just against Moses and Aaron. We need to remember that when we condemn the church, we are condemning the institution that Jesus and God loved so much that Jesus came and died for it. We had best control our tongue when it comes to condemning or speaking evil of any of God’s people.

 

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

We see that God gave them quail and manna in the wilderness of Sin

Exo 16:4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

Exo 16:5 And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.

Exo 16:6 And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt:

 

Exo 16:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Exo 16:12 I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.

 

 

Israel Stays at Rephidim

 

Num 33:12 And they took their journey out of the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah.

Num 33:13 And they departed from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush.

Num 33:14 And they removed from Alush, and encamped at Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink.

Num 33:15 And they departed from Rephidim, and pitched in the wilderness of Sinai.

There was no water to be found at Rephidim.

 

Exo 17:1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.

Exo 17:2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?

Exo 17:3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

We see that the people begin to murmur against Moses for the third time. This water from the rock we see is a type of Christ.

 

Exo 17:5 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.

Exo 17:6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Exo 17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

 

The first war for Israel was with Amalek.

Exo 17:8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

 

Gen 36:12 And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife.

The Amalekites were arch enemies of Israel. Amalek was a son of Eliphaz by his concubine, Timnah. He was Esau’s grandson.

 

The Amalekites were a nomadic tribe which occupied the peninsula of Sinai and the wilderness intervening between the Southern hill range of Palestine and the border of Egypt.

 

We see that the Amalekites united with the Canaanites to attack and defeat the Israelites on the border of Palestine.

Num 14:45 Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.

 

We saw Saul fight again the Amalekites when he was King of Israel.

1 Sam 14:48 And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.

1 Sam 14:49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:

 

The Amalekites were not destroyed completely until David came along.

1 Sam 30:1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;

1 Sam 30:2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.

1 Sam 30:3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.

1 Sam 30:4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

 

1 Sam 30:16 And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

1 Sam 30:17 And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.

1 Sam 30:18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.

1 Sam 30:19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.

 

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