The Israelites get to wander in the wilderness to forty years, mostly so that The Lord can provide. Wouldn’t it be easier to let them settle somewhere? Instead, they get to complain that there’s nothing to eat, and The Lord will provide. But follow the rules!

He rains manna, and they may collect just enough for the day. Any more, and the Lord gets mad at Moses. Unless it’s Friday, and they must collect twice, since God will rest on the Sabbath.

They complain about being thirsty, and Moses splits a rock with his staff to find a spring. Ts one has no strings attached.

Later, Moses’ father-in-law, the priest, comes by and sees what’s happening. He’s so impressed that he acknowledges that The Lord is more powerful than all the other gods. What “other gods”? I’ve come to realize that Judaism is monotheistic in the sense that they only worship on god, but don’t actually disbelieve in the other ones. They just think that their own is more powerful than the rest.

Of course, He’s only more powerful while Moses is able to keep his arms raised. Good thing he has Aaron and Hur to help him hold up his hands when they are fighting Amalek.

Tomorrow: Exodus 19-21