KNUTSFORD METHODIST CHURCH

BACK

Egyptian face profile Memoirs of Moses
Part 5 - The journey to Sinai

What I had hoped would be a smooth journey to Sinai turned out to be anything but smooth. Yahweh told me to take a south-westerly route into the desert, and as we had quite a lot of food and water with us we were OK for a while. Yahweh guided us by a pillar of cloud during the day, and a pillar of fire at night so we could see to travel in the dark.
Man with knife standing over lamb After a few days we rested a while, and Yahweh told me to institute two religious rites. The first was to sacrifice a lamb to redeem every first-born male of any Israelite family or of any female animal, to remind us that we belonged to Yahweh, and had been rescued by His grace. The second was that once we were in the promised land we were to hold a week-long festival at the anniversary of our escape during which our bread had to be unleavened (yeast free) to remind us of the trials in the desert and Yahweh's provision for us.
Then Yahweh told me to take an abrupt turn northwards to confuse the Egyptians, and we arrived at Pi-Haharoth and camped in a wadi where there was some vegetation for the animals. Our watchmen spotted, in the distance, an army chasing us, and as the news spread the people began to panic. They blamed me for leading them into a trap, because the sides of the wadi were almost sheer, a large stretch of sea was in front of us and the Egyptians were rapidly approaching from behind.
I prayed; it was the only thing to do in the circumstances, and Yahweh told me to stretch my staff out over the sea and see what happened. Moses leading his people between the parted walls of water During the night a wind developed, and when we woke up there was a dry path through the sea. Fortunately, also the Egyptians decided to have a day of rest before attacking us. I presume they had travelled without stopping in their effort to catch us and needed to regain their strength. By the time they had got themselves organised, we had all crossed the sea. They followed, only to be trapped when the waters flooded back. Most were drowned. Imagine the jubilation in our camp as we praised Yahweh for another delivery. Many weapons were washed up onto the shore and I gave orders that they be collected, and from then on began to train an army. I knew we would have to fight our way into the promised land.
Next day we arrived at an oasis which we called Marah (it means bitter) because the water was too salty to drink. By this time our water had run out and people were getting desperate. They blamed me of course. Yahweh told me to throw a piece of wood into the water and amazingly it became fit to drink.
Then the food ran out! We had just arrived at a small oasis called Elim, a very sparse place with only 70 palm trees and 12 weak springs of water. Yahweh then showed He could feed us. First, in the evening, a huge flock of quails flew into the oasis, and we had meat to eat. Then next morning the ground was covered with some white stuff. People thought at first it had snowed, but it was too warm for that. Yahweh said to eat it. I was told to give instructions about how much to gather, to teach the people not to be greedy. Moses preparing to split the rock with his staff
The next problem was at Rephidim. Again we had run out of water, and this time there was no sign of any anywhere around. I got the blame again. This was getting beyond a joke. Would these people never learn that they could depend on Yahweh to meet all their needs after all the amazing miracles He had done? However, He told me to hit a rock with my staff and it split open to allow a river of water to rush out. We camped here for a while to recover our strength.
While at Rephidim that we had our first battle. Our watchmen spotted an army marching across the desert towards us, and I had only a short time to organise a defence. I split the army into two groups, a small group to defend the women and children camped round the water, and a main group to fight. The battle is described in my book, Exodus. We won; thanks to the power of Yahweh as I held my hands up in prayer (assisted by Aaron and Hur when I got tired). From the prisoners I learned that they were Amalekites, a part of a great army (later called the Hyksos) which was marching to invade Egypt, and conquering all the lands which lay in its path. So that was the war in the land of the Philistines which Yahweh warned me about. I will have more to say on this later.
Soon after leaving Rephidim we arrived near Mount Sinai, and camped on the plateau close to where I had seen the burning bush. Although I had set off for Egypt with my wife and children, I had sent them home to my father-in-law before the plagues started. So imagine my delight when my father-in law arrived at the camp with Zipporah and the two boys. He stayed with us for a few days and gave me valuable advice about how to organise the leadership of the people. Then he left for home but my family stayed with me. From there we moved to the foot of Mount Sinai for our meeting with Yahweh.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Top

	Memoirs of Moses Part 5 - The journey to Sinai
What I had hoped would be a smooth journey to Sinai turned out to be anything but smooth. Yahweh told me to take a south-westerly route into the desert, and as we had quite a lot of food and water with us we were OK for a while. Yahweh guided us by a pillar of cloud during the day, and a pillar of fire at night so we could see to travel in the dark. After a few days we rested a while, and Yahweh told me to institute two religious rites. The first was to sacrifice a lamb to redeem every first-born male of any Israelite family or of any female animal, to remind us that we belonged to Yahweh, and had been rescued by His grace. The second was that once we were in the promised land we were to hold a week-long festival at the anniversary of our escape during which our bread had to be unleavened (yeast free) to remind us of the trials in the desert and Yahweh's provision for us. Then Yahweh told me to take an abrupt turn northwards to confuse the Egyptians, and we arrived at Pi-Haharoth and camped in a wadi where there was some vegetation for the animals. Our watchmen spotted, in the distance, an army chasing us, and as the news spread the people began to panic. They blamed me for leading them into a trap, because the sides of the wadi were almost sheer, a large stretch of sea was in front of us and the Egyptians were rapidly approaching from behind. I prayed; it was the only thing to do in the circumstances, and Yahweh told me to stretch my staff out over the sea and see what happened. During the night a wind developed, and when we woke up there was a dry path through the sea. Fortunately, also the Egyptians decided to have a day of rest before attacking us. I presume they had travelled without stopping in their effort to catch us and needed to regain their strength. By the time they had got themselves organised, we had all crossed the sea. They followed, only to be trapped when the waters flooded back. Most were drowned. Imagine the jubilation in our camp as we praised Yahweh for another delivery. Many weapons were washed up onto the shore and I gave orders that they be collected, and from then on began to train an army. I knew we would have to fight our way into the promised land. Next day we arrived at an oasis which we called Marah (it means bitter) because the water was too salty to drink. By this time our water had run out and people were getting desperate. They blamed me of course. Yahweh told me to throw a piece of wood into the water and amazingly it became fit to drink. Then the food ran out! We had just arrived at a small oasis called Elim, a very sparse place with only 70 palm trees and 12 weak springs of water. Yahweh then showed He could feed us. First, in the evening, a huge flock of quails flew into the oasis, and we had meat to eat. Then next morning the ground was covered with some white stuff. People thought at first it had snowed, but it was too warm for that. Yahweh said to eat it. I was told to give instructions about how much to gather, to teach the people not to be greedy. The next problem was at Rephidim. Again we had run out of water, and this time there was no sign of any anywhere around. I got the blame again. This was getting beyond a joke. Would these people never learn that they could depend on Yahweh to meet all their needs after all the amazing miracles He had done? However, He told me to hit a rock with my staff and it split open to allow a river of water to rush out. We camped here for a while to recover our strength. While at Rephidim that we had our first battle. Our watchmen spotted an army marching across the desert towards us, and I had only a short time to organise a defence. I split the army into two groups, a small group to defend the women and children camped round the water, and a main group to fight. The battle is described in my book, Exodus. We won; thanks to the power of Yahweh as I held my hands up in prayer (assisted by Aaron and Hur when I got tired). From the prisoners I learned that they were Amalekites, a part of a great army (later called the Hyksos) which was marching to invade Egypt, and conquering all the lands which lay in its path. So that was the war in the land of the Philistines which Yahweh warned me about. I will have more to say on this later. Soon after leaving Rephidim we arrived near Mount Sinai, and camped on the plateau close to where I had seen the burning bush. Although I had set off for Egypt with my wife and children, I had sent them home to my father-in-law before the plagues started. So imagine my delight when my father-in law arrived at the camp with Zipporah and the two boys. He stayed with us for a few days and gave me valuable advice about how to organise the leadership of the people. Then he left for home but my family stayed with me. From there we moved to the foot of Mount Sinai for our meeting with Yahweh. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *