Leave it to the devil to use an ice storm to throw me off my reading plan!  I am working to catch up!

To recap, Pharaoh has finally agreed to let the Israelites leave Egypt, but at the last minute he decides to call them back.  God hardened his heart once again.  The Israelites were allowed to cross the Red Sea on dry ground thanks to an east wind sent by God, but when the Egyptians tried to cross, they were drown.  The Israelites saw the dead men and knew God's great power.  They were in awe of Him.
But before long, the people were complaining again, this time about bitter water at Marah.  At this location, God set up His rules and demanded obedience.
The next complaint was not enough food.  God sent them manna and tested their ability to follow his commands.  This was the establishment of the Sabbath.  They were to gather a day's worth on every day but the 6th day of the week.  On that day they were to gather enough and cook enough for 2 days. Some failed the test and ended up with rotten manna.
God commanded them to keep a 2 qt. jar of manna to show future generations how God provided food for them for 40 years.  I wonder if this jar of manna still exists!

When the Israelites reached Rephidim, they complained again about water.  The first time, back in Marah, God had Moses throw a stick in the water to sweeten it.  This time Moses struck a rock to receive water.  Remember this for future reference. 

Chapter 17 is where the famous story of Moses' arms being held up by his comrades in order for the Israelites to win a battle with the Amalekites.  I remember this story being used in a sermon about teamwork.   Someone named Hur is mentioned.  Who was Hur?

Chapter 18 also holds a story used in a sermon I remember.  But first, I did not realize that Moses had been away from his wife and children throughout the plagues.  I wonder how long that was?  This chapter tells us that Jethro brought Moses his wife and children.  The sermon I remember is about listening to our elders.  Jethro offered Moses good advice when tellling him to delegate power to honorable men instead of spending all his time judging every little squabble that came up among the tribes.  Moses accepted the advice instead of being prideful (as far as we know).  We can learn from this!  Sometimes God works through people we wouldn't expect.  But how do we know the difference? And why didn't Jethro stay there with them?

In chapter 19, the Israelites reach the Wilderness of Sinai.  God tells them that if they will listen obediently to what He says and keep His commandments, they will be his special treasure.  Is this why we  (USA) support Israel?  I have not studied the politics of this subject, so I cannot give an educated answer.  Have they (Jews) kept their end of the bargain? 

Exodus 20 is the first recording of the 10 commandments. 
Chapter 21 is the passage that inspired the song Pierce my Ear.  
Chapter 24 - Moses climbs the mountain to receive the 10 commandments and is gone 40 days.
From what I can tell, chapters 25 - 31 are the instructions God gave Moses while he was on Mt. Sinai.
This included all the instructions for what God wanted built and sewn as part of the tabernacle and worship experience.
Even though their was a great deal of work to be done, God still emphasized that keeping the Sabbath was a requirement, going so far as saying those working on the Sabbath would be killed.
Somehow we never seem to rest though.  Our society is not set up that way.  I wish there were a way to go back to resting and spending that day solely focused on God.

Chapter 32 While Moses was totally engrossed in what God wanted from the people, the people were growing restless and even doubting that Moses would ever return.  They were seeking a god.  Why did Aaron mold the golden calf for them?  Had he lost faith too after all he had witnessed? 
In this chapter we see something that isn't recorded very often:  someone changed God's mind.
God was so angry at the people that we was ready to wipe them off the face of the earth.
Moses reminded God that His reputation would be damaged throughout Egypt and the world if He did this
and that He would be breaking His promise to Abraham.  Sometimes people remind us to wait before we act or react. Sometimes we don't want to hear it, even when we need to!  So don't shoot the messenger before praying about the message!
Moses does confront the people, pouring the pulverized gold into their drinking water and asking that those who are with God should join him.  Those who did join him spent the day killing 3000 of the other Israelites.  I don't know what the population of the Israelites was, but I know this was probably enough death to get the message across!
God was still angry and said He would not travel with the people, instead He would send an angel.
At this point, Moses wants more information.  He wants to know where they are going and when they will get there.
Really, he wants to see God.  God tells him that no man can see God and live.  From chapter 33 we get words for another song.  Moses was in the cleft of the rock and God covered him there.  Moses saw God's back, but not His face.
Chapter 34 - After breaking the 10 commandment tablets in anger, Moses goes back up Mt. Sinai to receive them again.  God will clear the way for them to receive their promised land, but they must tear down all monuments to false gods and not make convenants with other nations or intermarry. 
What if our faces glowed (like Moses' did) when we spent time with God?  Would we spend more time with Him out of pride or guilt? 

I'll write on the rest of Exodus later this week.