Study Desk

Moses and Aaron went to the king and told him that the Lord God of the Hebrews had said: How long will you stubbornly refuse to obey? Release my people so they can worship me.

the king's officials asked, "Your Majesty, how much longer is this man going to be a troublemaker? Why don't you let the people leave, so they can worship the Lord their God? Don't you know that Egypt is a disaster?"

The king had Moses and Aaron brought back, and he said, "All right, you may go and worship the Lord your God. But first tell me who will be going."

At once the king sent for Moses and Aaron. He told them, "I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you.

"No!" Moses replied. "You must let us offer sacrifices to the Lord our God,

Take your sheep, goats, and cattle, and get out. But ask your God to be kind to me."

After the king had finally let the people go, the Lord did not lead them through Philistine territory, though that was the shortest way. God had said, "If they are attacked, they may decide to return to Egypt."

Moses had them take along the bones of Joseph, whose dying words had been, "God will come to your rescue, and when he does, be sure to take along my bones."

The Lord is my strength, the reason for my song, because he has saved me. I praise and honor the Lord — he is my God and the God of my ancestors.

Then he said, "I am the Lord your God, and I cure your diseases. If you obey me by doing right and by following my laws and teachings, I won't punish you with the diseases I sent on the Egyptians."

"I have heard my people complain. Now tell them that each evening they will have meat and each morning they will have more than enough bread. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God."

So Moses told Joshua, "Have some men ready to attack the Amalekites tomorrow. I will stand on a hilltop, holding this walking stick that has the power of God."

Jethro was the priest of Midian and the father-in-law of Moses. And he heard what the Lord God had done for Moses and his people, after rescuing them from Egypt.

In the meantime, Moses had sent his wife Zipporah and her two sons to stay with Jethro, and he had welcomed them. Moses was still a foreigner in Midian when his first son was born, and so Moses said, "I'll name him Gershom." When his second son was born, Moses said, "I'll name him Eliezer, because the God my father worshiped has saved me from the king of Egypt."

Now I know that the Lord is the greatest God, because he has rescued Israel from their arrogant enemies."

Jethro offered sacrifices to God. Then Aaron and Israel's leaders came to eat with Jethro there at the place of worship.

Moses answered, "Because they come here to find out what God wants them to do.

God will help you if you follow my advice. You should be the one to speak to God for the people,

You will need to appoint some competent leaders who respect God and are trustworthy and honest. Then put them over groups of ten, fifty, a hundred, and a thousand.

This is the way God wants it done. You won't be under nearly as much stress, and everyone else will return home feeling satisfied.