Study Desk

Let us make a three-day journey into the desert. We must offer sacrifices to the Lord our God there, as the Lord told us to do."

The king said, "I will let you go so that you may offer sacrifices to the Lord your God in the desert, but you must not go very far away. Now go and pray for me."

Then the Lord told Moses, "Go to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord , the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go to worship me.

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and go to the king of Egypt. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord , the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go to worship me.

But I know that you and your officers do not yet fear the Lord God."

So Moses and Aaron went to the king and told him, "This is what the Lord , the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to be sorry for what you have done? Let my people go to worship me.

The king's officers asked him, "How long will this man make trouble for us? Let the Israelites go to worship the Lord their God. Don't you know that Egypt is ruined?"

So Moses and Aaron were brought back to the king. He said to them, "Go and worship the Lord your God. But tell me, just who is going?"

The king quickly called for Moses and Aaron. He said, "I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you.

Now forgive my sin this time. Pray to the Lord your God, and ask him to stop this punishment that kills."

Moses said, "You must let us have animals to use as sacrifices and burnt offerings, because we have to offer them to the Lord our God.

So we must take our animals with us; not a hoof will be left behind. We have to use some of the animals to worship the Lord our God. We won't know exactly what we will need to worship the Lord until we get there."

When the king sent the people out of Egypt, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was the shortest way. God said, "If they have to fight, they might change their minds and go back to Egypt."

So God led them through the desert toward the Red Sea. The Israelites were dressed for fighting when they left the land of Egypt.

Moses carried the bones of Joseph with him, because before Joseph died, he had made the Israelites promise to do this. He had said, "When God saves you, remember to carry my bones with you out of Egypt."

Now the angel of God that usually traveled in front of Israel's army moved behind them. Also, the pillar of cloud moved from in front of the people and stood behind them.

The Lord gives me strength and makes me sing; he has saved me. He is my God, and I will praise him. He is the God of my ancestors, and I will honor him.

He said, "You must obey the Lord your God and do what he says is right. If you obey all his commands and keep his rules, I will not bring on you any of the sicknesses I brought on the Egyptians. I am the Lord who heals you."

"I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel. So tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and every morning you will eat all the bread you want. Then you will know I am the Lord your God.'"

So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some men and go and fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill, holding the walking stick of God in my hands."