Study Desk

Until the time his prediction came true,the word of the Lord tested him.

He made him master of his household,ruler over all his possessions—

binding his officials at willand instructing his elders.

The Lord made his people very fruitful;he made them more numerous than their foes,

whose hearts he turned to hate his peopleand to deal deceptively with his servants.

He sent Moses his servant,and Aaron, whom he had chosen.

They performed his miraculous signs among them,and wonders in the land of Ham.

He sent darkness, and it became dark—for did they not defy his commands?

Then he brought Israel out with silver and gold,and no one among his tribes stumbled.

For he remembered his holy promiseto Abraham his servant.

He brought his people out with rejoicing,his chosen ones with shouts of joy.

All this happenedso that they might keep his statutesand obey his instructions.Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;his faithful love endures forever.

Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,to make his power known.

Then they believed his promisesand sang his praise.

They soon forgot his worksand would not wait for his counsel.

So he said he would have destroyed them—if Moses his chosen onehad not stood before him in the breachto turn his wrath away from destroying them.

They despised the pleasant landand did not believe his promise.

So he raised his hand against them with an oaththat he would make them fall in the desert

for they embittered his spirit,and he spoke rashly with his lips.