Moses Asks God for Water

By Mary Vee
Exodus 17:1-7

Today's story is told from Moses' point of view

I looked up after finishing my morning manna and noticed the cloud with God's presence moving to the east.  Several other men noticed as well and pointed up.  We spread the word, instructing the people to prepare to move.

We had grown accustomed to moving. No one planted a garden, set up a business, or a permanent home.  God said He would lead us on a journey.

We travelled a couple of days through hills to a desert area.  The cloud stopped over Rephidim. I guess I hadn't noticed our water supply had run dangerously low.  Think of all the things I have to do!  Keep the travel pace slow enough for the children and elderly; allow for necessary breaks; notice if this part of the path is safe for the animals, or should I be to the left, or the right; do we need to camp soon, what did Aaron asked me a minute ago; the list of duties is longer than I care to think about. 

I don't really mind leading these people as God asked--but sometimes their complaining makes me tired and gives me headaches. 

The cloud with God's presence stopped over Rephidim. Quicker than a camel empties a bucket of water a large group of men came to me and screamed, "Give us water, that we may drink."

Hadn't they learned from the manna, and the water at Marah they simply needed to trust God?  He promised to take care of us.  Most likely God brought us to this place to see if we would trust Him.  He wouldn't let us die of thirst.

I couldn't help myself. I flung up my arms and huffed. "Why do you fight with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?"

They wouldn't listen.  Several men stepped closer to me and scowled. "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"

My heart wept.  I walked away where I could be alone with God.  When I talk with Him, my insides settle and I can breath.  He lets me cry out to Him and talk about the problems.  I struggled for a moment to find words, but my anger at the people jumped through my lips. "What am I suppose to do with these people? They're ready to kill me."

He waited for me to listen to Him then said, "Take some of the older men  and go to the rock in Horeb. I will be there with you.  Take your rod, the same one you've used, and strike the rock.  When you do, water will come out of it for the people to drink."

I took the men to witness God's blessing. When I reached the rock at Horeb, I struck it as God said. Water gushed from the rock and soaked our feet.  God took care of us, like He said He would.

I sent a few men back for the people. 

While they were gone, I soaked my feet in the water and wondered when the Israelites will realize God will take care of them?

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1.  Why did God lead the people to Rephidim?
2.  What did God want the people to do?  Did they?
3.  What did Moses do with his problem?
4.  What can you learn from Moses today?

Manna and Quail

By Mary Vee
Exodus 16:11-21

My father, mother, cousins, and well, the whole family came together yesterday and complained to Moses about the wilderness. 

As long as I can remember, all nine years of my life, I lived near Egypt in a city called Goshen and worked with other Israelite boys as a slave making bricks.   I've never been to the wilderness before. 

Back in Goshen, I had a bed, food, a roof over my head, and I knew what to do each day:  get up, eat something, make bricks all day (get yelled at and beaten by guards), come home, eat something, do chores, go to bed. 

A couple of days ago all the Hebrew families crossed the Red Sea--on dry ground.  If you look back in the stories, you can read about it.  Anyway, we brought food and drink, but a few days ago the people noticed the water was almost gone.

That day we found the waters of Marah.  We all ran to the shore and splashed water in our mouths.  It tasted bitter. Something was wrong with that water. Many men, including my father complained to Moses. Their faces turned red and they held up their fist as they shouted at him. It wasn't Moses' fault, but they yelled at him. 

Moses walked away from us like he usually did when he wanted to talk with the Lord.  A little while later he came back, pushed a tree in the water and said the we could drink. A few men tasted the water then nodded. I don't know what the Lord did, but it tasted delicious.

We refilled our water supplies, walked a ways then camped by some wells.  After resting a few days, the Lord led us further into the wilderness.  I heard new sounds each day and wished I could see the animals. Once in a while I'd see something scamper behind a tree.

This is where my story started at the top of the page.  The families gathered together and complained to Moses about food and water.  Some shouted about meat. Some even said they wished they'd stayed in Egypt where they had food.  I don't understand.  Why would they want to be slaves again?

Moses walked away again and talked with the Lord. When he came back, I saw him whisper to his brother, Aaron. Aaron raised his hands to quiet everyone. "At twilight you shall eat meat and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. This is how you will know the Lord, He is our God."

That night a heavy wind blew quails to our camp. The birds covered the ground.  The meat tasted wonderful.  Aaron told us God's rules for the bread that would come in the morning.  He said the bread would rain down to the ground from heaven! We were to gather one omer for each person living in our tent and leave none for the next morning. 

I helped gather the bread.  It was thin and tasted a little sweet.  The sun melted any bread left on the ground.

I wasn't sure if we would get more bread so I hid some of what I collected in the corner of the tent.  The next morning when I woke, the tent stank. My father sniffed around and found the bread I hid.  It had worms crawling in it. 

He made me show the wormy bread to Moses.  I didn't know what to say.  Moses shook his head when he saw the bread and closed his eyes.  How could I disappoint the man whom the Lord chose to lead us.....how could I disobey God?

I decided right then I would never take extra bread again.  The Lord promised to take care of me, and I believe Him.

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1.  What food did God give the Israelites?
2.  How did God get the food to them?
3.  What did the boy do wrong?
4.  What did the boy do right?

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Crabby, Ungrateful People

By Mary Vee
Exodus 16:1-10

Today's story tells Moses' side of the story:

As leader of the Israelite people, I must admit the people's grumblings and rumors about all their problems bothered me.  God has done so much for us, why can't they be content?

Sure, life in the desert isn't easy. And I understand living in one place while serving Egyptian masters might seem easier than packing a tent and trekking to the next place God chose for us to camp; but we're free.  God freed us from our bondage! 

We have no official army. Egyptian slaves couldn't have an army.  And that's all we've been for the last 400 years. We aren't prepared to march into a city and conquer it.  The Lord knows. 

I'm convinced God has a plan for us. He'll provide everything we need and give us time to organize into a solid people. We need to be patient.

I'm thankful for my brother, Aaron, who listens and shares ideas with me. I've talked with him so many times. Big brothers are helpful in that way.

One day the grumblings grew extra loud.  The people gathered together and stormed to my tent.  They all shouted at once and raised their fists toward me.  "Moses! We would have been better off being killed by the Lord in Egypt.  At least we had meat in our pots and bread in our stomachs.  You led us to the desert to kill us with famine."

I couldn't get a word in edgewise.  When they finshed yelling, they stormed back to their tents. My heart pounded.  I'm not sure if I was angry at them for disrespecting God or hurt that they didn't appreciate what God did for them.  Aaron put his hand on my shoulder and gave me a big brother smile. 

I walked a ways from the camp to talk with God.  He let me tell Him what the people said, even though He already knew. 

He paitiently waited for me to finish talking then said, "It's okay, Moses. I will rain bread from heaven for you." I closed my eyes and pictured bread raining from the sky and smiled. God has great ideas and sometimes His solutions make me laugh. He then said, "The people will go out and gather a certain amount.  It will be a test to see if they are ready to obey my instructions.  On the sixth day the people are to gather twice the amount."

He also told me there would be meat in the evening. The instructions didn't seeem difficult to obey.

I returned to the camp and told Aaron what the Lord said, then we gathered the people.  Aaron told them the message; but I made sure the people knew that although God would send bread and meat their complaint was against the Lord and not us. 

When Aaron finished telling the people God's instructions, I said, "Tell them to come near before the Lord, for He has heard their complaints."  

Everyong looked toward the wilderness and gasped at the sight.  The glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.

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Have you complained about something then suddenly realized Dad, Mom, teacher, or someone else was listening?  The Israelites probably had that same queezy feeling in their stomachs.  They probably thought only Moses heard them yelling.
When we complain, God hears.  God wants us to trust Him and ask Him for help, not complain.

1.  What was the children of Israel's complaint?
2.  What did Moses do?
3.  What did God want the people to do?
4.  Who did God give to Moses as a helper?
5.  Why did the people gasp?