Exodus15-35

EXODUS
The Israelites wandered through the desert, often rebelllious and complaining, especially when water or food was scarce.
The Ten Commandments were Given to Moses.
God Said:
" You shall not have any gods but Me
" You shall not make and worship carved images of anything in heaven or earth or the sea
" You shall not make wrong use of the name of God
" Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy
" Respect your father and mother
" You shall not commit murder
" You shall not commit adultery
" You shall not steal
" You shall not tell lies
" You shall not long to take for your own anything that belongs to someone else "
Moses returned to the people and told them about the Ten Commandments.
They shouted in reply that they would do all that the Lord had Said. Again Moses entered the cloud and he remained there for many days and nights.
Meanwhile on the plain below, the people waited impatiently for Moses to return. They went to Aaron. They asked Aaron to make a god to lead them.
They collected their golden earrings. After mealting them down, they made them into a golden calf. They built an altar before the idol and proclaimed the next day a festival in honour of the god.
Moses then burned the calf, ground it into powder, threw it into water. Bitterly he reproached Aaron and asked him what the people did to him.

The Tabernacle and The Ark
Exodus 25-27; 35-40

The Tabernacle erected at the enclosure's western end. Every Israelite man ( but no woman ) was allowed to pray in the enclosure. In it was placed the altar of Burnt Offering, were sacrifice was made every morning and evening to purify the people from their sins.

Wanderings in the Desert
Numbers 11-14; 20-25; 31 Deuteronomy 34.

For many more years the Israerlities wandered in the wilderness. Many times they complained to Moses. They remembered only the good things of their past lives in Egypt. Some time later, the people complained againts Jehovah and many of them were killed by a plaque of poisonus snakes.

The Spies and the Crossing of the Jordan

Joshua 1- 5

Moses was succeeded as the leader of nation of Israel by Yoshua, commander of the army. He at once prepared to lead his countrymen to the conquest of Canaan. God has Spoken to Joshua Himself. " Be strong and courageous " He Said. " Do not be fearful or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go "
Confident and resolute, Joshua addressed his people: " In three days you will be crossing the river Jordan. Prepare food and be ready to march. " This time the Israelites had neither doubts nor fears, for they knew they would conquer Canaan. Joshua sent two men to spy in Jericho

The Fall of Jericho

Joshua 6

After the Israelites had crossed the Jordan, Joshua led them to Jericho.Joshua 's soldiers scrambled over the rubble and attacked Jericho from all sides at once. In a short time the city was theirs.

A Plan and a Trick.

Joshua 6, 18-19; 7-9

Before the Jericho fell, Joshua had ordered that all gold and and silver and everything made of copper and iron the city was to be given to Jehovah.

Then when Jericho has been destroyed, Joshua sent men to spy out the next city, which was called Ai. Ai was only a small place, Joshua only sent three thousands men. But the men of Ai chased the three thousands of men far from their city, killing thirty six of them in the route. Joshua realized how seriously even a small defeat at the beginning of his campaign. In his dissapointment, he turned to God for Guidance. God Told him that someone among the Israelites had sinned.
He was called Achan who had stolen some silver and gold for himself. For his crime he was stoned to death.
Shortly afterward Joshua captured Ai by a clever plan.

The People choosed Jehovah.

Joshua 10-24

The rest of Joshua's life was spent in fighting. City after city fell into his hands.
So by the time Joshua was a very old man. He reminded them of all that God had Done fro them. Knowing that his death was near, the old warrior called the people together and addressed them for the last time: " God Forbid that we should forsake the Lord for other gods. " The People answered: " For it was He who brought us out of Egypt, we like you will worship the Lord. "
Shortly afterwards, Joshua died. But although the Israelites served the Lord during Joshua's life and for some years after, the time came when they turned away from God. So the Lord Delivered them into the hands of their enemies.

The Defeat of Sisera

Judges 4-5

After Joshua's death, the Israelites continued to wage war succesfully againts the Canaanites.
When the generation that have invaded Canaan had passed away, the memory of the wonderful things God had Done for the people began to fade. The Israelites foorsook Jehovah. They married Canaanite men and women and began to worships Canaanite gods, so the Lord gave them into the power of their enemies.

When they repented, God Raised up heroic leaders who rescued them from their oppressors, the Israelites would then return to worshipping Jehovah, but when their rescuers died, once more they would abandon God, whereupon some other nation would conquer them.

The Israelites fell under the rule of Jabin, King of Canaan.
He had nine hundred iron chariots and was served by e great general named Sisera.
Deborah inspired a man called Barrack to lead ten thousands of men to Mount Tabor.
Sisera was dead.

The Story oef Gideon.

Judges 6-8

Again the Israelites forsook Jehovah. Again He Gave them into the hands of their enemies.
For seven years the Midianites, tribe from the desert, ravaged their crops, stole their cattle, and drop them to hide in strongholds in the mountains.
A young man named Gideon, was one day threshing wheat, when suddenly he saw a man standing by him.
He was a messenger from God. The messenger told Gideon that he would destroy the Midianites.
God Told Gideon replace an altar tro the false god Baal which belonged to his father.
Once again the Midianites and their allies prepared to attack Israel. Encouraged by Signs from God and Inspired by Him, Gideon assembled an army of thirty-two thousand men.
" They are too many, " said God. " They will say that their own strength, not I, gave them the victory. "
Only three hundred lapped with their tounges when Gideon took them down to the water and let them drink. " With them will I save the Israel" God Said : " Send the rest home "
Gideon slaughtered two chieftains who had killed his brother with his own hand