God had enabled Moses by a miracle to sweeten it.  This was the first example of divine support for them. (2) At Elim they found water and shade and here God gave them the manna from heaven and the quail at eventide.  Thus again Jehovah demonstrated his purpose to provide for their needs while wandering through the wilderness.  This food was supplied to them continuously until they reached Canaan forty years later. (3) Under the leadership of the cloud, which during all the forty years of wilderness wandering, was their guide, they next encamped at Rephidim where there was no water at all.  Here Moses by the command of God smote a rock and caused them to drink of a fountain thus opened for them.  This rock is a suggestive type of Christ.

It was here also that they encountered and defeated the Amalekites, a tribe of Edomites, who still kept up the enmity of Esau their father against Jacob.  Here also Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law came to them bringing Moses wife and sons.  Upon Jethro’s advice the people were thoroughly organized.  From Rephidim they came to Mount Sinai where they encamped for a whole year.

Lessons of the Period.  The lessons of this period might be divided into two classes. (1) Those of special value to the Hebrews themselves and lessons needed just then. (2) Those valuable for all time and all people.  Among those of the first class, the following are worthy of record:  (1) The authority of Moses was confirmed and the people were made ready for his teachings and leadership. (2) They were established in the popular belief in the goodness and power of Jehovah their God.  Of the second and more general lessons, the following are highly important:  (1) There is no chance in God’s universe, but even the apparently unimportant events serve his purposes. (2) No human power whether of king or peasant or of nation can prevent the accomplishment of God’s purposes. (3) Those who resist his power are overthrown as were the Egyptians, and those who act according to the divine will are elevated just as were the Israelites. (4) It is dangerous to oppose or harm God’s people.  He will avenge them. (5) Ample provisions are assured to those who will submit to divine leadership.

For Study and discussion. (1) The number of Hebrews that entered Egypt with Jacob, and the number that made the Exodus with Moses. (2) The Biblical story of their suffering while there, including the added burdens when Moses requested that they be allowed to go out to Egypt. (3) The birth, preservation and education of Moses. (4) Moses’ forty years of wilderness training, its advantages and dangers. (5) The divine and human elements in Moses’ call to be the deliverer. (6) The plagues, (a) the description of each, (b) the appropriateness and religious significance of each, (c) those imitated by Egyptian magicians, (d) those in which the Egyptians suffered and Israel did not. (7) The stubbornness of Pharaoh and his attempted compromises. (8) The miracles of this period other than the plagues. (9) God’s provision and care for his people. (10) The murmurings of Israel. (11) The religious conditions of the times. (12) The geography of the country.