My reading began with Joseph. Out of jealousy, his brothers sold him to a caravan, who then sold him into slavery to Egypt. Luckily, Joseph gets on the good side of the Pharaoh, after interpreting Pharaoh's dreams which signal the upcoming 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine. Pharaoh makes Joseph second in command, basically in control of all of Egypt, lacking only Pharaoh's title. Joseph orchestrates Egypt to store up massive amounts of grain. After the "plenty" years, the entire earth goes through 7 devastating years of famine, but Egypt is self sufficient. The earth's people travel to Egypt to buy it's food. Jacob (now renamed Israel by God) sends his sons (minus Benjamin, the youngest) to Egypt for food. Joseph recognizes his brothers, but they do not recognize him. He puts them through a series of tests, after which he reveals himself, and relocates his entire family (consisting now of 70 people) to Egypt, where they enjoy the benefits of Joseph's good fortune. Jacob (Israel) dies, prophecying over his sons on his deathbed. The good and fair Pharaoh dies, and a new, not so wonderful Pharaoh comes to reign. The people of Israel are multiplying fast and furiously. Over some time, their number goes up to 600 thousand. Pharaoh feels threatened by their strength, and puts them in slavery, making them work hard labor with stone and mortar. It is explained that Jacob's 12 sons represent the 12 tribes of Israel. Pharaoh demands that the midwives kill every male baby born to a Hebrew woman. The midwives disobey the Pharaoh, and when questioned by him, they tell him that the Jewish women are "vigorous" and deliver their babies before the midwife arrives. (hardy har har.....). God was pleased with the midwives, and "dealt well" with them. This little tidbit was extremely amusing to me, as I work in the nursing field. After some time, Joseph dies, and Moses is introduced via being rescued in a reed basket by Pharaoh's daughter, who takes compassion on him. God appears to Moses in the burning bush and speaks to him, telling Moses that He will deliver Israel from the hand of Pharaoh and bring them to the promised land, and that Moses will lead them. Moses has himself a little spazz attack, feeling inadequate for the job, especially because he has speech problems. God tells Moses that Aaron will help, and Moses can have Aaron speak for him, and that God will be with both of their mouths anyway. Moses tells Pharaoh to let Israel go into the wilderness to make sacrifices to God. Pharaoh thinks Moses has flown off his wingnut and refuses. God brings on the first plague: turning the water of the Nile into blood. This cycle repeats itself with the rest of the plagues: frogs, gnats, flies, dead livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and finally, death of all firstborn. Something that stuck out to me is that as God and Moses converse over the whole matter, God continually says that He will "harden Pharaoh's heart" so that he will refuse, in order that God might show His mighty works to Israel and Egypt. This stood out to me. I always thought of Pharaoh in this story to be stubborn and daft. Seems to me that most sane people would relent somewhere around flies/dead livestock. But it all happened the way God intended. Even after Pharaoh lets Israel go, he changes his mind and sends his army out after them. This is when Moses parts the Red Sea, or rather, God parts the Red Sea for Israel, and then closes it, after their safe passage, onto Pharaoh's army. The Jews wander around in the wilderness, at times grumbling. God performs miracles to provide them with food and water. Moses worries quite a bit during this time. They reach Mount Sinai, which becomes like a meeting place for Moses and God. God descends onto Sinai as a cloud. At one point, God orders Israel to come to the foot of the mountain, and He speaks directly to them, with lots of noisy thunder and fire. God gives the Ten Commandments. Jethro, Moses's father in law, comes to Moses and gives him some advice. The people of Israel are bombarding Moses to solve their quarrels. Jethro suggests that Moses appoints chiefs to hash through the people's problems, but bringing any major problems to him. Moses thinks this is a fabulous idea and proceeds to do so. God calls Moses onto the mountain for 40 days, where they have much discussion. God writes His law on stone tablets, and gives lots and lots (AND LOTS) of instructions to Moses on how to build the tabernacle. If I have learned anything from this reading, it is that we serve a God who is EXTREMELY observant of even the smallest details. He leaves no detail uncovered - from the exact dimensions of each area of the tabernacle, to the minute details of a decorative lampstand, to the undergarments of the priests, to embroidery on the curtains, etc, etc. After all this, Moses finally comes down the mountain, only to discover that the people of Israel have made a golden calf and are worshipping it. Extremely pissed off, Moses breaks the tablets, destroys their calf, grinds it into a powder, puts it in water and makes the Jews drink it. (ewwwww.....). For some reason, he then tells them to go around killing each other. Three thousand die. I really, really do not understand this part of the story, and I wish someone would explain it to me. Anyhow, so Moses explains God's commands to the people concerning the tabernacle. They all make contributions of whatever they had which would be useful: gold, silver, acacia wood, bronze, fine linen, yarn, etc. Those who were skilled with woodworking, carving, sewing, embroidery, etc, all come together and complete this big project, and the tabernacle is erected. The glory of the Lord fills the tabernacle, and a cloud settles over it by day, a fire by night. When the cloud disappears from the tabernacle, the people of Israel know it is time to set off once again on their journey. And this is where my reading for today ends....
And
here is a picture of the Red Sea, which is evidently not red, but a
real pretty aquamarine color, with lots of coral and tropical fish and
such.
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