Vicki's Wednesday Word

  Exodus 20:18-21 “18  When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear.  19  And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!”  20  “Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!”  21  As the people stood in the distance, Moses approached the dark cloud where God was.”   Moses was given very specific instructions for the people to prepare for an actual visit from the Lord God Almighty (see Exodus 19). They were following them meticulously because one step out of line meant death. When God set the ground rules, he meant business. The people were terrified and they had a point.   Things are much different for us nowad...

  Exodus 19:3-8. New Living Translation   “3 Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The LORD called to him from the mountain and said, “Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.” 7 So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the LORD had commanded him. 8 And all the people responded together, “We will do everything the LORD has commanded.” So Moses brought the people’s answer back to the LORD.”   I have spent a lot of time thinking about obedience. The last yea...

  Exodus 18:1, 13-15, 17, 22-23 NLT 1 Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything God had done for Moses and his people, the Israelites. He heard especially about how the Lord had rescued them from Egypt…13 The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?” 15 Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. 16 When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.” 17 “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed…22 They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have t...

  Exodus 16:1-5, 17-18, 35 New Living Translation   1 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt.  2  In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.  3  The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” 4  Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.  5  On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”   17  The Israelites did as they were ...