Chapter 12 Raise the staff to open the spring

Once again the Jews lived in the desert, and they were often hopeless, and Moses encouraged them with the hope of the Promised Land.Moses also taught them many useful arts.But before he could lead them all to the land of freedom and independence, Moses died. It is often asked why those of us who live in the slums do not want to leave our wretched dwellings and move to more open areas.There, opportunities for independence can be gained, and one's children can grow up to be healthy and strong. The answer is actually very simple, these poor people are used to the convenience of life in the city, they are afraid to go to an unknown place.Besides, they have to rely on themselves.

In towns, the government does many things for people.Even the poorest person in the city can get the clean water he needs by turning on the tap.New immigrants from Ellis Island, if they are hungry and have a few pennies, they can run to the grocery store and buy some food in simple packages and tins, which is very convenient. However, for the nomadic people in the wilderness, the pioneers had to carry water from the river with them, slaughter cattle and sheep by themselves, and grow grains and potatoes by themselves. Many people are reluctant to do this kind of thing, they are afraid of taking risks and learning.

So many people have lived and died in the place where they were born, and nothing can move them. Human character has remained unchanged, and the Jews three thousand years ago were not far from us today.They were not happy in Egypt, suffering terrible servitude.Now they were free at last, but they still complained, they didn't like the heat, they hated the dust, and soon they started blaming Moses for taking them out of their dwelling in Egypt and into this new life.They found their new life more terrifying than the overseer's whip. The forty years in the desert were filled with endless complaints, and if it weren't for Moses' unyielding perseverance, the Jews might not have returned to Egypt in a year.

Raise the staff to open the spring Of course, when they first saw the Egyptian army crushed before their eyes.For a time they had a sense of victory and happiness. "Most High, Yahweh," they sang, "Thou shalt be less glorious and mighty than all the gods!" But when they had spent months in the endless mountains of Sinai, they could no longer remember the God who had brought them victory and strength.They just want to send them back, to the place where God took them so hard to bring them out. They cursed this unbearable wilderness, and expressed their avowed disgust at Moses and his foolish plans.Soon the food supply ran low, and they said everyone was sure to starve to death.So they went to the tribal leader and said, "Give us something to eat, or let us go back."

Moses' faith did not waver in the slightest. He said that the Lord will help us when we need it. The next morning, they saw that the desert was covered with white flakes. The Egyptians called it "Manu", and the Jews called it "Manna". This kind of thing can be mixed into flour to make sweet cakes.They were convinced that it was planted by the Lord for them. They harvested it once a day, except for the Sabbath on the seventh day. This manifestation of God's will made the Jews obey a little, but it didn't last long. The water was not enough, and the leaders of the tribes gathered together to meet Moses and asked to go back to the Nile.According to the Lord's instructions, Moses struck a solid rock with his staff, and a clear spring gushed out from the rock. The Jews drank their fill and filled their bottles, bowls, and pots with water.Then wait for a new reason to complain.There was a fierce Arab tribe named Amalek who was always trying to steal cattle from the Jews.Of course the Jews could resist, but they had lived so long under the protection of the tall walls of Egypt that they were afraid of swords and arrows, and would rather lose a few cattle and sheep than fight.This only made the Amaleks more arrogant.They began to harass the Jewish convoy.Moses decided to take action to stop the Amalekites.He found Joshua, who he knew was a brave young man who had performed special missions many times before.

Moses commanded him: "Drive out the Amalekites." Joshua accepted the task and set off with some volunteers.As soon as he was gone, Moses raised his hands to heaven.As long as he raised his hand, Jehovah could help Joshua win the battle.And when Moses was exhausted and his arms dropped, the Amalekites turned the tables and killed many of the Jews. Seeing this situation, Aaron and Luel stepped forward to support Moses' arm. Until evening, the Amalekites were completely defeated, and the Lord gave victory to his believers. Soon the Jews reached Midian.Moses' father-in-law lived here.He was very happy to see his relatives. Like Moses, he regarded Jehovah as the only God.So he immediately offered a sacrifice to Yahweh.He made his son Hobab his guide as the Jews continued north.

These wandering tribes then left the desert and entered the rocky Sinai mountains.Sinai is named after the Asian moon god (Sin).Now Moses understood more and more that if he could not get his followers to see Yahweh as the only God, he would never reach his destination.Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all understood this truth, but their descendants stayed too long among the polytheistic people and lost their intimacy with the only Almighty God between heaven and earth. Moses ordered the people to settle down at the foot of Mount Sinai, and when he returned, he would bring important news. He made Aaron his leader and took Joshua to climb the ancient mountain.

Near the top of the mountain, he asked Joshua to stay.He went up to the top of the mountain alone to hear the voice of the Lord. He stayed on the top of the mountain for forty days and nights. For forty days and nights, the top of the mountain was covered by thick clouds. Finally, Moses came back, holding two large stone tablets in his hand, engraved with Jehovah's covenant law, which is the "Ten Commandments" we are familiar with.