The Wilderness Experience

Background

Exodus Picks up from Gene leaves off with the large family of Jacob (Israel) 70 people into Egypt. Jacobs 11th son Joseph had been elevated to second in command behind Pharoah, and saved his family from a famine. describes the cry's of God’s children being heard, and Heavens Host delivering His people from the hand of Pharaoh.

Our observations will explore the life of Moses

Brought up as a prince in the palace of Pharaoh

Acted in haste an accidentally killing an Egyptian beating an Israelite

His flight from and return to Egypt

The Book of Exodus (Means departure) - written approximately 1440-1400 BC during the 40 years of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness

Wilderness

Definition:

wilderness. noun. wil·​der·​ness ˈwil-dər-nəs. : an area in which few people live that is not used for farming and is more or less in its natural state

Situation that leave you wondering if god cares for you…or if you’ll ever see the fulfillment and purpose God created you to be in your life.

God fed the children of Israel, during their wilderness wanderings, with ‘bread from heaven’

N. T. Wright

Moses

The aftermath of a hasty decision - Exodus 2:15 “When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.”

(what was going through his mind) - Regret, shame, depression, and maybe even anxiety concerning the future

In this state we still have to make life choices, that may not be our preference, but directly/indirectly impact our purpose, and promised future

Exodus 2:16–17 “Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock.”

Central Characters

Pharaoh-The King of Egypt

Jethro (also known as Reuel or Friend of God) - Priest of Midian and became father-in-law of Moses / introduced in Exodus 2:18. Recorded living in Midian ,a territory stretching along the eastern edge of the Gulf of Aqaba northwestern Arabia

Zipporah, or Tzipora - Wife of Moses, and daughter of Reuel/Jethro. Mother of Moses two sons: Eliezer, and Gershom

Wilderness Purpose

Training and to speak purpose to us

Hosea 2:14 ““Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.”

Deuteronomy 8:2 “And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.”

Three things we grow from being in the wilderness

Humility - James 4:10 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

What’s stored in our hearts - Matthew 12:34–35 “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.”

Our faithfullness to God and the things of God - will we do what we know to be right, even when we don’t feel like doing the right things? - Matthew 25:23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”

1 Kings 17:7–16 “And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord…”

End state: Moses met his wife, the Chief Midianite Priest his father-in-law Reuel, and learned to Shepard a flock. It was there he was also able to interact with the God of the universe.