But first …

• Manna – where did its name come from?
• What is it?
• Exodus 16:15, 31

Battle at Rephidim

• Exodus 17:8-16
• Amalek picks a fight with Israel
  • Moses’ arms up – Israel prevails
  • Arms down – Amalek prevails
  • Aaron and Hur support Moses

Jethro’s management philosophy

• Exodus 18
• Jethro saw Moses’ burden
  • Micromanaging Israel
  • Took more time than he had
• Jethro – “this is not good”
  • Yes, you be the leader
  • Teach them God’s word
  • His statutes and laws
  • How to walk and work

The solution

• Exodus 18
• Vertical lines of authority
  • Leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, tens
  • They judge the easy, pass the difficult upstream
  • You get the hardest cases
• Two things, though …
  • Who to choose – honorable, honest men
  • You must choose to do it and God must command it

What Moses said later

• Deuteronomy 1:9-18
• Moses’ recounting of leadership plan
  • Why he did it
  • Gave instruction to tribes
  • Tribes responded
  • Moses appointed the leaders
  • Gave them instructions

Israel comes to Sinai

• Exodus 19
• Three months to the day after leaving Egypt
  • Camped in front of Sinai
  • Met with Moses on the mountain

The holy mountain

• Exodus 19
• Mountain was holy – why?
• God to come in a thick cloud
  • The people would hear
  • They’d believe in Moses forever
  • Consecrate and purify
  • Day three, they will see
  • Set boundaries – for good reason
  • “Don’t go near a woman” (Exodus 19:15)
• Happened as promised on third day
  • Warnings reiterated
  • Moses went down to remind them

The commandments given

• No other gods
• No idols
• Revere His name
• Keep Sabbath holy
• Honor parents
• Do not murder
• Do not commit adultery
• Do not steal
• No false witness
• Do not covet
• Matthew 7:12; 22:37-40; Romans 13:8-10

Concerning idols and altars

• Exodus 20:22-26
• God as His own witness
• Restates first two commandments
• Making an altar
  • Altar of earth
  • No cut stones
  • No steps