Other References
1 Corinthians 10:4
1 Nephi 11:25
John 4:14
D&C 63:23
Deuteronomy 8:3
Deuteronomy 8:16
John 6:35
John 6:48–51
Background
- The experiences of the Israelites while journeying in the wilderness can teach us important lessons as we journey through mortality. One important lesson is that we can trust God to guide and care for us as he did the Israelites.
- After the Israelites had passed through the Red Sea, the Lord instructed Moses to lead them to the promised land. But first the Lord tested the Israelites’ faith in the wilderness.
Exodus 15-17
What couldn't the Israelites find after being in the wilderness a few days?
Read Exodus 15:22, 17:3
How did Moses respond to their murmurings?
Read Exodus 15:24, 17:4
The Lord provided physical and spiritual water for the children of Israel. The physical water came from the rock that Moses smote.
How can this relate in a spiritual sense?
Who is the spiritual rock? (see 1 Corinthians 10:4)
What is the spiritual water that flows from Christ? (see 1 Nephi 11:25)
What is promised to those who drink that water? (see John 4:14; D&C 63:23)
What was the next problem the Israelites faced? (see 16:2–3)
How did the Lord respond? (Manna and Quail - see 16:4, 11–15.)
There were other purposes of the manna besides satisfying their hunger
a. It would show the Lord whether his people would obey him (see 16:4, 16–31).
b. It would give the people daily reminders of the Lord’s power and love (see 16:12).
c. It would teach the people that they do not live “by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord” (see Deuteronomy 8:3).
d. It would humble the people and help them receive salvation (see Deuteronomy 8:16).
How is manna a representation of Christ? (see John 6:35.)
How does Christ’s living bread differ from manna? (see John 6:48–51.)
The Israelites needed to gather manna every day to maintain physical strength.
How can this be likened to what we must do to maintain spiritual strength?
What usually happened when the Israelites kept the manna overnight? (see 16:19–20.)
What happened when they kept manna overnight in preparation for the Sabbath? (see 16:22–25.)
How can we apply this principle to our weekly preparation for the Sabbath?
What would have happened to the Israelites if they had tried to journey through the wilderness without the Lord’s help?
What will happen to us if we try to journey through mortality without the Lord’s help?
Exodus 17-18
The Amalekites warred with the children of Israel for many years, beginning in the time of Moses. When Aaron and Hur sustained Moses by holding up his arms, Israel prevailed in battle. We are all part of spiritual battles today.
How does sustaining the prophet help us prevail in these battles?
President Ezra Taft Benson said: “I am reminded how Moses up on the hill raised his arms for the victory of the armies of Israel. As long as his arms were raised, Israel prevailed, but when they dropped from weariness, then the enemy prevailed. And so Aaron and Hur ‘stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side,’ and Israel was victorious. So will we be victorious as we hold up the arms of the Lord’s anointed servants”
Jethro was concerned when he saw the people coming to Moses all day and evening. He counseled Moses on his responsibilities as a prophet.
What are some responsibilities of a prophet mentioned in 18:16-20?
a. Be a judge for the people (v.16).
b. Represent the people before God (v.19).
c. Teach them ordinances and laws (v.20).
d. “[Show] them the way wherein they must walk” (v.20).
e. “[Show] them … the work that they must do” (v.20).
How can we support and sustain our local Church leaders?
Exodus 19-20
Within three months of Israel’s entering the wilderness, the Lord wanted to establish his covenant with them. As part of this covenant he revealed the Ten Commandments to Moses.
While the children of Israel were camped at Mount Sinai, what did the Lord promise if they would be obedient, he would make them “a peculiar treasure, … a kingdom of priests, and an
holy nation.”) These promises mean that Israel would become the
Lord’s covenant people, favored above all others and chosen to bear the
priesthood and the gospel to all people.
Note: in this context, peculiar carries the meaning of “being the Lord’s own special people or treasure,” not the meaning of “odd or eccentric”
The first four commandments teach the proper relationship between us and God
How is the commandment to worship the Lord and to have no other gods before him relevant today?
President Spencer W. Kimball said: “Idolatry is among the most serious of sins. … Modern idols or false gods can take such forms as clothes, homes, businesses, machines, automobiles, pleasure boats, and numerous other material deflectors from the path to godhood... Intangible things make just as ready gods. Degrees and letters and titles can become idols.....Many people build and furnish a home and buy the automobile first—and then they ‘cannot afford’ to pay tithing. Whom do they worship? Certainly not the Lord of heaven and earth. …Many worship the hunt, the fishing trip, the vacation, the weekend picnics and outings. Others have as their idols the games of sport, baseball, football, the bullfight, or golf. …Still another image men worship is that of power and prestige. … These gods of power, wealth, and influence are most demanding and are quite as real as the golden calves of the children of Israel in the wilderness”
The other six commandments concern our relationships with others.
Exodus 32-34
When the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai, he revealed a law that included the ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood. However, the Israelites’ idolatrous behavior showed that they were not ready to live the fulness of the gospel. Because they forgot the Lord so quickly, he withdrew the Melchizedek Priesthood from them and revealed a lesser law—the, law of Moses. The law of Moses did not replace the commandments, covenants, or principles of the gospel. Rather, it provided “a law of performances and of ordinances, a law which they were to observe strictly from day to day, to keep them in remembrance of God and their duty towards him”. The law of Moses taught people to confess their sins and make amends, to follow strict rules in offering animal sacrifices, to keep their bodies healthy, to give to support the Lord’s work, to give thanks, and to be reconciled to God.
A big part of the law of Moses was animal sacrifice.
Elder M. Russell Ballard taught: "Although the law of Moses was fulfilled, the principles of the law of sacrifice continue to be a part of the doctrine of the Church. While the primary purpose of the law of sacrifice continued to be that of testing and assisting us to come unto Christ, two adjustments were made after Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. First, the ordinance of the sacrament replaced the ordinance of [animal] sacrifice; and second, this change moved the focus of the sacrifice from a person’s animal to the person himself. In a sense, the sacrifice changed from the offering to the offerer. … After his mortal ministry, Christ elevated the law of sacrifice to a new level. … Instead of the Lord requiring a person’s animal or grain, now the Lord wants us to give up all that is ungodly. This is a higher practice of the law of sacrifice; it reaches into the inner soul of a person."
If we will partake of the Lord’s spiritual water and bread, sustain his chosen leaders, and obey his commandments, he will invite us to his holy mountain—the temple. There we can meet with him, receive his laws, behold his glory, and go forth inspired to be more like him.
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