Dear Family,

Today is Sunday, May 14, 2023. It is Day 36; Day 1 of Week 6 in our Count to Pentecost.

This week we pick up the story of Israel’s journey in Exodus 17.

Exodus 17:1-4 (1) And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. (2) Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said; Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them; Why chide ye with me? Wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? (3) And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said; Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? (4) And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying; What shall I do unto this people? They be almost ready to stone me.

Imagine that! Moses actually thought the people might stone him. As part of the covenant God was about to give to the children of Israel, stoning was for crimes worthy of a brutal death.

Here is an abbreviated list of how stoning was to be used:

• For touching Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:10-13)
• Kidnapping (Exodus 21:16-18)
• Teaching about a different way to worship God (Deuteronomy 13)
• Practicing a different religion (Deuteronomy 17:1-7)
• Blasphemy (Leviticus 24:10-16)
• Giving children to Molech (Leviticus 20:1-5)
• Being a medium or a wizard (Leviticus 20:27)
• Breaking the Sabbath (Numbers 15:32-36)
• Stubborn rebellious sons (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)
• Sexual misconduct (Deuteronomy 22:13-29)
• For stealing what God had forbidden (Joshua 7:20-26)
• Cursing God and the King (1 Kings 21:1-16)

Instead of being thankful for the many gifts of God, including the gift of His chosen leader Moses, the meekest of men (Numbers 12:30), they were ready to unlawfully murder.

How God handled this threat against Moses is another of the great proofs of the absolute goodness of God’s divine nature. He was merciful, kind, and generous. And, He was determined to keep His Word.

May God bless us to look forward more and more to the coming of Pentecost where God first poured out the Holy Spirit and made it possible to receive His divine nature.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
©2023, Church of the Sovereign God