Old Testament Lesson 18: Be Strong and of a Good Courage

How do you fill big boots?

As you sit and reflect on the life of Moses, Deuteronomy 34:10 is a simple but fitting tribute:

"And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face." 

Moses delivered some 2 million people from slavery. He led them literally right through the Red Sea and away to safety from the advancing Egyptian armies. He helped his people survive in the wilderness for 40 years, introducing a governing structure, laws, and a vision for the future. When many of the children of Israel were failing and even Aaron and Miriam were questioning, Moses stood true and firm and maintained his personal relationship with God.
His boots were truly big boots to follow and fill!

And so after Moses comes Joshua, the son of Nun. Could you imagine the feeling of insufficiency Joshua must have felt. Even his heritage makes him sound like a nobody!
How hard would it be to follow after Moses?
How would you feel if you were asked to take over from Moses? Have you ever felt overwhelmed by responsibility?
The life of Joshua, teaches an important lesson to those of us who have ever stood in the shadows of giants or taken on a responsibility or challenge.
What do we learn first and foremost about Joshua in Deuteronomy 34:9? Notice the phrasing. This was not just worldly wisdom but he was "full of the spirit of wisdom." And why? Because "Moses had laid his hands upon him". Joshua was set apart and blessed with the spiritual gift of wisdom. Many of us, myself included, would struggle to stand shoulder to shoulder with a prophet such as Moses, yet when blessed and set apart to fulfill a calling, the Lord qualifies us all, and elevates us all, sufficient to His purposes. See how he makes this point to Joshua in Joshua 1:2-5:

"...as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee".

Read the advice the Lord gives Joshua in Joshua 1:6-9. What particular instruction does the Lord give Joshua three times?
"Be strong and of a good courage".
Each time he issues that instruction, it is added upon and clarified a little.
He will need to be strong and of a good courage in battle (v6), in keeping the commandments (v7-8), and in keeping positive (v.9).
The instruction "be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed" brings to mind the science of positive thinking. Please follow these two links for some interesting studies on the power of positive thinking:

• Huffington Post article on powerful positive thinking
• The Mind Unleashed - Rice experiment

If Moses' mission was baptizing the people (via the Red Sea) and teaching them the commandments and repentance (in the wilderness), Joshua's role was to get the people to the temple (the promised land) and keep them worthy of it.

So in summary, to take on a position of responsibility (no matter who you are following)

• pray for the spirit of wisdom
• be strong and of a good courage
• find a vision and purpose

and if it is a church calling all of the above AND

• make sure you are set apart by one who holds authority.

Lessons of Jordan and Jericho (Joshua 3-4, 6)
v.1 seems to be an obscure verse, that is merely setting the scene for the story ahead but for some reason this verse hit me. How many times have the righteous risen early in the morning and been rewarded for it? I decided to do a little research on it and have left a few verses for you to read of other saints who arose early and were rewarded. I can't help but think that the Lord wishes us to use as much of the light of day as possible, rising early so as not to miss any opportunity and to show our willingness rather than delaying and tarrying. Genesis 22:3; Exodus 34:4; Judges 21:4; Mark 1:35; John 8:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1
The world is so full of darkness and confusion and noise. If you are a regular early-riser you will know that those early hours of the morning are peaceful, clear and enlightening.

Part of being a leader you need to be able to convince people to follow you. The children of Israel needed to cross the river Jordan to get to their promised lands but it was flooding and overflowing. How did the Lord use this opportunity to endorse his new leader? Joshua 3:7-8; Joshua 3:14-17
I love the symbolism of this story. The worthy priesthood leadership as signified by their tribal affiliation and their chosen status have the ability to bear the ark and lead the way. But they still had to enter the flooded river, if only a little way, they still had to walk forward.  We too, no matter what the challenge, must walk forward into the waters edge. It is only when we do so bearing the priesthood righteously with God in our midst that we can see the power of the Lord. Consider the following story.
Elder Boyd K. Packer said:

“Shortly after I was called as a General Authority, I went to Elder Harold B. Lee for counsel. He listened very carefully to my problem and suggested that I see President David O. McKay. President McKay counseled me as to the direction I should go. I was very willing to be obedient but saw no way possible for me to do as he counseled me to do.
“I returned to Elder Lee and told him that I saw no way to move in the direction I was counseled to go. He said, ‘The trouble with you is you want to see the end from the beginning.’ I replied that I would like to see at least a step or two ahead. Then came the lesson of a lifetime: ‘You must learn to walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness; then the light will appear and show the way before you’” (“The Edge of the Light,” BYU Today, Mar. 1991, 22–23)

The miracle of the Jordan River reminds us of the parting of the Red Sea. Why did the Lord choose to replicate this miracle at this time? Joshua 4:14 Consider that those that crossed the Jordan had not crossed the Red Sea with Moses unless they were small children. They would have undoubtedly heard the stories but to now experience this same thing that their parents spoke of with reverence must have been a humbling, emotional and powerful experience.
I love the words of Joshua in Joshua 4:21-24. What personal memorials do you have in your life that remind you of God's power? Why are these important?

Having crossed the Jordan River, the children of Israel begin to conquer the cities and lands they have been promised. The first city we hear of is Jericho. This of course is a very famous city as far as biblical battles and stories go. Essentially the city was put under siege. The Israelites surrounded the city and were given these instructions by Joshua from the Lord:
For 6 days they were to walk around the city, once each day with their entire armies. Each time, seven priests would walk in front of the ark of the covenant as they circled the city, holding a ram's horn trumpet.
On the 7th day they were to walk around the city 7 times with their entire armies and the priests were to make a long blast with their trumpets.
When the people hear the long blast of the trumpets, they are to shout really loudly and then the Lord promises that the city walls would fall down.
Joshua 6:12,15 There he is rising early again!
Of course the siege of Jericho ended when the people shouted in faith. The walls "came tumbling down" and they utterly defeated the city.
Once more Joshua is faithful in following the instructions of the Lord and once more the younger generation of the children of Israel prove faithful in following the instructions passed to them by their new prophet and leader Joshua.

Joshua's parting words (Joshua 24)
Within a few years and certainly no more than 45 years of crossing the Jordan, the children of Israel had pretty much taken possession of the entire Land of Canaan. It was divided by lots among the tribes of Israel and it was left to the tribes to subjugate the land and remove the Canaanite people from it that were left in the conquered lands.
Joshua 23:1-4, 6-7, 11-13 Don't become polluted.
Joshua 24:14-15 Choose ye THIS day...why is it important to choose today to follow the Lord?

“Joshua reminds us of the importance of making decisions promptly: ‘Choose you this day whom ye will serve; … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord’ (Joshua 24:15). Not tomorrow, not when we get ready, not when it is convenient—but ‘this day,’ straightway, choose whom you will serve." (Elder Marvin J. Ashton in Conference Report, Apr. 1983, 41)

Caleb (Joshua 14)
In the middle of Joshua's story we are reminded of his fellow spy, Caleb. Caleb was the other spy who went with Joshua into the promised land, under Moses' instruction. He returned with a favourable report and was blessed for his courage and honesty. When we meet Caleb again, he is now 85 years old. And he is now reminding Joshua of his faithfulness and the Lord's promise and is claiming his righteous inheritance in Joshua 14:11-12 I wonder how many of us will be able to confidently claim our inheritance in the promised land as did Caleb. What gave Caleb his confidence to make such a bold claim of the Lord? see v. 8,9,14. He "wholly followed" the Lord.
President Spencer W. Kimball stated his admiration for Caleb and suggested some lessons we can learn from him:

“From Caleb’s example we learn very important lessons. Just as Caleb had to struggle and remain true and faithful to gain his inheritance, so we must remember that, while the Lord has promised us a place in his kingdom, we must ever strive constantly and faithfully so as to be worthy to receive the reward.
“Caleb concluded his moving declaration with a request and a challenge with which my heart finds full sympathy. The Anakims, the giants, were still inhabiting the promised land, and they had to be overcome. Said Caleb, now at 85 years, ‘Give me this mountain’ (Joshua 14:12).
“This is my feeling for the work at this moment. There are great challenges ahead of us, giant opportunities to be met. I welcome that exciting prospect and feel to say to the Lord, humbly, ‘Give me this mountain,’ give me these challenges” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1979)

May we follow the example of Caleb and Joshua and always be ready to face the "giant" challenges and take on the responsibilities the Lord requires of us is my prayer.

Old Testament Lesson 15: Look to God and Live

This week's lesson is a reminder that if we simply focus on Christ and his ability to save and redeem, we will live. If we, however, turn away from Christ and his salvation we will perish. Often we turn away from Christ by murmuring and complaining and wishing we did not have to follow His way. Sometimes this murmuring can take on the form of criticizing our church leaders (the Lord's anointed servants). Christ's way is uncomplicated but requires courage and faith...and sometimes just a bit more discipline (discipline comes from the same root word as discipleship).

Numbers 11
v.1  "and when the people complained it displeased the Lord" see also Doctrine and Covenants 59:21 Why does this displease the Lord so much? Why is it only ingratitude and disobedience that make him angry? What can we learn from this as parents?
"uttermost parts of the camp" Why was it only these people? Surely it should be those that complained not those that were situated geographically. Is this a lesson in standing in holy places? A later, similar incident in Numbers 16 maybe suggests a lesson in this (see Numbers 16:26-35) I love the instruction of verse 26 of Numbers Chapter 16:

"Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins."

v.4-10 The people are upset that they don't have the variety of food they used to. They complain. They have manna and make all manner of manna food! Manna cakes, manna bread, manna muffins, manna cupcakes - kind of like Forrest Gump's friend Bubba talking about his shrimp,

"Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it."

The children of Israel did not have the child-like delight in manna that Bubba had with shrimp. Instead they complained. Is it coincidence they lusted after meat rather than the spiritual manna? Are they symbolically rejecting all that is heavenly for mortal pleasures? Do we tire of spiritual food and lust after/follow more physical appetites?
v.11-15 Moses here seems to be venting something like this "Surely you didn't call me to be a babysitter. This is killing me. How am I supposed to provide meat for them?"
v.16-23 The Lord tells Moses two things:

1. From the elders create a quorum of seventy
2. I will feed the people meat "until it come out at your nostrils" and they are sick of it!

Moses then questions how the Lord will feed 2 million people so much meat. I love the Lord's reply in verse 23:

"Is the Lord's hand waxed short?"

Or in other words: "Are you kidding me? Didn't I just feed 2 million people manna? Are you suggesting that I am incapable of doing this now?"
v.24-30 two of the seventy prophesy and it is reported back to Moses as if they are trying to usurp Moses' authority. Moses reply is that he wishes all the people were prophets. I find this interesting. Firstly, it makes you wonder if there was a little rebelliousness creeping into the camp regarding Moses' authority. This reaction to the two men prophesying suggests there were some that were worried the two men were trying to become the leaders and take over Moses' position. Moses' reply suggests however a leader who was confident and lacking in any insecurity.
Also interesting in Moses' reply is his idea that all men could be prophets. Moses clarifies for us here the difference between being the prophet and being a prophet.
v.31-35 quail cover the land in all directions for a day's journey, two cubits deep (about 3 ft deep).
v.33 refer back to verse 1. What are the only 2 things that make God angry? Which of those do you think made him angry here, this time?
v.34 they lusted - followed their body rather than remembering and following their Lord.

Numbers 12
This is another fascinating story.
v.1-13 Miriam (Moses' sister) does not like Moses' decision to marry an Ethiopian woman and suggests that he has lost his authority and that she and her brother Aaron have as much right to be the leaders as Moses. The Lord summons her, Aaron and Moses to the tabernacle and proceeds to explain that prophets can be called by dreams and visions but that is not Moses. Moses is greater than that and converses with the Lord face to face. His question is powerful "Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" What a great and powerful way to back Moses up on this. He doesn't say anything more. Just leaves and leaves Miriam with leprosy. What powerful symbolism is the Lord using here? This punishment had a dual effect. Anyone thinking of following Miriam now has a choice. Follow this person and you too will be cast out of the camp as a leper and possibly even punished the same way. So in a very real way it acts as a deterrent to all who see her, not to follow this woman and rebel against Moses. In a spiritual way it also very clearly shows the end result of rebelling against the Lord and his servants by trying to do things your way - spiritual decay and damnation will follow.

 "There is the man who, to satisfy his own egotism, took a stand against the authorities of the Church. He followed the usual pattern, not apostasy at first, only superiority of knowledge and mild criticism. He loved the brethren, he said, but they failed to see and interpret as he would like. He would still love the Church, he maintained, but his criticism grew and developed into ever-widening circles. He was right, he assured himself; he could not yield in good conscience; he had his pride. His children did not accept his philosophy wholly, but their confidence was shaken. In their frustration, they married out of the Church, and he lost them. He later realized his folly and returned to humbleness, but so very late. He had lost his children…. 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.' (Ezekiel 18:2.)" ( Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p184)

Aaron asks for mercy and Moses pleads with the Lord for Miriam to be healed.
v.14-16 The Lord decides Miriam's offense was severe enough that she must endure the punishment for 7 days. The people made no progress at this time. I wonder if the Lord was making them sit and ponder what had happened here?

Numbers 13 (see also Deuteronomy 1:22-46)
v.1-16 one leader from each of the tribes is sent to spy on the land of Canaan. The tribes of Judah and Ephraim send Caleb and Joshua.
v.16 Joshua was originally called Oshea which in Hebrew means salvation in a general sense. The fact that he was given the new name, Jeh-oshua is very significant. The new name also means salvation but not in general. Adding the "Jeh" signifies adding Jehovah to the principle of salvation already in his name. Thus here again we have an example of the children of Israel very pointedly being shown that it is Jehovah that brings them salvation.
His name change is indicative of the struggle the children have in remembering who it was that they should look to for their salvation. Their natural instinct was to just celebrate being saved without remembering who it was that saved them. Joshua, in receiving his new name, became a living symbol and reminder that salvation only comes through Jehovah.
v17-20 Moses gives instructions for the spies reconnaissance mission. Are the people strong or weak, few or many; is the land good or bad, are they in tents or walled cities; was the land rich or poor and did it have strong trees and bring me fruit.
v.21-25 They do as instructed. Israel's Ministry of Tourism marks this event today with their logo, depicting Joshua and Caleb as they carry back the grapes on a pole.

v.26-33 Most of the spies return (after 40 days) saying the people are too big and too strong to be defeated but Caleb of the tribe of Judah suggests the opposite and thinks they could easily overcome them.

Numbers 14
v.1-5 people do their usual murmuring, wishing they were back in Egypt and decide to choose a leader to take them back.
v.6-10 Joshua, Caleb, Moses and Aaron all plead with the people to trust God and believe the report that the land can be easily overcome. But the people move to stone them.
v.11-39 The Lord's patience with his people wears thin after they murmur against him the tenth time and he curses the people that only the younger generation (below 20 yrs old) will inherit the promised land. Everyone else will wander in the wilderness for 40 years (each year symbolic of each day the spies were in the land of Canaan) until they die. The spies that gave false reports and made the people murmur are killed by a plague.
This seems very specific that the Lord has counted ten times since they left Egypt that the children of Israel have murmured against Him. And it seems this tenth time is the final straw.
See the pattern of murmuring below:

1. Epyptian armies - murmuring Exodus 14:11-12 - parting of the sea
2. Bitter waters - murmuring Exodus 15:24 - healing of waters with tree
3. Lack of bread and meat - murmuring Exodus 16:2-3 - sends manna and quail
4. Lack of water to drink - murmuring Exodus 17:2-3 - water from rock
5. ?
6. ?
7. ?
8. ?
9. ?
10. Land of Canaan - murmuring Numbers 14: 1-4 - Lord's patience runs out. 

Can you find the other circumstances of murmuring and what the symbolism may be? Let me know when you find them. The Lord said the people murmuring outside Canaan was the tenth time they had murmured against him.
v.40-45 The people try to repent but do so unworthily. They are warned that, as they turned from the Lord, He is no longer with them and so it is no longer safe to go into the promised land and do battle with the people. They try anyway but are defeated and pushed back and many killed.

Numbers 21:1-9

v.1-4 The Lord decides to fight their battles again and they are victorious but the people complain again.
v.5-6 Usual complaints of rocky road, lack of water, lack of real bread, we hate this fake bread!
So the Lord sends poisonous snakes among them. Many people are bitten and die.
v7-9 The people seek to be forgiven. The Lord instructs Moses to make a replica of the snake and raise it on a pole. When the people that are bitten look on it, they are healed and live. (see also 1 Nephi 17:41 and Alma 33:18-22) Why do you think people would refuse to look on this graven image? Why would the Lord ask them to look upon a graven image? What is he trying to teach the people? Follow me. No matter what I ask of you, follow me and you live. But if you do not recognize me or my word, you shall perish. (see John 3:14-16; John 10:27) Not only has this image endured in various scriptural passages over time but even in symbols of ancient and modern medicine and healing (see American Medical Association, World Health Organization etc). It is not surprising that, though the symbol itself endures, many have once more lost sight of its true meaning and import.

In April 2002, President Gordon B Hinckley closed conference with these comments. For me they sum up the lesson the Lord was trying to teach the children of Israel. Feel free to watch it in its entirety but especially from 1:04 until 7:55 in the video.

Old Testament Lesson 14: Ye Shall be a Peculiar Treasure Unto Me

In 2001 (almost 13 years ago to the day) Marjolaine and I were dating - we went to visit my sister who had 5 children. I wanted to see how Marjolaine would cope with a family of crazy, chaotic kids and I'm sure Marj wanted to see how I would cope too lol. It was a time of testing and proving for us. Similarly the time in the wilderness was a time of testing and proving for the children of Israel with the Lord.

Dating process - the Lord is showing his future bride what he can do for them and looking to see whether they will be faithful to Him. He rescued the damsel in distress just like in the movies but is now dating her. They are engaged but not married. They left the subjugation of the world of Egypt, were covered and delivered by the blood of the Lamb, came through the Dead Sea, symbolic of baptism and thus witnessed their desire and that they were WILLING to take upon them the name of Christ. This is betrothal and promise. This is the gate to eternal life but not eternal life itself. So for all of its significance, it is worth nothing if we do not follow through by actually taking on that name in the new and eternal covenant with Christ, then the baptism would have been for nothing. (cf 2 Nephi 31:12-13; Isaiah 62; Revelations 2:17)

Exodus 15:22-27 (just three days journey from the red sea and the great miracle that happened there)
lacking water
murmur
Moses goes to the Lord
The Lord gives instructions:

• hearken to the voice of the Lord
• do that which is right in his sight
• give ear to his commandments
• keep all his statutes

If they do all this they will not be treated like the Egyptians. Think about that. Most of these people although delivered by God have only seen his ability to kill and destroy the Egyptians. It is almost as if the Lord is saying - there is another side of me. I am loving and kind and gentle. I heal. Love me, not just fear me.

The Lord provides Living Water by casting a tree into the water - he heals the bitterness in our lives -
"I am the Lord that healeth."

 "Notice that the perils and trials of the wilderness occur very early in the pilgrim life. It is a notion, I have no doubt, of very young Christians who still have the shell upon their heads and are scarce hatched, that their trials are over now that they have become winged with faith; they had far better have reckoned that their trials have begun with tenfold force, now that they are numbered with the servants of the Most High. Whatever else comes not to thee, O servant of God, this will surely be fulfilled, "In the world ye shall have tribulation."(C.H. Spurgeon, "Marah" 1871)

Cross-reference this with John 16:33

"In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" 

v.27 12 wells and 70 palm trees at Elim. Are these symbols of how the Lord will bless us all: A well for each tribe and a palm tree for each of the seventy? They rested here after their murmuring and deliverance for close to a month. 

Exodus 16:1-31 (just a month after the Exodus)

lacking bread and meat
murmur
Moses goes to the Lord
The Lord gives instructions as a test - Sabbath day observance and trust in God- will they walk in his law or no?
The Lord provides quails and manna "a small round thing", called "what is it?" or "manna" in the Hebrew, that looked like a small white coriander seed and tasted like honey wafers and appeared under the dew each morning. Breakfast from heaven every day for 40 years!

It appears the Lord is teaching his bride-to-be that he will provide for them if they trust him and obey his sabbath.
Have you ever wondered why God created our bodies the way he did. Have you ever wondered why he created sneezes or earwax or why he made our bodies need regular sustenance. Well I'm not sure about the sneezes and earwax but I'm pretty sure we get the answer to daily sustenance in these verses. The Lord is using our physical bodies as a symbol of spiritual sustenance. It is a daily thing. You cannot binge and purge. You must have a daily measure of spiritual nourishment.

A pot of manna was kept for remembrance. Now these guys ate this manna for forty years. Could you imagine eating potatoes or rice every day for 40 years? Why would you ever want to keep a bag of potatoes or rice on the mantelpiece after that?
It was a symbol of God's ability to provide for us. It's kind of romantic really. Think about it - every morning under the dew the Lord left them something. Like a husband leaving a note under the pillow for his wife as he leaves for work each day.

Exodus 17:1-7 (they are still receiving heavenly cereal every day but are ready to stone Moses)
lacking water
murmur
Moses goes to the Lord
The Lord gives instructions - use the same rod with which you turned the Nile into blood.
The Lord provides water from the rock - he can change even the hardest of hearts? Christ is the Rock.

It seems like the Lord is slowly but surely healing his people of the trauma they have witnessed and experienced in Egypt. Sure they wanted to escape slavery but to them slavery isn't so bad an option if the other option is following a God who just likes to kill and has now led them out into the wilderness to die in their opinion.

 "As has been observed before, it was one thing to get Israel out of Egypt, and another thing entirely to get Egypt out of Israel! (Kent P. Jackson and Robert L. Millet, eds., Studies in Scripture, Vol. 3: Genesis to 2 Samuel [Salt Lake City: Randall Book, 1985], 109)

They are still getting to know their Deliverer. And so at times they think it might have been better to be back in Egypt. And just as they start to doubt again, He reassures them, yes he destroyed, but by that same power he creates life and provides water. By way of the Deliverer, the Rock of Israel they can live.

Exodus 17:8-16
Ammonites are defeated only when the hands of Moses are raised. When he drops them the Ammonites are able to prosper in battle. Moses hands are kept raised with the help of Aaron and Hur and the battle is won.
Another clear demonstration that the Lord will protect them. No one else can. Only the Lord.
Exodus 18:13-26
Moses learns the wisdom of delegation. What can we learn from this episode?
Exodus 19:3-6 a peculiar people -  will you marry me?
Exodus 19:8 we will do - we will
Exodus 19:9-19
The mountain is on fire, it is rumbling, there is thunder and lightning the people have been warned to stay away from the mountain and a barrier set up but Moses has been commanded to go onto the mountain. The people were afraid but I think if I was Moses, I would have been more afraid to go onto this erupting volcanic mountain!

Bruce C Hafen posed the following question in the June 1977 Ensign in an article entitled "The Value of the Veil":

"If it is so important for us to know [God] today, why doesn't the Lord send a great chariot across the sky every day at noon, drawn by flying white horses? The chariot could stop right above the earth and then a voice from the great beyond could say, "And now a word from our Creator. Why has he chosen not to do things like that?"

Well the fact is, as we can see the Israelites witnessed a heavenly message daily from the sky in the form of manna. They had the miracles of the water at Marah and Horeb. And now here at the mountain this is the part we wanted "a word from our Creator". Read Deuteronomy 4:32-40. The children of Israel actually heard his voice. And still they forget and murmur and even go after false gods. What does this teach us?

President George Q. Cannon summarized the lesson we can learn from these struggling Israelites who were striving to trust in God:

"I do not believe that men can be convinced as they should be convinced by such manifestations. It has been a matter of remark among those who have had experience in this Church, that where men have been brought into the Church by such manifestations, it has required a constant succession of them to keep them in the Church; their faith has had to be constantly strengthened by witnessing some such manifestations; but where they have been convinced by the outpouring of the spirit of God, where their judgment has been convinced, where they have examined for themselves and become satisfied by the testimony of Jesus in answer to their prayers and to their faithful seeking unto the Lord for knowledge-where this has been the case they have been more likely to stand, more likely to endure persecution and trial than those who have been convinced through some supernatural manifestation of the character to which I have alluded."

The true church does not convert by signs and wonders, but by the testimony of the Holy Ghost. The Lord's way of teaching religious truths is not by a public miracle or sign, but by a personal testimony. (The Lord's Way [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1991], 87-88)

Exodus 20 - these are the wedding vows I want you to make.
Exodus 31:18 two stones of testimony
Exodus 32 the people cheat on their fiance, the Lord. The Lord is furious and tells them that they must repent or be destroyed.

"Another golden calf in modern guise is crafted when Church members counsel contrary to that of the Church leadership. Of Almon Babbitt, the Lord said, 'There are many things with which I am not pleased; behold, he aspireth to establish his counsel instead of the counsel which I have ordained, even that of the Presidency of my Church; and he setteth up a golden calf for the worship of my people.' (D&C 124:84.)

"Following counsel that deviates from the counsel of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is like worshipping a golden calf. Just as there is no life in a graven image, there is no saving power outside the truth God imparts through his appointed channels. The Apostle John gave us a way to discern such idols: 'We [the Apostles] are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.' (1 Jn. 4:6.)

"...Anything can become a 'golden calf.' When activities or material blessings become so important that by turning to them we turn from God, we are breaking the second commandment. We are walking 'in [our] own way, and after the image of [our] own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish.' (D&C 1:16; emphasis added.) The solution is to prioritize our loyalties and turn our affections back to God." (Dennis Largey, "Refusing to Worship Today's Graven Images," Ensign, Feb. 1994, 10-13)

Exodus 32:22-24 can you believe these crazy people? I took their gold, stuck it in the fire and tadaa! magically this golden calf just appeared. Aaron is caught red-handed facilitating their idol worship and that is the best he can come up with? I was wondering how come Aaron was not with Moses but Joshua was on the mount and in the tabernacle (see Exodus 24:13-14, Exodus 32:17-18, Exodus 33:11). It seems to me that Joshua was preferred as the more righteous and reliable future leader of the people. That Joshua was allowed to stay in the tabernacle while the rest of the people were separated from the Lord, is testimony to the high regard the Lord had for Joshua. This young man was surely set apart by his righteousness as a leader.

Exodus 33 The people are commanded to strip themselves of their luxuries/ornaments/those things they used to flirt with other gods - those that dont repent are killed. There is a separation. The Lord's tabernacle is removed afar off from the camp and from the people.
Moses pleads for the people. Pleads with the Lord to stay betrothed to the people and return to them.
Exodus 34 The Lord covenants to do as formally agreed, if the people covenant not to covenant with any other gods. Essentially, I'll take you back and forgive you as long as you never cheat on me again.
The wedding vows (The Ten Commandments) are printed again, double-sided on tablets of stone but without the words of the everlasting covenant (see JST Deuteronomy 10:2 footnote b. LDS edition KJ bible). In other words for now the Lord is marrying his people only until death do them part - this is not an eternal marriage - at least not for now. They are left with the preparatory priesthood in a preparatory state.
Or in other words, they still had the basic ordinances and covenants of the gospel of Jesus Christ as outlined since Adam, namely faith repentance baptism and Holy Ghost but they were not ready to commit to the higher covenants of this Gospel. The Lord disappointed that his chosen people had not kept their promises gives them a law that will help them remember their promises more easily. It is a law of daily social, legal and spiritual observances and it became known as the Law of Moses.

"To get his sometimes disobedient children to understand the Atonement and the fundamental importance of first principles, Jehovah added to the standard gospel message (taught from the days of Adam down to Moses) what is now spoken of as "carnal commandments." These were added as reminders, exercises, preparations stressing a return to first principles of the gospel. This basic code that remained with the children of Israel, this preparatory gospel built upon a law of carnal commandments, is what is now called the law of Moses. Principles of the truth that had been with the Israelites before the addition of the carnal commandments and that continued after these were added included the principles of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism for the remission of sins, the Ten Commandments, various offerings symbolic of Christ's atonement, and the law of the covenant. Elements added or amplified included other "performances and ordinances" such as dietary restrictions, purification rituals, and additional offerings. Other additions included the preparation of clothing, the planting of crops, and additional social obligations. These were all intended to reinforce self-control and create greater self-discipline (obedience) in the lives of the children of Israel so they could reclaim the higher promises, principles, and priesthood that had been enjoyed by their forebears.

Thus it is crucial to understand that the law of Moses was overlaid upon, and thereby included, many basic parts of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which had existed before it. It was never intended to be something apart or separated from, and certainly not something antagonistic to, the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was more elementary than the full gospel-thus its schoolmaster's role in bringing people to the gospel-but its purpose was never to have been different from the higher law. Both were to bring people to Christ."(Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1997], 145-147)

The children of Israel were set apart and chosen to be the bride to the Lord's groom. They were a peculiar treasure to Him. Set apart, intended and betrothed. We too are a chosen people, set apart, intended and betrothed to the Lord. If we have entered into the waters of baptism and witnessed that we are desirous and willing to take upon us His name then we must now prove ourselves worthy. When the wedding feast is called, will we be ready? Will our lamps be trimmed? Only those who have worthily attended the temple and taken on themselves the full covenants there, will be able to say so. Only they will be able to attend the wedding feast. Baptism is the gate by which we enter but after baptism comes tribulation and bitterness and trials. How we respond, what we set as our priorities, will determine ultimately whether we will be worthy to attend the wedding feast itself. The Lord is our Deliverer. Will we have learned to trust Him fully and be found worthy to be in the mountain (in the temple) or will we have lowered our sights and expectations and be found at the base camp reveling in wordly delights with the golden calves?

Old Testament Lesson 13: Bondage, Passover and Exodus

Let me apologize first to those that are following these lessons. I missed posting last week's lesson and was delayed this week due to a broken finger that limited my ability to type. Thank you for your patience. Things should return to normal now and I will hopefully fill in last week's lesson this week sometime.

Exodus 1- Deliverance of priesthood
v.5 Jacob had 70 children!!
v.6 New story as a few generations pass away (about 350 years)
v.7-11 an immigration issue. Having welcomed the people of Israel (Jacob) into the land they prospered like Joseph and before long they filled the land. A new Pharaoh, unfamiliar with Joseph and his people would suggest that the people of Israel got a little comfortable and did not continue to build relationships within their new homeland. Pharaoh's solution was to make them inferior, treat them as less than themselves and appoint taskmasters to "afflict them with their burdens", presumably in a bid to either enslave or drive them out of the land but certainly to control them. Certainly at the least they created a lower, serving class possibly by limiting employment to certain roles but the evidence is clear that this soon became brutal enslavement.
v.12 "But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew"This teaches us a great principle about adversity. We are given trials and adversity so that we can increase and grow.
v.15-21 Shiphrah and Puah - Hebrew midwives who feared God more than they feared Pharaoh and they were blessed with descendants. I am always fascinated by this story. Pharaoh is obviously trying to be sneaky at first by enlisting the midwives to kill the boys at birth and suggest to the mothers that they were still born or died during labour. This is obviously a horrendous thing for anyone to consider let alone midwives who dedicate themselves to help give life, not take it away. Nevertheless to be commanded by Pharaoh and disobey would have put them in opposition to a very strong and dangerous political opponent, and would have meant certain death for them and potentially their families. Like Joseph, they do not appear to have hesitated in their resolve. That they feared God more than Pharaoh is a remarkable testimony to these two noble women and a great example to us today. And they were blessed with families for it.
v.22 It would appear that this Pharaoh, in being unfamiliar with Joseph was likewise unfamiliar with the God of Israel and underestimated Him. His next move is to sign into law that all male babies should be killed. From a socio-political point of view, that this law was even considered shows a certain culpability of the ruling Egyptian people as well as their Pharaoh and goes some way to understanding the plagues and death that falls upon the Egyptian people and the house of Pharaoh as a consequence.

Exodus 2 - Deliverance of a prophet

v.1 a priestly family, a righteous covenant family
v.2 the child was healthy
v.3 remember the law now said all male children were to be killed. Around 3 months it is getting more and more obvious even with clothes on that the child is a boy and can no longer be disguised as a girl or hidden. An ark made of reeds and pitch, so as not to leak and sink.
v.4-10 How did the sister get into the company of the pharaoh's daughter and into a position to speak to her? There are some Jewish rabbis that suggest Miriam was Puah, one of the head midwives who had earlier saved the Hebrew boys at birth. We may never know for sure but it is a fanciful thought and certainly Miriam is a great woman and the first in all scripture to be accounted as a prophetess (Exodus 15:20). Either way she convinces Pharaoh's daughter to have Jochebed (Moses biological mother) nurse the baby. And then Pharaoh's daughter adopts him as her own son.

The symbolism is clear. Once more God is raising up a righteous young man in the midst of the Egyptians. Joseph nurtured and protected his people in Egypt and Moses would lead his people out of Egypt. Even so, Christ nurtures and protects his people in the world and delivers us from the world through his atonement.

However the obvious question is how can Pharaoh allow such disobedience under the roof of his own house? There is no real answer that we can see but there is much discussion in Jewish circles that  Pharaoh's daughter was the same mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:18 "Bithiah daughter of Pharaoh". It is also believed that this Bithiah, daughter of Pharaoh had not gone down to the river to bathe but rather to be baptized by immersion and had converted from idol worship when she saw the ark of reeds in the bulrushes and rescued Moses.

v.11-15 Moses sees the burden of his Hebrew brethren and slays an Egyptian for beating a Hebrew. You may wonder how he knew he was a Hebrew. But as discussed above he was nursed and loved by his mother and then adopted and loved by his adoptive mother Bithiah who if she had converted would have taught Moses of his own people and traditions as well as introduced him the the ways of Egyptian society. There is little doubt Moses knew who he was.
Commonly we see Moses as now fleeing Egypt and Pharaoh who now seek to kill him for his "crime". However in Hebrews 11:27 Paul suggests another reason for his departure. Could it be that his faith caused him to leave and seek out his mission in life?

He arrives in Midian (modern Jordan or Saudi Arabia we believe) and stops at a well. With all our previous biblical experiences at a well, can you guess what is going to happen here?
v.16-22 In these 5 short verses we have yet another example of service at the well that ends in marriage - you could say all's well that ends well! Moses protects Jethro's (Reuel) daughters and enables them to feed their sheep. I love the father's question when they get home earlier than usual that day "How is it that ye are come so soon today?". It seems it is common that they are troubled by the other shepherds and have to struggle to get their water. Their father to this point does not seem to have stepped in and helped them but rather has allowed them to continue struggling day by day until they are one day delivered from their trying circumstances. Their father and it is implied the daughters appear to accept this as part of their lot in life. I wonder if there is symbolism here with Moses as Christ delivering us from our daily trials and providing us with the waters of eternal life?

Moses marries Zipporah and they have a son Gershon.
v.23-25 "In process of time". Most often we are asked to endure through a process of time. The Lord hears us but rarely provides instant replies as it is necessary we must endure for a while. Eventually Pharaoh dies but the bondage continues and the children of Israel pray for deliverance. And while on the ground, in the moment, in that test of faith, while the lashes continue and the work is burdensome somewhere up above, overlooking and with the big picture and eternal perspective "God looked upon the children of Israel" and "God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob."


Exodus 3 - The Deliverer is called
v.7-10 The Lord announces that he has heard the cries and will deliver them through Moses to their land of promise.
v.8-14 Moses asks two questions:
Who am I to defeat Pharaoh and deliver Israel? The Lord 's answer is "Certainly I will be with thee"
What shall I tell Israel is your name? The Lord's answer is "I Am THAT I Am...I Am hath sent me unto you" (cf John 8:58)

Tetragammaton (YHWH)

The first question seems to assure Moses that he is called of God and that he has the backing of God. The second question is to assure Israel that God has heard them. I Am not only emphasizes a living relevant and active God but the root form also serves as a derivation of the tetragammaton (four letters) YHWH commonly used in Hebrew to mean Yahweh or Jehovah. God is literally telling Moses that He, the God of the Old Testament is Jehovah, Jesus Christ. This truth has since been lost and most today consider Jehovah to be God the Father but clearly here we have the Eternal Deliverer, Jesus Christ instructing his own type, in Moses, to go deliver his people from physical bondage. What we are about to witness is the greatest symbol of the Atonement in all scripture.
v.15-22 The Lord God gives further instruction to Moses and warns him that Pharaoh will not give in easily but that it will serve God's purpose and that eventually there will be deliverance.

Exodus 5 - Deliverance begins with increased burdens
v.1-2 "Let my people go". The pharaoh shows his ignorance and also his arrogance by asking "Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice and let Israel go?" He may regret that later.
v.4-14 Pharaoh increases the daily tasks of the children of Israel but then still demands the same production from them. Satan similarly crushes our spirits gradually increasing the burden on our spirits whether it be in debt or sin.
v.15-23 the children of Israel complain and Moses takes their complaint to the Lord and asks what the point of all this is if their slavery and burden is only increased. Moses appears to have forgotten the Lord's warning that Pharaoh would not respond initially and that instead it would take many wonders to deliver them. We get a glimpse here of the short-sightedness of man on earth compared to those with a more elevated view who are able to grasp the bigger picture. It is not easy to wait on the Lord's time. That is our test. How do we get that elevated view? How do we see as the Lord sees?

Exodus 6
v.1-8 The Lord reiterates who He is and that He will deliver the people of Israel and then further promises that he will covenant with them. Note that he is not covenanting with them at this point - they must first free themselves of their burdens (which we see takes a full generation and 40 years in the wilderness). But there is a beauty in the phrasing of his simple promise that alludes to marriage when He says, "I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God, and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God" There is something about that phrasing that touches deep within my soul and feels so very personal.

The LDS Gospel Doctrine teachers' manual asks us not to focus in this particular lesson on the miracles and plagues that follow this chapter. Please note this is not due to some discrepancy or anything they wish us not to study in general. I will cover the plagues here below in detail but for the purposes of personal study rather than use in the Sunday School classes. I believe the First Presidency's intent may be to keep us focused in the Sunday School classes on the Deliverance itself and on the Deliverer Himself rather than the plagues that were a means to an end but not the ultimate point of the story.

Having said that, knowing how powerful God is surely there are many simpler ways to release the children of Israel. Why did he go the route of the plagues?
A deeper study of the plagues suggests that each plague was a direct attack on the Egyptian Gods and their entire belief system. Pharaoh rather rashly and arrogantly asked why he should follow the God of Israel and plague by plague, the God of Israel replies, showing his dominance over the false gods of the Egyptians. But that in and of itself does not seem enough. What is the point of showing Pharaoh and his people all of this if rather than convert them He plans to drown them in the Red Sea?
We spoke earlier of how the Lord promised to covenant with his people but that he did not make the covenant with them at that point. After years of living in Egypt, they had become infested with Egyptian ways and beliefs including idol worship. To truly deliver His people it was necessary to free them from the bondage of false idol worship also. The only way to do that was to show them that they were false, to defeat them in every way to prove to the children of Israel who the true God was. Thus the plagues were less a means to convince Pharaoh to release the children of Israel as they were a means to release the minds and souls of the children of Israel from all remnants of idol worship, thus preparing them for the covenant with their one true God, the God of Abraham, Jehovah, YHWH, the Great Deliverer!
Let us consider then the plagues:

Exodus 7:10-12 Serpents were considered symbols of deity. This opening episode could be considered a declaration of war. When Aaron casts down his rod and it became a serpent it was telling Pharaoh we have deity on our side. That forces Pharaoh to show his true colours and he orders his magicians to copy this wonder, thus declaring that they had the god of this world on their side (Satan). Notice however that Aaron's serpent ate the other serpents. Pharaoh would have been wise to back down there and then but he was not wise and he stubbornly went up into battle against the God of all creation.
For further relevance also notice how these plagues are suspiciously similar to the plagues to affect the world prior to the second coming when the world will be delivered from wickedness once more. I have cross-referenced these scriptures at the end of each plague.

Exodus 7:19 Plague 1 Nile turned to blood. Egyptian god of the Nile, Hapi is defeated. Sorry I cant resist - I'm sure Hapi was not very Happy. (see also Revelations 16:3)
Exodus 8:2 Plague 2 Frogs. Egyptian goddess of fertility, Heket (had head and body of frog) is defeated. (see also Revelations 16:13)
Exodus 8:16 Plague 3 Lice/dust of the earth. Egyptian god of the earth, Geb is defeated. (see also Doctrine and Covenants 29:18)
Exodus 8:21 Plague 4 Flies. Egyptian God Uatchit (had head of a fly) is defeated. This is also the first plague where it clearly states the Lord will protect the children of Israel from its effects. (see also Doctrine and Covenants 29:18)
Exodus 9:2-3 Plague 5 Cattle. Egyptian goddess of Love and Protection, Hathor (had head of cow) is defeated. (see also Revelations 16:2,11)
Exodus 9:9 Plague 6 Boils. Egyptian gods of medicine, healing and diseases, Imhotep, Serapis and Sekhmet are defeated. (see also Revelations 16:2,11)
Exodus 9:23-24 Plague 7 Hail. Egyptian goddess of the sky, Nut is defeated. (see also Revelations 8:7)
Exodus 10:13-14 Plague 8 Locusts. Egyptian goddess Serapia was supposed to protect them from the locusts specifically and is defeated. Also defeated were the gods of crop and grain, Seth and Nepri.
Notice also the locusts were brought and taken away by the wind. The Egyptian wind gods, Amun and Shu are also defeated here.(see also Revelations 9:3-10)
Exodus 10:22-23 Plague 9 Darkness. Egyptian sun god, Ra is defeated. (see also Revelations 8:12)

After these plagues, Pharaoh is humbled to give in only to then harden his heart again and refuse to let the children of Israel free. After the 9th plague he again hardens his heart and tells Moses that if he ever sees Moses again, he will kill him.

Exodus 11 The Lord tells Moses that there will be one more plague - death of the firstborn. A direct assault on the Egyptians' one living god. Pharaoh was himself considered a god. His direct lineage were considered gods. Jehovah had defeated their false idols, destroyed all hope and reliance on them but one still stood defiant - Pharaoh himself.

Exodus 12 - Passover
v.1-11 The Lord gives Moses specific instructions for the children of Israel to eat a strange meal. They must eat this meal with shoes on and belts on and staff in their hand. Or in modern day lingo, hats and coats and car keys in hand! The meal was to consist of a lamb without blemish no older than a year. They had to kill it in the evening. They also had to paint the blood of the lamb on their homes' front door - both on the side posts and upper post of the door frame. They were to roast the entire lamb. Nothing was to remain even if it meant sharing with another family or burning the remains before morning. And they were to eat it with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. And they were to eat it quickly. "it is the Lord's passover."
What was this all for, what was this passover?
v.12-28 Jehovah, the master teacher, Rabboni, was setting in motion one of the greatest object lessons ever to be taught. This meal would be repeated from this day forward every year. And every year they will eat unleavened bread only, for 7 days. That seven days will be started and ended with an assembly, congregational meeting. And the blood on the door was to serve as a sign that those inside were protected under the promise of the Lord from the 10th plague. The families were told to stay indoors.
Of course there is deeper spiritual symbolism and significance here. The blood of the lamb on the door of the homes represents the covering atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives. It covers us only as long as we choose to stay under its protection. For those that did not fulfil the instructions and choose not to use the blood of the atonement in their lives, there is only one result - spiritual death. For those that choose to cover themselves in the Atonement they and their entire household can be saved together.
Boyd K Packer taught,

"Surely, young people, you see the prophetic symbolism in the Passover. Christ was "the Lamb of God" (John 1:29, 36), the firstborn, male, without blemish. He was slain without breaking his bones, even though the soldiers were sent to do it.

 

But it is not from mortal death that we shall be spared in such a passover if we walk in obedience to these commandments, for each of us in time shall die. But there is spiritual death which you need not suffer. If you are obedient, that spiritual death will pass over you, for "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us," the revelation teaches (1 Cor. 5:7)." ("The Word of Wisdom: The Principle and the Promises," Ensign, May 1996, 19)

 Elder Jeffrey R. Holland asked,

“Do we see [the sacrament] as our Passover, remembrance of our safety and deliverance and redemption? With so very much at stake, this ordinance commemorating our escape from the angel of darkness should be taken more seriously than it sometimes is. It should be a powerful, reverent, reflective moment. It should encourage spiritual feelings and impressions” (Ensign, Nov. 1995, 68)

In essence the Passover anticipates the Atonement of Jesus Christ, while the Sacrament remembers the Atonement of Jesus Christ. And finally Bruce R McConkie describes the symbols application to us by declaring that we must "apply the atoning blood of Christ" upon the "doorposts of our hearts and the lintels of our souls".

v.29-30 Plague 10 Death of the Firstborn. Pharaoh, Egypts living god is struck down and defeated by the only true living God, Jehovah, the God of Israel. His firstborn and all of Egypt's firstborn sons are killed. These sons represented the future, their heritage, their kingdom, their descendants, their legacy. All of these things were symbolically killed that tragic night. Likewise, if we fail to follow the Lord God of Israel, we too will find ourselves without spiritual increase or inheritance. We will have no eternal legacy or kingdom.
v.31-36 Pharaoh lets them go and all of Egypt give up their gold and silver and raiment to the children of Israel.
v.37-38 Those that leave number 600,000....men! With women and children included there must have been at least 2 million people who left Egypt that night. And then all their herds and cattle. Visually can you picture the scene? Epic does not describe it. Symbolically what is the Lord teaching us with this great exodus?

Exodus 13
v.17-18 Notice the Lord again ever-considerate of the strengths and weaknesses of his children leads them where it best helps them. Instead of taking the short route home through Philistine which would have meant war and tested their faith beyond their present levels, he re-routes them across the Red Sea and into the wilderness. A longer journey but better for them. Does it seem the Lord has ever re-routed your life? Have you ever wondered why the Lord takes one direction when another direction seems more logical?
v.20-22 The children of Israel, despite all they have seen, having just been taken out of Egypt after 430 years appear to need this great visual protection to maintain their faith. I doubt the Lord needed it for any other purpose.

Exodus 14 - Deliverance of a people
This chapter is one of my favourite chapters in all of scripture. Here we see a people escaping from the world, their old bad habits and addictions, but they are being chased by the world. It is not an easy place to escape from and it is a formidable foe.
v.10-13 we see here how weak the children of Israel are. This is not a criticism but more just a state of where they are at currently. They have not gained sufficient strength to fight this fight. They have just enough strength to make the break but when the temptations and the trials reappear they wonder why they bothered leaving in the first place. If you have ever been a missionary, if you were ever a convert, if you have ever been involved with helping new members or investigators, you will recognize this feeling. What can we learn by understanding how the children of Israel felt - not fully settled in a new world but not fully clear of the old world either?
v.13-14 Moses does his job as a leader and as a prophet with an inspirational battle cry that tells them not to worry, stand still, God will fight for you. Remember they are trapped, locked in by the Red Sea on one side and the advancing Egyptian army on the other side. This seems like the kind of speech a good leader would make but Moses himself seems unsure how they are going to survive.
v.15-16 it seems Moses after telling the children of Israel not to worry then went to the Lord and told him he was worried. And the Lord's response is clear and inspiring. I paraphrase but it went something like: OK Moses yes I will help you but only by helping you help yourselves. Instead of standing still and watching me fight for you, I want you all involved. "speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward; but lift up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea and divide it." Wow!
The children of Israel did not yet have faith enough to fight the Philistines or the Egyptians themselves but they had a leader who the Lord deemed strong enough and had faith enough and had the correct priesthood authority to be able to divide the waters of the sea. All he required of the children of Israel was to focus on moving forward. Not looking back and not standing still but moving forward with the small measure of faith that they did have.
v.19-22;27-29 The Lord did his part. Moses did his part and the children of Israel with their infant faith did their part.
v.30-31 Having entered into the sea and out the other side they had collectively, figuratively entered the waters of baptism and emerged the other side free of the world and of the Egyptians, with their tiny particle of faith they moved forward and in so doing, in trusting in the Lord and his servants were delivered. Notice the world, the Egyptians, our sins are left at the bottom of the waters of baptism or in this case the Red Sea symbolizing the Atonement, covers our sins if we truly are willing to leave them behind.

Let me add to that passage my testimony. There are many people out there looking to leave Egypt, some have heard the prophet's voice and come to the waters edge, others look longingly across the shoreline, others still are shuffling their feet, unsure if this new world is for them and still more stand still. We must not condemn them. We must not leave them. But with loving arms we must gather them in and help them to move forward. They do not hesitate because they do not want to be free. They hesitate as their faith has not yet been fully nurtured. We must help them. Of course, we can not do it all, we too must trust in power of the Great Deliverer but even as the noble Hebrew midwives were entrusted with saving lives, so too are we. I pray we may also be filled with the Spirit of the great exodus and its symbolic departure from the world of sin and bondage. I pray that we can recognize the one true living God in our lives, and put away all those false gods that surround us daily. I pray that we may recognize our great responsibility in not only moving forward but in helping others move forward too. And I pray that we may recognize the great power of the priesthood when held by those who are righteous and faithful. May we ever be ready to do that which is required of us and may we never forget the great Atonement and its effect in our lives and over our families is my humble prayer and testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, even the Lamb, the Son of God, the Great Deliverer, YHWH or Jehovah. Amen.

Old Testament Lesson 1: This Is My Work and My Glory

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $100 bill. In the room of 200, he asked. "Who would like this $100 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $100 to one of you - but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the 100 dollar note up. He then asked. "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air. "Well," he replied, "what if I do this?" He dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $100.
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who love you. The worth of our lives comes, not in what we do for work or who we know in life, but by ...WHO WE ARE. You are special - don't ever forget it."
                                                  _____________________

In Moses 1 we read of 3 encounters Moses had - 2 with the Lord God Almighty and 1 with the not-so-almighty Satan. A careful reading of these three encounters will give us a better understanding of who we are.

This account could be viewed as a college course split into 3 semesters/terms. The first semester of this Life Prep 101 course is in-class tutoring on self-identity. The second semester is a field test ensuring that the study and knowledge of the first semester is truly learned. If you pass the second semester successfully you return for a 3rd semester - of more in-class tutoring that covers the purpose of creation and life.

Life Prep 101:
           Semester          Scripture                         Location                   Course Material
               1                Moses 1:1-11     "an exceeding high mountain"            Identity
               2                Moses 1:12-23           "fell unto the earth"                   Field Test
               3                Moses 1: 24-42             "in the mount"                 Purpose of Creation

Like any good student, Moses is also instructed to take notes (see v.40). As we study the Old Testament together this year, may I suggest that we also take notes. Get a book or create a blog or just start a Word document in which you write your thoughts, your questions, your discoveries. It is not only a great way to reinforce learning and find greater truths but it will stand as a witness to your family and your children in years and generations to come.

Semester 1 - Identity Moses1:1-11
If this is about who Moses is, why does it start off with who the Lord is?
What 4 points does Moses learn about who he is? 

• "thou art my son"
• "I have a work for thee"
• "thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten"
• "man is nothing"

What is the difference between the first three points and the last point? 
The first three points are what the Lord teaches, the final point is Moses' conclusion from the lesson.
Could we rephrase the last point to give a clearer understanding of what Moses learned here?
Maybe, without God, man is nothing. With God, we are everything. And I wonder if this lesson is part of why the Lord began by teaching Moses of himself. Understanding that in and of ourselves we are nothing is pointless and demoralizing unless we also realize that we are not alone - and not only that but that He who is with us is dedicated to us and our growth despite being the God of all creation.

Semester 2 - Field Test Moses 1:12-23
At what point and where did Satan try to teach Moses? 
Moses is now at a lower point physically and geographically. He has descended from the mountain and is on the earth and has been weakened physically. Satan then comes calling. Likewise Satan will often try to tempt us at our lowest points: physically, emotionally and spiritually. An additional point to note is that he will also attempt to distract and tempt us when we are closest to our moments of growth and learning.
How did this differ from when and where the Lord God chose to teach Moses? 
The Lord God lifts Moses up onto "an exceedingly high mountain"and shared his glory with him to enable his learning. Likewise, the Lord God always seeks to inspire us and lift us when teaching us. The result is that under the Lord's guidance and teaching, Moses "greatly marveled"while under Satan's tutelage, Moses "began to fear" and "saw the bitterness of hell". On that recommendation, I know which instructor I would sign up for.

What 3 points does Satan try to teach Moses?

• you are "son of man"
• "worship me"
• "I am the Only Begotten"

Did you notice the similarities and contrasts between the Lord God's lessons and Satan's?  
Both try to teach Moses his identity:
But one teaches Moses he is of divine origin. The other teaches Moses he is of mortal origin.

Both have an instruction for Moses:
But one teaches Moses he has a purpose and a work for him. The other teaches Moses that his only purpose is to worship Satan.

Both speak to Moses of the Only Begotten:
But one teaches Moses he is like the Only Begotten. The other teaches Moses that Satan himself is actually the Only Begotten.

In all of the Lord's teaching, Moses is uplifted and taught he is better than he thought. In all of Satan's teaching Moses is belittled and Satan instead elevates himself to be central to the message. Who would you prefer as a teacher?

I suspect that when Satan was delivering his initial message to Moses he was more enticing and likeable than he comes across in our scriptures. In our day, he would maybe sound something more like, "Moses, my friend, we are all human. It's natural to enjoy all of these fun things around you. Live a little. Enjoy life. You only live once. I'll look after you. I am the God of this world. I have untold power to protect you. Worship me and we will have fun together."

Now this Semester was titled the Field Test. If this is a test, what was Moses' test and how did he answer the questions asked of him? The test was to simply see if he had learned and believed in what he had been taught and would be obedient to this knowledge. When Satan comes teaching an opposite view Moses answers Satan's proposals with the knowledge he has learned:

1. I'm not just mortal - "I am a son of God in the similitude of the Only Begotten"
2. God is glorified - He glorified and changed me and created the whole world and everything in it and there is no other God. What have you done? You, Satan, do nothing for me. "Where is thy glory?"
3. There is more to learn  - "I have other things to inquire of him"

Satan's answer to Moses' knowledge is, as Jeffrey Holland calls it, "both pathetic and frightening". Claiming he is the Only Begotten, Satan tries to display his power with ranting and shouting in a hope that the noise and special effects will distract and shake Moses from his sure foundation of knowledge. For a moment is seems to work, as Moses "began to fear exceedingly". But this is where we see the real test and the real answer. You see repeating knowledge will only get us so far. When the tides and the temptations of the world are raging against us and our knowledge is tested (even our very knowledge of who the Saviour really is), when our mortal limits are reached - what do we do? We call upon God and in doing so, like Moses, we will be strengthened against whatever temptation is besetting us. Satan cannot withstand the power of a consistent prayer from a sincere heart. He can stand toe to toe with you and argue facts and twist knowledge but he cannot withstand the power that comes through prayer.

And the result of Moses prayer has to be one of the greatest tantrums on record. "Satan cried with a loud voice, weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth." What a performance! This guy's ambition and pride and desperation are ridiculous - he really, really wanted to be the Chosen One! (cf Moses 4:1 "I will be they Son"). It's so tragic and sad, it's pitiful.

But one other thing of note is to be learned from this 2nd semester field test. After Moses' prayer and after Satan's tantrum something happened that is very relevant to us: Satan "departed hence, even from the presence of Moses, that he beheld him not".

We all know the things that tempt us, individually. Imagine your life without just one of those temptations. One of the hardest things in this life is having to face a constant barrage of these things. Whether it be greed, word of wisdom, law of chastity, gambling - whatever the temptation is, the lesson we learn from Moses is that through prayer we can banish these temptations so that we "behold them not". Half the battle is having those things in front of you all the time and yet with simple sincere prayer we can receive the strength to banish them from our presence so that we behold them not. 

From personal experience I know this to be true. Despite whatever desire or determination we may have individually, prayer allows us to tap into divine powers that we just do not have if acting alone.

Semester 3 - Purpose of Creation Moses 1:24-42
Notice at the beginning of this semester Moses is given a refresher on what he learned in the first semester. Whether it is that he has had time to study, or his field test gave him greater understanding, or the refresher helped him see things differently, but Moses uses this refresher to ask two questions.
What are the two questions Moses asks at the beginning of this semester? (v.30)
Why do these worlds and we people exist?
How did you make them?
How does the Lord answer Moses' questions?
The simple answers are that he created them by "the word of my power" which he then defines as Christ. He also declares the reason in verse 39. A verse that is quoted verbatim by many Saints every week in lessons and sacrament meetings: "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man".

When Moses asks his questions did you notice the change in teaching style and location. At first, when he starts the semester off, he is being taught by vision and a voice (v.25-27). But as soon as he asks his questions it becomes personalized tutoring again (v.31): he is brought into the presence of God and is now, once more, talking with God "face to face". I'm not sure if there is a deeper relevance but it just demonstrates for me so effectively how much God loves us. I'm sure he has many methods of teaching us, from angels, and symbols and visions and the spirit and I'm sure with all his worlds and creations there is a lot to do and yet he takes the time to visit with Moses personally on this. And in so doing re-emphasizes the answer to Moses question. Why does this all exist? Because YOU are my existence! This is my work and my glory - my purpose, my raison d'etre, - to bring to pass your growth. My whole purpose is YOU!
It's not a great comparison but it reminds me so much of a child wanting to get the attention of their dad and the great satisfaction they get when their dad picks them up, looks them in the eye and says "I love you". Aside from the doctrinal learning here, underlying it all I just feel this great big "I love you" when I read these verses.

The reality is these verses are just the start of his third semester and in the coming weeks we will study more of what Moses learned from his Life Prep 101 course with the rest of the books of Moses. But there is no doubt that front and centre to all that is to come, Moses, Adam, the children of Israel, you and me, each one of us individually are His work and His glory. To me this beginning of scripture is an overwhelming testimony to the love God has for us. There is great doctrinal depth to be learned as you study these verses but if you are to gain nothing more than a testimony of His love for you personally and your worth to Him personally, you will be richer than most people alive today.

Additional study points:

• v.22 and v.41 I imagine of all the scripture that exists this chapter is one of the most damaging to Satan and his cause. Not only does it clearly contrast his character with God's but it clearly shows his battle plan against the Saints. And it shows how to defeat him. AND it shows him in his true non-divine like character: a sulking, desperate egotist who is unwilling to accept truth and who takes defeat really badly. Is it any wonder that he worked so hard to remove and hide these verses from the world?
• Comparing v.6 with v.25, I sense that these are parallel verses. They teach the very same thing in different ways with one exception. The same thing they teach in principle is that Moses is special: "my son" and "blessed". They teach that he is like the Saviour: "in similitude of mine Only Begotten" and "thou shalt be made stronger than many waters; for they shall obey thy command". They teach that there is only one God: "there is no God beside me" and "as if thou wert God"(implying he is not actually God - as there is only one God). But I sense one difference. In v.6 the Lord God tells him "I have a work for thee". It is an invitation to Moses. However in v.25 we see a change "I, the Almighty, have chosen thee and thou shalt be..."This is no longer an invitation. Moses answered the call and was found worthy in the second semester field test when he overcame the encounter with Satan through knowledge and prayer. Like all who are called, they must then qualify for the work. We are told that only a few do. But those few become "chosen". (cf D&C 4:3,5; D&C 121:34-36).
• v.25 There seems to be a deep link with water throughout Moses life. Moses name in Hebrew is Moshe (my 5 yr old son thinks Moses liked mashed potato because his Hebrew name sounds like it!). Moshe means to draw from and is a reference to the fact that he was drawn from the waters of the Nile as a baby. I believe this verse here in Moses 1 alludes not only to his overcoming the fate of other male babies of his day who were drowned in the Nile but also to his parting of the Red Sea and his producing water from the rock at Horeb. I would be fascinated to know if anyone else has studied more into this aspect of Moses' life. It is of course another facet wherein he was in similitude of the Saviour who is the Living Water and held power over the waves of the sea.
• Looking at the chapter in macro, you can also see a very simple portrayal of the basic tenets of the plan of salvation. We start in God's presence where we learn of our mission. We then come to earth where we experience the frailties of mortality and are tempted and tested as to our faithfulness. Eventually, if we are faithful we are able to return to God's presence as his chosen people to continue in learning and growing. This is alluded to in the beginning where it is as if Moses is already in the exceeding high mountain (v.1) and then after this is sent to earth (v.9) and once he passes the test he is caught up to return to God's presence (v.31).