Study Desk

After the people saw that Moses had been on the mountain for a long time, they went to Aaron and said, "Make us an image of a god who will lead and protect us. Moses brought us out of Egypt, but nobody knows what has happened to him."

and I'm angry enough to destroy them, so don't try to stop me. But I will make your descendants into a great nation.

But Moses replied, "It doesn't sound like they are shouting because they have won or lost a battle. They are singing wildly!"

They even told me, "That man Moses led us out of Egypt, but now we don't know what has happened to him. Make us a god to lead us."

Moses said to them, "You obeyed the Lord and did what was right, and so you will serve as his priests for the people of Israel. It was hard for you to kill your own sons and brothers, but the Lord has blessed you and made you his priests today."

The next day Moses told the people, "This is a terrible thing you have done. But I will go back to the Lord to see if I can do something to keep this sin from being held against you."

But I beg you to forgive them. If you don't, please wipe my name out of your book."

Now take my people to the place I told you about, and my angel will lead you. But when the time comes, I will punish them for this sin."

It is a land rich with milk and honey, and I will send an angel to force out those people who live there—the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. I would go with my people, but they are so rebellious that I would destroy them before they get there.

Even before the Lord said these harsh things, he had told Moses, "These people really are rebellious, and I would kill them at once, if I went with them. But tell them to take off their fancy jewelry, then I'll decide what to do with them." So the people started mourning,

Then they would bow down because a thick cloud would come down in front of the tent, and the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, just like a friend. Afterwards, Moses would return to camp, but his young assistant Joshua would stay at the tent.

Moses said to the Lord , "I know that you have told me to lead these people to the land you promised them. But you have not told me who my assistant will be. You have said that you are my friend and that you are pleased with me.

But if you do go with us, everyone will know that you are pleased with your people and with me. That way, we will be different from the rest of the people on earth."

but I won't let you see my face, because anyone who sees my face will die.

I keep my promises to my people forever, but I also punish anyone who sins. When people sin, I punish them and their children, and also their grandchildren and great-grandchildren."

He prayed, " Lord , if you really are pleased with me, I pray that you will go with us. It is true that these people are sinful and rebellious, but forgive our sin and let us be your people."

I will force out the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, but you must do what I command you today.

Moses came down from Mount Sinai, carrying the Ten Commandments. His face was shining brightly because the Lord had been speaking to him. But Moses did not know at first that his face was shining.

You have six days in which to do your work. But the seventh day must be dedicated to me, your Lord , as a day of rest. Whoever works on the Sabbath will be put to death.

Not only has the Lord filled him with his Spirit, but he has given him wisdom and made him a skilled craftsman who can create objects of art with gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood.