Israel’s 40 years of desert wandering were almost over. God’s people were moving north along the eastern boundary of Moab. Soon they would turn west and wage war against the land of Canaan. Balak, king of Moab, felt trapped and afraid. What if the formidable Israelites invaded and seized his territory? Perhaps Balak had trusted…

Moses appoints 12 men to spy out the land of Canaan, each man a tribal leader in Israel. The spies are to bring back answers to some key questions. How heavily is Canaan populated? Are its people militarily strong? Are its cities fortified? Is its soil fertile? Is it rich with natural resources? After investigating…

Miriam envies her younger brother. Who does Moses think he is? Why has he assumed leadership of the nation of Israel? Her brother’s second marriage gives Miriam an opportunity to complain and criticize. Apparently, Zipporah (Moses’ Midianite wife) is dead. Miriam’s new sister-in-law is a Cushite. Does Miriam resent the woman because of her dark…

Moses marries a Cushite woman. Probably, his first wife has died, and this woman is a second spouse. Miriam is critical of her brother’s marriage. Maybe she doesn’t like her new sister-in-law’s black skin, or maybe she feels threatened. As a prophetess Miriam is the “first lady” of Israel and wants to keep it that…

The people of Israel are in the desert. And they aren’t happy. It’s really hard to be happy when we idealize the past and take present blessings for granted. The Hebrews remember that in Egypt they relished tasty foods of all kinds–fish, onions, garlic, cucumbers, leeks, melons. They forget their cruel bondage and God’s magnificent…

God has freed the people of Israel from Egyptian bondage and in the Red Sea given them a stunning victory over their taskmasters. But the Hebrews aren’t happy. They are hungry. How are they to survive in the desert? No fertile soil — no water — no crop — no food. Trusting the Lord may…

  The last of the ten plagues on Egypt is deadly and decisive. Every firstborn child dies at midnight. No family escapes. The firstborn of the lowliest prisoner in the dungeon – dead. The firstborn of Pharaoh himself – dead. The plague throws the nation into a paroxysm of panic and grief. The Egyptians urge…

   Brent Smith  [Brent Smith is the preaching minister of the Trenton Church of Christ in Trenton, Tennessee.] Have you ever been in that happy place where everything was good in your life, if only for a little while? Was it a graduation, a wedding, a honeymoon or the birth of your child? Maybe you…