Bible Study Lessons from the Wilderness of Sinai

When the Israelites left Rephidim, they went to the Wilderness of Sinai and camped before the mountain. (Exodus 19:2)

It was here that God gave them the 10 Commandments. (Exodus 20:1-17)

God also gave them other rules and regulations and The Israelites answered in unity saying, “We will do all what the Lord has said.” (Exodus 24:3)

Mistake #1 Disobedience 

However, when God called Moses to go up the mountain and he was there for 40 days  (Exodus 24:18) the Israelites spoke to Aaron and said, “Make us gods who will go before us for we do not know what has become of this man Moses who brought us out of Egypt.” (Exodus 32:1)  

Aaron asked them to bring their gold earrings and he molded them into a calf. The Israelites proclaimed, “This is your god who brought you out of Egypt.” (Exodus 32:4) Aaron also built an altar before it and they offered offerings to it. (Exodus 32:5)   

These actions were blatant disobedience of the 1^st and 2^nd commandments which are:

1. I am the Lord your God Who brought you out of Egypt and you shall not have other gods before me. (Exodus 20:2-3)

2. You shall not make any graven image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or in the earth beneath or in the water underneath. You shall not bow down to them or serve them. (Exodus 20:4-5)

Click here to learn the other 10 Commandments

Their actions made God say to Moses, “I have seen that these are a stiff necked people therefore let My anger destroy them and I will make you into a great nation.” (Exodus 32:9)

Moses pleaded with God on behalf of the Israelites but when he went down from the mountain into the camp and found them unrestrained, he called all those who were on God’s side to come to him. Those who were on God’s side went through the camp and killed around 3,000 men who were not. (Exodus 32:25-28)

God also plagued the Israelites because of what they did with the golden calf made by Aaron. (Exodus 32:35)

Lesson #1

Do not disobey the commandments of God if you do not want to die or spend 40 years wandering in your physical, financial or social wilderness. 

Lesson #2

Be patient even if you do not see or hear God.

The Israelites made the golden calf because God had called Moses to go up the mountain and he was there for 40 days. (Exodus 24:18) They therefore said, “Make us gods who will go before us for we do not know what has become of this man Moses who brought us out of Egypt.” (Exodus 32:1)  

Therefore even if you are in a problematic situation and you do not know what God is doing about your situation because you have not heard from Him in a while, be patient and do not begin looking for other alternatives to solve your problems. Decide to hold on and wait for Him.

Click here for the Exodus Bible Study which shows you all the things that kept the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for 40 years (14,600 days) instead of taking 11 days to move from Egypt to their Promised Land.