Page 24 - Biblical Backgrounds student textbook

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version). Some scholars have argued that the phrase should be translated “Sea of Reeds.” These same
scholars have claimed the location of this Sea of Reeds was a lake which is now part of the Suez Canal
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system. Vos argues ultimately argues against this view and for the traditional view that the Sea should
be understood as the Red Sea. His reasoning for this is complex, but it is broadly based references to the
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Sea in the Old and New Testament as well as archeological findings from this period. For the pastor
there is probably little importance regarding which route they took other than simply knowing where
God led the people during their wanderings. The important point is that they followed God through the
Sinai Peninsula to the promised land. Knowing the route is very important if one is looking for artifacts
that show the historicity of the Old Testament.

The government during the wilderness wandering

The Jewish people who took part in the exodus came from a totalitarian regime. They had operated
under an absolute ruler in the Pharaoh. The government transition for these newly freed people was
large. In many ways, the government of the people of God during this period resembled “theocracy.” A
theocracy is a government by immediate divine guidance. The reason for saying this is that God directed
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the movements of the people during this period. God frequently told Moses what to do during Israel’s
journey to the promised land.

During this period, Moses also served as God’s appointed leader. Moses’ authority involved legal and
judicial administration. Early on in the wilderness wonderings, Moses sat all day and provided to
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judgment on cases that members of God’s people brought before him (Exod. 18:13). Ultimately,
however, on the counsel of his father-in-law, Jethro, Moses established a legal system with a hierarchy
of courts. This allowed for him to delegate much of this work to others. Moses also occasionally served
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as the commander-in-chief of the military in this period.

As we have seen this means the people of God went from being under a Pharaoh to being under Moses.
Under Moses they went to him directly for a time, and then Moses delegated this job to handpicked
men. Under this government structure, there were also leaders in the tribes. In the tribes, families likely
came under the authority of a patriarch.

Religious practice in the wilderness wandering

In this period, God promoted holiness in the life of the people. God provided specific laws, which were
to serve as directive for living. God also provided festivals and feasts during this period as well as a
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tabernacle, which provided the basis for the Israelites’ corporate worship. Finally, God also established
the priesthood. The priests of Israel offered sacrifices on behalf of the people of God and represented
the people to God.

54 Voss, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Manners and Customs, 87.
55 Ibid.
56 Ibid.
57 Ibid., 88.
58 Ibid., 89.
59 Ibid., 89.
60 Ibid., 89.
61 Ibid., 90.

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