Old Testament Summary Lesson 14: “Ye Shall Be A Peculiar Treasure Unto Me”

Manna, the “Bread” That Kept Israelites Alive: “. . . it was the special duty of the housewife to bake the bread for the Sabbath . . . Two such loaves are placed on the festive Sabbath table as a symbol for the double portion of manna which the Israelites in the wilderness received every Friday . . .” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
Israel Complained–not Enough Water: In the exodus, Moses provided them with a miracle source of water as he struck the rock. Yet, Moses, was not their “deliverer.” The deliverance always comes from “The Rock of Salvation,” “The Fountain of Living Waters.” “In the Ashkenazi rite, a hymn called Ma’oz Zur (O Fortress, Rock of my salvation) is sung.” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)

Moses Had a Governing Body of Twelve Elders: There was a representative from each tribe. “These are those that were numbered . . . and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers.” (Numbers 1:44) This order was continued after Moses as well. “Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.” (Joshua 3:12)
Modern Judaism vs. Biblical: The modern Jewish concept is that the Law of Moses is for the Jews and the Law of Noah (Noachide Laws) are for the Gentiles. The Apostle Paul explains the proper perception of the same law for everyone as he spoke to King Agrippa at Caesarea. “. . . saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26:22-23)