Leviticus 11:44-45 For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. For I am the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

The Israelites are the descendents of Abraham and are God's chosen people. They were chosen because of God's promise to Abraham and not because they were better than other people. It was also a great responsibility being part of the elected, which was not always a good thing in the eyes of the Israelites. However, as a result of Abraham being so faithful, God had promised him that his descendents would be blessed.The journey of the Israelites was "up and down". They lived four hundred years in slavery until the Lord freed them from Egyptian bondage. God promised them a new home. However, the Israelites rebelled against God and, as a consequence, He let them wander around in the wildnerness for 40 years. Eventually, He allowed them to enter into the Promised Land.

During the time of the Israelites wandering in the wildnerness, we can learn a lot about God's character:
1. God keeps His promises
2. God loves His people
3. God hates sin
4. God wants us to be faithful to Him.

Which of these things do you have to learn today? jk

Additional verses to study: Genesis7:1-4; Deut. 7:6-9; Psalm 33:12; Matthew 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23; John 15:16; Acts 10; Romans 14