GET READY
Genesis describes the creation of the heavens and the earth and lays out the beginning of the family that God called to be his presence in the world. Exodus tells of the next two major events in this family – the escape from slavery in Egypt and the delivery of God’s laws for the nation of Israel.
Author
Exodus is the second book of the Torah and most scholars accept Moses as the author. In fact when God delivers the law to Moses he tells him: Write these words; in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel, [Exodus 34:27]. The author clearly was closely involved in the events of this history and the several conversations with God; since he was raised as a prince of Egypt he would have the education and qualifications to record the story.
As with Genesis, some scholars point to the different writing styles and differences in the story lines as evidence that more than one person wrote parts of Exodus. Whether it was Moses or someone else (most likely a secretary or group of aides), the writer(s) relied on the Hebrew oral tradition for the stories about the exodus and formation of Israel as a nation.
Context
Exodus begins 400 years after Israel (Jacob) and his sons moved to Egypt to avoid the region-wide famine. A “new king” rules the land and he “does not know Joseph,” [1:8]. In fact, Jacob’s descendants have greatly multiplied, but they are now slaves and their lives are “bitter with hard service,” [1:14].
Most scholars date the exodus around 1440 BCE (although some put it around 1280 BCE). The book opens with the birth of Moses and his early life as an adopted member of Pharaoh’s family, followed by his killing of an Egyptian and subsequent escape to Midian. There he becomes a shepherd, marries and has a family. God calls him back to Egypt to confront pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of slavery to the land God had promised Abraham. The book then follows the Israelites on their journey to Sinai where God delivers the law to the people through Moses.
It should not be surprising that the exodus occurred during a period of relative peace throughout the region, largely because Egypt and the other major countries were less powerful. God was protecting his people in large, geo-political ways as well as small, personal ways.
Structure
There are three major sections in the Exodus narrative:
- Moses’ early life and Israel’s slavery in Egypt [1:1-12:36] – includes Moses in Midian, the burning bush and God’s call to Moses, Moses at Pharaoh’s court and the ten plagues, and preparation for the Passover.
- Israel’s departure from Egypt into the wilderness [12:37-18:27] – includes the Israelites’ miraculous escape through the “Red Sea,” God’s destruction of the Egyptian army, and manna, quail and water from God to feed the Israelites.
- Mt. Sinai and the Ten Commandments [19:1-40:38] – includes giving the commandments, the Israelites’ sin of the golden calf, and construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings.
Major Themes
Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other God’s before me, [Exodus 20:1-3].
Exodus is first the story of God’s relationship with people – with us. It continues the story of his relationship with the family of Abraham that began in Genesis.
Exodus also is the story of slavery and redemption, of God’s love and care for his people and their sin and disobedience:
- God is powerful and uses his power on behalf of people.
- God displays his power so people will understand who he is.
- God works through individuals to achieve his purposes.
- Humans are stuck because they ignore God (and they ignore God because they are stuck).
Jesus will complete the Exodus story by redeeming all people from their slavery to sin and giving them a life of fellowship with God through his death and resurrection.
Exodus also describes the beginning of Israel’s transformation from a group slaves with no hope and no power into a nation that can carry out God’s plan for his creation.
There are three very significant events in Exodus that influence Jewish life and worship today:
- Passover is the remembrance of God’s deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt [Lesson 9].
- God separated the waters and led his people through the “Red Sea” to escape from the Egyptian army.
- God delivered his law for the Israelites through Moses and confirmed his covenant with his people at Mt. Sinai [Lesson 10].
GET INTO THE WORD
1. Who wrote Exodus? What evidence points to the author? What are other possibilities the writer?
2. What is the primary subject of this book? Why would these events be so important to Israel? To the author? What is their effect on Jewish people today? On Christians? On people of other faiths?
3. What time period does Exodus cover? What is the situation at the beginning of this book? How does this relate to the events in Genesis?
4. Who is the main character in this book? Where is he? What is his occupation? Why is he in this situation? What happens to him here?
5. What does God call Moses to do? How do you suppose he reacted to this task? How might you have reacted?
6. What are the major parts of Exodus? What are some of the events in each part? How does the people’s status change in each part?
7. What is the primary theme of Exodus? What attributes of God does the book present? What attributes of humans are portrayed? Who will “finish” the work begun in Exodus?
Note . . .
Scholars trace “Hebrew” to an earlier word meaning “pass over” or “land beyond.” Abraham came from “beyond” the Euphrates River, which he “passed over.”
Bible Trivia:
God inflicted ten plagues on Egypt to convince Pharaoh to let the Hebrews leave:
1. The Nile River turns to blood – killing a food source.
2. Frogs infest the land – escaping the polluted river.
3. Lice infest the land – or fleas, gnats or sand flies.
4. Flies infest the land – some could spread disease.
5. Livestock are infested – but not the Israelites’ cattle.
6. Boils on people and animals, probably from the flies.
7. Hail storms – destroy most of the crops.
8. Locusts destroy the rest of Egypt’s agriculture.
9. Intense darkness for 3 days – except in the region where the Israelites lived.
10. Egyptian first-born children die, including Pharaoh’s son – but the angel of death passes over Israelite homes. [Details: Exodus 7:14-12:30]
8: God calls Moses at the Burning Bush — Exodus 3:1-22
GET READY
What is your first response to something that seems like magic or an impossibility? Do you just ignore it as “magic” or “fake” and walk away, or do you investigate and try to find a logical or scientific explanation for what you observed? Or do you get involved to see what will happen next?
THE WORD
3Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
7 Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. 10So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” 11But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12He said, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.”
The Divine Name Revealed
13But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.'” 15God also said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’:
This is my name forever, and this my title for all generations.
16Go and assemble the elders of Israel, and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying: I have given heed to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt. 17I declare that I will bring you up out of the misery of Egypt, to the land of the Canaanites, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ 18They will listen to your voice; and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; let us now go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’
19I know, however, that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. 20So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will perform in it; after that he will let you go. 21I will bring this people into such favor with the Egyptians that, when you go, you will not go empty-handed; 22each woman shall ask her neighbor and any woman living in the neighbor’s house for jewelry of silver and of gold, and clothing, and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters; and so you shall plunder the Egyptians.” NRSV
GET INTO THE WORD
1. Where is Moses as this chapter begins? What is he doing? What does he notice happening? What does he do about it?
2. Who calls to Moses? How does Moses react? What happens next? How does the caller identify himself? What does Moses do in response?
3. What does God tell Moses? What does he plan to do about this situation? Who does he want to take on this task? How does Moses answer God? What does God say in response?
4. What does Moses do next? Why might this be important? How does God answer Moses’ question? What does God say about his name? Do you think this satisfied Moses?
5. How does God propose Moses begins his work? What should he tell the people? What should he say to Pharaoh? How will Pharaoh respond to Moses’ request?
6. What will God do to change Pharaoh’s mind? How will the people of Egypt respond to the Israelites’?
GET PERSONAL
How has God rescued you from a situation of “misery and suffering?” How did God “bring you up out” of the situation? How has this affected your walk with Christ?
NOTES . . .
3:1. Midian— Midian was one of Abraham’s sons by his second wife, Keturah, [Gen 25:2].
Horeb, the mountain of God— later called “Sinai.” Many contemporary cultures believed their gods lived on (or in) mountains.
3:2. Flame of fire out of a bush— attempted explanations for the burning bush include bright red or orange leaves or berries or possible gas exuding from the bush; but God speaking from a burning bush is no more strange than speaking through three angels who suddenly appear, [check Gen 18:2].
3:5. Remove the sandals— it still is a common practice in the Middle East to remove one’s shoes when entering a home or other dwelling to avoid bringing in the ever-present dust.
3:6. God of your father— God identifies himself as the God of the covenant with Abraham.
3:8. Canaanites— a generic term for the people then inhabiting the land, as well as one of the tribes. Hittites and Amorites are referred to in ancient sources, but Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites are not mentioned except in the Bible.
3:11. Who am I— Moses objects to God’s call with an apparent reference to his lack of qualifications (which is ironic in view of his upbringing as an Egyptian prince).
3:12. Worship— God’s purpose in rescuing the Israelites. It is ironic the Hebrew word for worship also means “to be a slave.”
3:13. What shall I say to them— next Moses seems to challenge God’s identity.
3:14. I AM— the Hebrew is the four consonants: “YHWH” – pronounced “Yahweh” and Anglicized as “Jehovah.” Modern Bible translations often use “Lord.” It is the verb “to be” or “to
exist” – so God IS! It is his name as well as his title or identifier.
3:18. God of the Hebrews— to distinguish Yahweh from the many Egyptian deities.
3:20. Stretch out my mighty hand— the ten plagues [see Introduction] God used to convince Pharaoh to release the Israelites.
3:22. Silver and gold— God promised Abraham the people would “come out with great possessions,” [Gen 15:14].
MEMORY VERSE
I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will perform in it; after that he will let you go, [Exodus 3:20].
LESSON 9
Exodus 12: the Passover and departure from Egypt.
I have never heard that the Hebrew word for “worship” can also mean “slave”? did I read that correctly–it’s funny that I always think of Charlten Heston when I think of Moses–wasn’t it him that played Moses in the movie “Exodus” ? Strange how the visual of the movie makes this all seem unreal..didn’t happen–I guess because movies–especially back when this was made were mostly fantasy.