Exodus

Moses - the Egyptian

God promised to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations through Isaac, His son of promise. Some four hundred years have passed, since Jacob, son of Isaac, went to Egypt due to a famine. His family has grown into the millions but living in slavery. During this time Egypt was taken over by a new dynasty who knew nothing about Egypt’s past and never heard of Joseph. Pharaoh ordered every son born to the Hebrews was to be cast into the Nile. Moses’s mother hid him until he was found by Pharaoh’s daughter. For forty years he was trained in the ways of the Egyptian royalty. For fear of the wrath of Pharaoh, he fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian for mistreating a Hebrew slave. For the next forty years, he herded sheep for Reuel, a priest of Midian, also referred to as Jethro. Then God called Moses to go to Egypt to deliver Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s descendants from bondage. (Exodus 1 – 2)

Key Point from Moses - the Egyptian ➢ God is faithful. He saw the Israelites' condition and remembered his promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. ➢ God chose Moses to deliver His people out of their bondage of slavery. ➢ Centuries later God sent Jesus of Nazareth to deliver His people out of their bondage of sin.

Moses - Called by God

After killing the Egyptian Moses fled Egypt and lived in Median for forty years tending sheep. The Children of Israel had become great in number so much so that the new Pharaoh was fearful they might align themselves with another ruler. “Therefore, they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel.” (Exodus 1:11-13)

One day when Moses was keeping the flock of sheep God spoke to him saying “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” … “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey.” … “Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” (Ex 3:6; 7-8;10) Moses felt inadequate but reluctantly went after God showed him the power of His miracles to convince the Egyptians and Israelites that God was in control. (Exodus 3 - 4:17)

Key Points from Moses - Called by God ➢ God told Moses to GO but Moses said send someone else which angered God. Do we anger God by not doing His will which He has given to us in inspired word, the Bible? ➢ The Children of Israel multiplied greatly while being persecuted. So did the 1st-century Christians.

Moses, The Deliverer

Moses had spent 40 years in Egypt being trained in all the ways of the Egyptians and another 40 years as a shepherd being trained by God to lead His people from Egypt to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For the next forty years he led God’s Children out of physical bondage.

Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, perhaps his adopted mother’s father or her brother, requesting him to allow the Israelites go to the wilderness to hold a feast and worship God. Pharaoh refused saying “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” (Exodus 5:2) Moreover, “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. (Exodus 5:7-8)

The people grumbled saying “you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” (Exodus 5:21) This will not be the last time they grumble and complain.

Key Point from Moses, The Deliverer ➢ God desires for His people to worship Him and not to constantly complain.

The Plagues

Moses begins to deliver God’s message to Pharaoh whom God allowed to come to power to display His power. Initially, no one is impressed. Then Pharaoh’s magicians and others began to waiver but not Pharaoh. Each time he rejected God’s plea through Moses, it became easier for him to reject God again – he hardened is own heart. With each new plague of destruction increases so much so that “Pharaoh's servants said to him, ‘How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?’” (Exodus 9:32)

Finally, Pharaoh had had enough when he said, “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.” Moses said, “As you say! I will not see your face again.” (Exodus 10:28-29) Moses begins to prepare the Israelites for their departure from Egyptian slavery. (Exodus 7 – 11)

Key Points from The Plagues ➢ “The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." Do we know God as the loving savior or just know about God? Does God know us? ➢ Constant denying God’s plea hardens the heart making it easier to reject again until it becomes too late.

Crossing Over

The firstborn of the Egyptians died, and as a result, Pharaoh told Moses to take the Israelites and get out! The Passover had been celebrated and the Israelites having left Egypt faced the Red Sea. God went before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army in pursuit. With the Red Sea in front and Pharaoh’s army behind, fear filled the hearts of the Israelites. Moses urged them to “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:13-14) “Then … the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.” (Exodus 14:21-22)

Pharaoh’s army pursued the Israelites into the midst of the sea and the Lord threw the Egyptian forces into a panic as the sea returned to its normal course covering the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. (Exodus 14:23-29)

Key Point from Crossing Over ➢ The Israelites were delivered from the bondage of physical slavery and to eventually their earthly land of promise. ➢ If those in Christ stand firm in their faith, they will be delivered from eternal slavery to Heaven their promised land with God. ➢ Fear and lack of trust in God result in bad decisions.

Feeding and Caring for a New Nation

FREE at last! They traveled for three days in the wilderness and began to grumble for lack of water and food. God provided good water and food from heaven called manna which continued for forty years. Again, they complained and grumbled about water. In fact, they appeared not to recall all God did and is doing for them.

With such a multitude of people, constant conflicts among them need to be resolved which Moses was overwhelmed as he attempted to do by himself. At Jethro's recommendation, Moses appointed men by sections to help and the people ceased being weary. (Exodus 15 – 17)

Key Point from Feeding and Caring for a New Nation ➢ God is always faithful and just and displeased with our grumbling.

• Sinai

Three months had passed since the Israelites departed Egypt and crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. God had brought them out of slavery, destroyed the Egyptian army, and gave them food and water, even after their much grumbling. Now they are encamped in the wilderness before Mt. Sinai.

The Lord said to Moses “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples. … All the people answered together and said, ‘All that the Lord has spoken we will do.’” (Exodus 19:3-5; 8)

They consecrated themselves to meet God. God directed Moses to set limits lest they die. “There was thunder and lightning and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast so that all the people in the camp trembled as the people stood before the mountain. God called Moses to come to the top of the mountain. Here God delivered to Moses the Ten Commandments.

• "You shall have no other gods before me.
• "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the

children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

• "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
• "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
• "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
• "You shall not murder.
• "You shall not commit adultery.
• "You shall not steal.
• "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
• "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's." (Exodus 20:3-17)

Key Point from Mt. Sinai ➢ If you obey God fully and keep His covenant, then you will be God’s Holy people. This applies today just as it did then.

Rules for the New Nation to Live by

The Ten Commandments had been given to the Israelites. Now laws, rules and regulations to govern the new nation who were slaves a short time ago. Worshiping God:

• Make no idols
• Make an altar of earth or stone to sacrifice burnt offerings

Dealing with people:

• Hebrew slave
• Sell daughter
• Strife by fighting
• Stealing
• Cursing parents

Justice

• Seduction
• Sorceress
• Sex with animals
• Lending money
• Respect for God and rulers

Key Point from Rules for the New Nation to Live by

➢ God’s people must deal righteously in justice and mercy with others based upon a clear understanding of laws, rules and regulations.

Covenant and Tabernacle

Moses told the people the Word of the Lord and all its rules. He wrote them down, built an altar, offered burnt and peace offerings to God, and sprinkled blood on the altar and on the people stating “then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, ‘All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.’ And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, ‘Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.’” (Exodus 24:7-8)

God said “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give - a free will offering.” (Exodus 25:2) From these freely given items God gave Moses detailed instruction to build a tabernacle which would include within as a place He could dwell with them:

• Ark covered by the Mercy seat to hold His testimony
• Table of for bread
• Golden lampstand
• Bronze altar

Key Points from Covenant and Tabernacle ➢ God entered into a covenant with them which Moses read to them, stored it safely in the ark where God’s presence dwelled. They responded – “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.” ➢ Those in the covenant came in contact with the blood of the sacrifice. ➢ Christ has made a New Covenant with all who put their trust in and obey Him by coming in contact with the blood through baptism allowing God to put them into Christ’s Kingdom. We must not turn back but remain faithful, do His will, diligently study His word storing it in our hearts, then He will give eternal life.

Worship and Priest Items

God continued to provide instruction on worship, appearance of and actions by priests while fulfilling their duties. Colorful garments showed people who were God’s priests. Other items were for them to perform their duties;

• Breastplate of judgment
• Ephod
• Robe
• Checkered coat
• Turban
• Sash

Specific formulas were given for making anointing oil and incense. They were not to be used as personal items on the body. “Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests. Say to the Israelites, ‘This is to be my sacred anointing oil for the generations to come. Do not pour it on men's bodies and do not make any oil with the same formula. It is sacred, and you are to consider it sacred.

Whoever makes perfume like it and whoever puts it on anyone other than a priest must be cut off from his people.’” (Exodus 30:30-33)

Their day of sacrifice and worship was established - “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites, you must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy. Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people.’” (Exodus 31:12-15)

Key Points from Worship and Priest Items ➢ To come before God, one must be consecrated and be clothed in the clothing required of God. For the Christian, they must be put in the Christ Body by God and clothed in righteousness.

Idol Worship and Consequences

The people heard God call Moses up into the mountain, they were fearful and afraid of God while in His in their presence but soon forgot Him. False sacrifices and worship practices were established which brought them terrible consequences because they failed to follow God’s covenant with them.

How soon they forgot!! While Moses was on the mount, they built a golden image and worshipped it as the god who delivered them from Egyptian slavery. Moses was very displeased and said “You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” God told Moses “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for Me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.” And God sent a plague on the people because of the calf they had made. (Exodus 32:30; 33- 35)

They leave the wilderness of Sanai to go to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob led by the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.

Key Point from Idol Worship and Consequences ➢ Whoever sinned against God then and now without forgiveness will be blotted out of the Book of Life. ➢ Forgiveness is in Christ to all who obey and live according to His will.