Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Exodus
Acknowledgements Cartoons are by Jack Foster and are Copyright to him. They have been reproduced by kind permission. Copyright Castle Church 2012 Castle Church Office Castle Church Hall Newport Road Stafford ST16 1DP 01785 241894 www.castlechurch.org.uk admin@castlechurch.org.uk
Contents
Page
Introduction Exodus 1:1-22 Exodus 2:1-25 Exodus 3:1-4:17 Exodus 4:18-31 Exodus 5:1-21 Exodus 5:22-6:12 Exodus 6:13-7:13 Exodus 7:14-10:29 Exodus 11:1-10 Exodus 12:1-30 Exodus 12:31-50 Exodus 13:1-14:31 Exodus 15:1-21
4 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31
Introduction
Last November we ended our 4 years of Autumn sermon series in the book of Genesis. We saw how mankind fell away from his creator preferring to go his own way, ruling his own life. But we also saw how God loved us so much, He always had a plan to rescue us. Through Abraham He made a special covenant with His people. A covenant promise that he would give His people a special land, many descendants and he would bless them and make them a blessing to others. As well as Abraham, we saw how that covenant was worked out in the lives of Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. When we left Genesis, Gods people were happily living in a fertile region of Egypt and life was good. But Egypt wasnt the promised covenant land and over the years life became difficult. After summarising the end of Genesis, the opening verses of Exodus are stark: Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, but the Israelites were fruitful and multiplied greatly and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them. Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt. Look, he said to his people, the Israelites have become much too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country. So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labour.
The word Exodus is a Greek word that literally means going out or departing. Our true story is all about how God miraculously rescues His people from their slavery and guides them back towards their covenant land. In this series, were going to get as far as Chapter 15 when they physically manage to escape across the Red Sea. Well return next Autumn to see how God gives them a framework for existing as His people when theyre free and not under slavery. Our journey will take in some famous bible stories that you might know; Moses in the bulrushes, Moses at the burning bush, the ten plagues etc. They may be familiar stories but we want to come to them afresh to get a much bigger and better understanding about the God who rescues.
Exodus
The following pages take us through the passages that will be preached on each Sunday. The 20 minutes or so we have to look at Mediterranean Sea the text cannot do justice to the text. Sometimes we wont have Israel time to read the longer sections in the services. If you are prepared to read them in advance and think Egypt through the questions, you will get so much more out of the series. River Those same questions will be used Nile in many of our home groups. Why not start the new series by joining Red Sea one? Begin by saying a short prayer asking God to help you know and understand more about Him by reading the passage. Read the passage slowly, if possible a couple of times. Maybe divide the longer passages over a few days of the week. Try and answer the questions for yourself. Dont worry if you struggle understanding, maybe the sermo n will help clarify things. If you miss the Sunday sermon for some reason, make a commitment to catching up by watching the Castle Church Vimeo Channel on the internet (linked from the downloads section of the website www.castlechurch.org.uk). Finally say a prayer asking that God would help you put into practice what you have learned or maybe say a prayer thanking God for His character as shown in the bible text youve read.
Cyprus
6
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
9.
10. What is Pharaohs next step (v. 22)? What do you think he expects to happen next? What do you expect to happen next? 11. What perspective does this passage give on our own experiences of suffering and persecution?
Whats In A Name?
As weve seen before, bible names arent just random! They say something about the person. The name Moses was probably an Egyptian name but became popular with the Hebrews. It relates to the names of other great Egyptians of that period (e.g. the Pharaohs Ahmose, Thutmose.) Moses literally means draw out so the phrase 'drew him out' (v. 10) is a Hebrew pun on the name, emphasising the baby's rescue from the waters of the Nile. The name became even more appropriate as Moses' great life work of drawing the Israelites out of Egypt took shape.
2.
3.
God is not mentioned in 2:1-10. How can we see that he is at work in this situation? What prompts Moses to kill the Egyptian (v. 11-12)? Where do his loyalties lie? When Moses sees the two Hebrews fighting, what does he do? Why do you think the Israelite man responds so negatively (v.14)? What is Pharaohs response? How is Moses saved this time? (v. 15) Moses runs to Midian where he meets and marries his wife. Why does he name his son Gershom? Where do his loyalties lie? What sort of upbringing did Moses have? Why do you think God gave him this background? What was life like for the Israelites at this time (vv. 23-25)? How do they respond? How does God respond? 10. Moses lives in the Egyptian palace and then in the land of Midian, but throughout, he identifies as an Israelite. What can we learn from Moses about living as an alien in a foreign land as Christians?
4.
5.
6. 7. 8. 9.
10
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
7.
Does it matter that Moses doesnt have the qualities he thinks a leader should have? Why not? Eventually Moses runs out of excuses and just pleads for God to send someone else. How does God respond (vv. 14-17)? Why?
8.
God could have chosen a leader who lived among the Israelites, who was confident and eloquent. Why do you think he chose Moses instead? What qualities does God actually require of his leaders? Look at Is 53:2-3. 10. If God chose Moses to lead his people out of Egypt, is there anyone he couldnt choose? What about you?
9.
4. 5.
6.
Moses who is endangered, not his son? Think about the role of fathers in Israelite households. 7. 8. 9. What is Aarons role in Moses ministry? How do the Israelites respond to what Aaron tells them and the miracles they perform? Do miracles always lead to faith and worship? Does the message of Gods rescue plan always lead to faith and worship?
10. Why do the Israelites respond with faith and worship, while Pharaoh will respond with a hardened heart? Why do some people accept the gospel message and not others?
Confronting A Pharaoh!
Pharaoh was not only the king of Egypt; the Egyptians regarded him as a divine person; he was a god (v. 2). Consequently when Moses and Aaron asked Pharaoh to accede to the command of Yahweh, Pharaoh saw it as a threat to his sovereignty. He knew (i.e., had respect for) the gods of Egypt, but he did not know (have respect for) Yahweh, the God of his foreign slaves. If Yahweh had identified Himself with these slaves, and if He had not already delivered them, why should Pharaoh fear and obey Him?
4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
This is a different Pharaoh from the one in Exodus 1. In what ways is his attitude the same as his predecessors? See 1: 8-14. What does Pharaoh do to stop Moses and Aaron leading the people out into the desert? The Israelite foremen first complain to Pharaoh and then to Moses and Aaron. What is their complaint? Why has their attitude changed so much since 4:29-31? In what ways do our own circumstances (work, family, health etc.) affect our faith? How do we respond to this?
This wall painting, from a Egyptian tomb is interesting because the workers are not Egyptian, pointing to the fact that foreign slave labour was readily used in major building projects.
16
17
7.
8. 9.
19
3. 4. 5.
6. 7.
Pharaoh does:
2.
The pattern isnt always exactly the same. Whats different in 8:1 15? Whats different in 8:1-19? If you have time, look through the other plagues to see where they follow the pattern and where they are different. Each time, the Lord tells Moses and Aaron to say the same thing to Pharaoh, Let my people go. What is the status of the Israelites in Egypt? Earlier in Exodus, the Lord has called Israel his
21
3.
firstborn son. On what basis does God tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go? 4. 5. Each time, the Lord warns Pharaoh what will happen if he does not let the people go. Why doesnt Pharaoh let the people go? Each time, Moses and Aaron perform the miracle and the plague comes just as God said. What is God demonstrating through these plagues? See 8:10, 8:22-23, 9:29, 10:1-2 On some occasions, the magicians are able to copy the miracles, but in the later plagues they cannot. What is God demonstrating through these miracles? What can we learn about God from his judgement on the Egyptians? How should we respond to Gods judgement? Pharaoh shows some signs of relenting as the plagues increase: 8:8, 8:25-28, 9:27-28, 10:7-11, 16-17, 10:24. What prompts him to say these things? What has he learned during the plagues? When each plague ends, how does Pharaoh respond? (8:15, 8:32, 9:34-35, 10:21, 10:27-28). What does this show about his heart?
6.
7. 8.
9.
10. Why do some people appear to show signs of understanding the gospel but then harden their hearts? What can we do to help in this situation?
22
4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Who will be afflicted by this final plague (11:4-6)? Why does the Lord target the firstborn sons? Who will not be afflicted by this final plague (11:7)? What does this show about Gods judgement? What will be the end result of this plague (11:8)? How will Pharaoh be affected by this final plague (11:9-10)? Why does God arrange for things to happen this way? How do the events of the final plague help us to understand Gods salvation of his people through Christ?
10. What is the ultimate purpose of both judgement and salvation? Why doesnt God just save everybody? Why does God save anybody?
24
6.
7. 8.
night? Why doesnt God just save the Israelites without the sacrifice? 9. How do the events of the Passover help us to understand Gods salvation of his people through Christ?
10. The Israelites were given elaborate instructions for a celebration which would help them always remember the Passover. What ways do we have to remember the greater salvation we have in Christ?
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
7.
How long did the Israelites spend in Egypt? For how long were they enslaved? What did God promise them about this time? See Gen 15:13-15. How has God kept his promises? When the Israelites leave Egypt they are more numerous and better off than when they arrived. Has this time been a positive or negative experience for them? What effect do you think it has had on their faith? Who is the Passover for (12:43-49)? Why is circumcision the prerequisite for the Passover celebration?
8.
9.
10. What is the Christian fulfilment of the Passover? Is this available to everyone or is it restricted like the Passover? Why or why not?
28
2.
3.
4. 5. 6. 7.
How will the meaning of the Passover be passed on to each generation (13:14-16)? What things do we do as Christians which need to be explained to the next generation? Why doesnt God take the Israelites the shortest way out of Egypt (13:17)? How do the Israelites know which way to go (13:21-22)? Why do you think God gave them this visible sign of his presence with them? Why doesnt God give us a similar visible sign of his presence with us? What do we have instead? What does Pharaoh worry about after the Israelites have gone (14:5)? What does he decide to do? What is God going to do (14:3-4)? Are the Israelites pleased to have been rescued from Egypt (14:1012)? Why not?
8.
9.
10. How does Moses reassure them? How has his faith developed over the events of Exodus 2-14? 11. What is the purpose of the Red Sea crossing (14:15-18)? What do the Egyptians think about the Israelites God (14:23-25)? What do the Israelites think (14:29-31)? 12. Think back over all the events of Exodus 1-14. What has God shown about himself through this? What is the appropriate response to this God? 13. Once again, God rescues his people. How do the events of the Red Sea help us to understand Gods salvation of his people through Christ?
30
4.
In the first part of the song, the focus is on the individual (15:1-2) but in the later part of the song, it shifts to the community (15:1318). In what ways is their salvation individual and in what ways is it corporate? What are the Israelites looking forward to in this song (15:13-18)? What actions do we have to praise God for? Should we praise God for his acts of judgement? Can we praise God for the same aspects of his character? What other aspects of God should we praise him for? Should our praise be individual or corporate? How do we balance the two? What things do we have to look forward to?
5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
10. Could we sing Exodus 15:1-18 in church? Why or why not? What can we learn from it about the purpose of our worship songs? 11. What do you want to praise God for today?
32