Our Mission: A disciple-making church that transforms lives with the gospel and love of Jesus Christ. DISCIPLESHIP SEMINARS PRESENTS Exodus, Part 1 MODULE: O LORD, HOW I LOVE YOUR TORAH!
Introduction
Why Study Exodus? It is part of God s sacred and good Word The events of Israel s deliverance provide the critical framework for understanding: The rest of Old Testament The person and works of Jesus The events of the Exodus are being disputed by moderners, undermining the authority of the Bible. 3
Objectives of Seminars Key objective: To provide you sufficient basic understanding of Exodus so that you can study the book in depth by yourself 4
Today s Programme Part I. Introduction Why study Exodus? Objectives of Seminars How does Exodus fit in the OT? The structure of Exodus Reading Exodus well Part II. Exposition Study Exodus 1 15 5
Today s Programme Part I. Introduction Why study Exodus? Objectives of Seminars How does Exodus fit in the OT? The structure of Exodus Reading Exodus well Part II. Exposition Study Exodus 1 15 6
How does Exodus fit in the OT? Exodus is part of the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Old Testament) 1. Genesis : Purpose & Promise 2. Exodus : Created & Delivered 3. Leviticus : Sanctified & Prepared 4. Numbers : Failed & Restored 5. Deuteronomy : Renewed & Readied 7
How does Exodus fit in the OT? Exodus carries on the story of Genesis Many questions raised by Genesis have not yet been resolved in Gen. 50 How will God fulfil His promises to Abraham? (Gen 12:1-3; 15:13-21; 17:4-8) What is the children of Israel doing in Egypt? (Gen 50:25) 8
Today s Programme Part I. Introduction Why study Exodus? Objectives of Seminars How does Exodus fit in the OT? The structure of Exodus Reading Exodus well Part II. Exposition Study Exodus 1 15 9
The Structure of Exodus Exodus is a big story comprised of smaller stories The BIG STORY: Israel s deliverance from Egypt The SMALLER STORIES: - Exodus 1 15 : Physical deliverance from Egypt - Exodus 16 40: Spiritual deliverance from Egypt And like many stories, this story has a lesson to be learned (more on this later) 10
Today s Programme Part I. Introduction Why study Exodus? Objectives of Seminars How does Exodus fit in the OT? The structure of Exodus Reading Exodus well Part II. Exposition Study Exodus 1 15 11
Reading Exodus Well As we have mentioned, Exodus is a story. If we don t read stories well, we will miss the lesson that the story is meant to teach. To read stories well, we have to be mindful of (at least) two things* : 1. Plot 2. Characters * Greidanus, Sidney. The Modern Preacher and the Ancient Text: Interpreting and Preaching Biblical Literature. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1989. 12
Reading Exodus Well: Plot Most stories follow a pattern like this: Point of story ( lesson ) here! Tension Conflict peaks Conflict resolves Conflict rises New normal Setting Conflict begins Story Time 13
Reading Exodus Well: Plot Apply this to the 3 Little Pigs Tension Once upon a time Straw sticks Bricks There was a wolf Point of story ( lesson ) here! lesson: diligence Cannot blow down house Dwelling in security Story Time 14
Reading Exodus Well: Plot Since Exodus is a big story with many little stories, it has a compound structure: Tension When is Israel under the greatest threat in the book of Exodus, and what does that tell you about the message of Exodus? Conflict 3 Conflict 1 Conflict 2 BIG LESSON Conflict 4 Is it at the Reed Sea? Or is it sometime else? Story Time 15
Reading Exodus Well: Characters In stories, characters carry the lesson. Seek to identify the main character. Lesson of the story of Three Little Pigs: If you want to fight, don t fight 1 against 3. The wolf is a supporting character to bring out the conflict for the pigs (main) Who is the main character of Exodus? What is Moses role in the story? 16
Today s Programme Part I. Introduction Why study Exodus? Objectives of Seminars How does Exodus fit in the OT? The structure of Exodus Reading Exodus well Part II. Exposition Study Exodus 1 15 17
Exposition of Exodus 1 15
Part I. The Story Begins Exodus 1:1 2:10 19
1:1-7 1:8-14 1:15-21 Exodus 1:1 2:10 Genesis Link: Promise Fulfilled Conflict 1: Hard labour Conflict 2: Order to midwives 1:22 2:10 Conflict 3: Cast into Nile 20
Exodus 1:1 2:10 Characters Who is the antagonist? Pharaoh Who are the victims? Israel / Moses Who is the main character? God, acting through His agents 21
Exodus 1:1 2:10 Plot What is the source of conflict? God s faithfulness to His covenant promises to His people cause their persecution How is the conflict resolved? God continues, despite His hiddenness, to be faithful for His people in hidden ways 22
Exodus 1:1 2:10 Character + Plot Lesson Lesson: God is faithful to His people even when His faithfulness is problematic even when He is hidden even through His agents who are often considered small 23
Part II. Knowing God Exodus 2:11 15:21 24
Exodus 2:11 15:21 2:11-2:22 Moses in Exile Who made you a prince and judge over us? (2:14) 2:23-25 The 1 st major conflict begins God heard God remembered God saw and God knew. 25
Exodus 2:11 15:21 3:1-4:17 The Call of Moses God s introduction to Moses (3:1-3:10) v.5 Closeness but holiness v.6 The God of faithfulness v.7-10 Seen heard know deliver From Egypt to Land 26
Exodus 2:11 15:21 3:1-4:17 The Call of Moses Moses debate with God (3:11-4:17) Who am I? Who sent me? Moses Yahweh did not appear to you I am not eloquent Please send someone else I will be with you God I am Yahweh, the God of your fathers Yahweh gives signs to testify to Himself I have made man s mouth. I am Yahweh. I will be with your mouth 27
Exodus 2:11 15:21 3:1-4:17 The Call of Moses Moses debate with God (3:11-4:17) Moses fears that Israel will reject him and God. God s solution is to redirect Moses attention to His person, His presence and His power. The heart of the debate is about Moses and Israel knowing God. It addresses the question who? 28
Exodus 2:11 15:21 4:18 15:21 The Exodus First Confrontation with Pharaoh (5:1 6:13) But Pharaoh said, "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." (5:2) Recall: Who made you a prince and judge over us? (2:14) 29
Exodus 2:11 15:21 4:18 15:21 The Exodus First Confrontation with Pharaoh (5:1 6:13) Pharaoh s response: no more straw for Israelites to make bricks [Israel says to Moses], "The LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us." (5:21) 30
Exodus 2:11 15:21 4:18 15:21 The Exodus First Confrontation with Pharaoh (5:1 6:13) [God to Moses: Tell Israel] I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. (Exo 6:7) Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery. (Exo 6:9) 31
Exodus 2:11 15:21 4:18 15:21 The Exodus First Confrontation with Pharaoh (5:1 6:13) These verses show to us that Israel has lost its identity during its stay with Egypt. Pharaoh s question ( Who is the Lord? ) is also Israel s question. Israel has been Egyptianised! 32
Exodus 2:11 15:21 4:18 15:21 The Exodus God s Solution (7:1-5) And the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them." 33
Exodus 2:11 15:21 4:18 15:21 The Exodus God s Solution (7:1-5) Since the problem is the Egyptianisation of Israel as the Egyptians know God through His miracles, Israel will also know God through His miracles 34
Exodus 2:11 15:21 4:18 15:21 The Exodus And just in case you are not yet convinced Nile to blood: By this you shall know that I am the LORD (7:17) Frogs: so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God. (8:10) Flies: that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. (8:22) Plagues:... so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth. (9:14) 35
Exodus 2:11 15:21 4:18 15:21 The Exodus And just in case you are not yet convinced Hail: so that you may know that the earth is the LORD's. (9:29) Locusts: you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD." (10:2) Death of Firstborn: that you may know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.' (Exo 11:7 ESV) 36
Exodus 2:11 15:21 4:18 15:21 The Exodus And just in case you are not yet convinced Passover: It is the LORD's Passover on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. (12:11-12) "This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. (12:14) And when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service? you shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of the LORD's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.'" (12:26-27) 37
Exodus 2:11 15:21 4:18 15:21 The Exodus And just in case you are not yet convinced And finally, the crossing of the Reed Sea: And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD." And they did so. (14:4) And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen. (14:17-18) 38
Exodus 2:11 15:21 4:18 15:21 The Exodus And finally, the resolution: 30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses. (Exo 14:30-31 ESV) 39
Exodus 2:11 15:21 4:18 15:21 The Exodus The Song of Moses (15:1-21) "Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? (15:11) Compare with: Pharaoh: Who is the Lord? Israel: Who made you prince and judge over us? 40
Exodus 2:11 15:21 Characters Who is the antagonist? Pharaoh / Israel Who is the agent? Moses / Aaron Who is the main character? God, acting through His agents 41
Exodus 2:11 15:21 Plot What is the source of conflict? Egypt/Israel do not know God rebellion & resistance How is the conflict resolved? God provides knowledge of Himself through His saving work for Israel and against Egypt 42
Exodus 1:1 2:10 Character + Plot Lesson Lesson: Israel who do not know God learn to know God through His saving work. But what does this mean for us today? 43
1. We are saved in order to know God 44
2. Look to the cross when you are at a loss about God 45
Congregation Response 46
Psalm 136:1-4 Speaker: 1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good 2 Give thanks to the God of gods 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords 4 to him who alone does great wonders Congregation: His love endures forever (x4); 47 47
Psalm 136:10-12 Speaker: 10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt 11 and brought Israel out from among them 12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm Congregation: His love endures forever (repeat); 48 48
Psalm 136:13-15 Speaker: 13 to him who divided the Red Sea asunder 14 and brought Israel through the midst of it 15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea Congregation: His love endures forever (repeat); 49 49
An adaptation of Psalm 136:23-26 Speaker: 23 He remembered us in our lowliness 24 and freed us from our sin 25 He gives food through his Word 26 Give thanks to the God of heaven Congregation: His love endures forever (repeat); 50 50
Next week Exodus 16 40 51
The End (Q&A)
References Alexander, T. Desmond. From Paradise to the Promised Land: An Introduction to the Pentateuch. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2012. Alexander, T. Desmond, Brian S. Rosner, D.A. Carson, and Graeme Goldsworthy, eds. New Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2000. Enns, Peter E. Exodus. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2000. Greidanus, Sidney. The Modern Preacher and the Ancient Text: Interpreting and Preaching Biblical Literature. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1989. 53