Exodus Study Notes

More than 400 years pass between the end of Joseph's story and where the Exodus story begins. It is a continuation of the Promise of Genesis that has a key of it's own. This story is about the beginning of the promise fulfillment!

There are several themes carried throughout Exodus:
-The development of the tribe of Israel (and the 12 tribes that have come from it.)
-The development of unity in this tribe where there wasn't much.
How was the unity of Israel challenged in the 400 years in Egypt?
How does this story unite these tribes?
-The development of a Monotheistic worship. (developed further in Leviticus)
Try to imagine the character of Israel's faith before the Exodus Story.
-The develolpment of societal standards for living (beginning of the Law)
What is the nature of common law and practices before Moses' law?
How does the law paint a very different life-picture for Israel?
How might this be viewed by Egypt? What was different?
-The Development of (Jewish) faith in the presence of YHWH (God).
How was this faith different than that of the Egyptians?
How was it different from the way they were practicing their faith?

Exodus moves from the restatement of the Covenant (2:24-25) to faith (24:3) to the importance of the presence (40:34, 38). God simply is reminding the leaders of the promise and revealing who God is to make it and keep it while giving a responsibility of the people to work at keeping it also.

In doing this God reveals himnself by examples of both presence and power.
List some examples of God's Presence from the Exodus Story.
List some examples of God's power from the Exodus Story.

What is the "moral" of the Exodus Story? (It's about the rescue of Israel from Slavery) Remember the Passover story. It's another chapter in God's Salvation story.

How does this take place? (talk through the key elements of the story)
-A hero, leader in Moses
-A villain, Pharoah
-An enslaved people (both Israel and Egypt if your read it carefully)

What stories and events from Exodus speak best to the themes: Covenant, Faith, Presence?

What was Israel's experience with this "new" and present God?

How did the plagues affect Israel? How did they affect Egypt?

While "moral" is rescue, the true theme of Exodus is God's Introduction and Presence. How do we experience this presence today in the worship prescribed in Exodus? (i.e. Passover & Christian Passover = The Lord's Supper)

How should we use this law (in Exodus) today? How does it make us different? Should it make us stand out from the crowd? Doesn't God want us all to blend in together?

How do we reconcile this loving God who reveals himself as loving all people, yet demanding certain behaviors?

God truly does love all of humanity, including every single human, regardless of behavior. But there are consequences to our behavior and one of them is to miss God's acceptance, God's yes to us. That comes in faith and obedience to God's set-apart (holy) ways.

God wants us to live in His presence, keenly aware of Him, in His watchful eye, under his guiding hand, within His loving embrace. And He'll take good care of us!

Peace ><>
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