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Moses 1 -  Read Exodus 3

What does God reveal about himself to Moses?

What is Moses’ response?

What is the significance of the name God gives himself?

How can what we learn about God in this passage build up our faith?

Sometimes we may feel God has called us to an impossible task. How can we test whether God is calling us to something and what steps can we take to fulfil God’s calling?

How do we choose leaders for our churches and church groups? Do we look for the same things that God does?

How should we respond to the holiness of God in our lives and in our worship?

Notes

v1 Horeb is another name for Sinai, where Moses later received the ten commandments.

v2,3 Moses would have been used to seeing bushes set alight by the sun, but this one was not being burnt up. ‘The angel of the Lord’ is sometimes used in the Old Testament as a way of describing God revealing himself, what is known as a ‘theophany’. We saw this in our studies on Gideon. Abraham and Jacob also encountered the angel of the Lord, but were aware that they had met with God. Fire is frequently used as an image of God’s holiness.

v12 Unlike Gideon, Moses does not ask for a sign, but God gives him one anyway. The success of his mission will be the sign that God is with him. Moses’ victory was certain, but he had to rely on his faith in a great God in the difficult days that lay ahead.

v13 Knowing someone’s name was often thought to give power over them (as in Genesis 32:29) and this may have been behind Moses’ request, or it may have been a desire to know more about God before embarking on this task. It is not clear what God’s reply means. Is he really not giving an answer at all? More likely the name emphasizes the unchangeable and eternal power of God. The name ‘Yahweh’ is derived from the Hebrew word for ‘I am’. It may be worth pointing out to the group, who may not have realized the significance, that when the NIV spells ‘LORD’ with capitals, this is the word being translated. If ‘Lord’ is spelt in lower case, then it is the more general word for a master. God’s name was never pronounced when the scriptures were read out, the word for ‘Lord’ being used in its place.

v18 Is God suggesting that Moses should lie to Pharaoh? Probably this is just a polite way of opening negotiations, and both Moses and Pharaoh would have been quite aware that the Israelites would not be returning.

Notes and some questions from Crossway Bible Guide on Exodus by Stephan Dray.

Moses 2 -  Exodus 12 – The Passover

The story so far

Since we left Moses in the desert last time in chapter 3, he has returned to Egypt and, supported by his brother Aaron, he has appeared before Pharaoh and asked that the Israelites be allowed to leave. In the face of Pharaoh’s continual refusal, the Lord has brought upon Egypt nine plagues, but one final and most terrible remains. It is important to remember when reading this passage that Pharaoh has had many opportunities to listen to God, but still chooses to bring disaster on his people.

Read Exodus 12:1-42 (I suggest reading the whole passage together, though it can be split after verse 28 if you think it is too long for one chunk.)

What were the elements that made up the Passover meal?

What was the significance of these?

The Jewish festivals were given by God to remind the people of where they had come from and what God had done for them. What traditions do we find helpful in recalling what God has done for us?

How can we share the story of what God has done with people in our society, where there is no longer much background knowledge about Christianity?

What does this passage tell us God?

Is there anything in this passage that makes us uncomfortable?

Is there anything in this passage that encourages us?

Read 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 (perhaps to end with if you have time)

Does the Exodus story help us to appreciate what God has done for us in Jesus?

Notes

As I am writing this the feast of Passover is just finished. The story of the plagues is interrupted in this chapter by the instructions about the Passover feast. This was to be such a significant moment for Israel, that it would mark the beginning of their year. Rather unexpectedly, the Israelites are also under threat by this final plague, but God gives them a means of escape from his judgment. Blood was thought to symbolise life in the Old Testament, hence the prohibition of eating it in the Law. The Passover lamb was a substitute for the firstborn of Israel and would cause the judgment of God to ‘pass over’ the Israelite homes. The Passover lamb had to be perfect and free from defect, a symbol of the one perfect life that would be offered by Jesus dying on the cross. The ‘redemption’ of Israel from slavery in Egypt introduces us to what is probably the central theme of the Bible – God’s redemption of his people. There are elements is this story that may make us uneasy, but that may be because, as Ray said in a sermon the other day, quoting St Anselm, we fail to realize what a weighty thing sin is. God takes sin very seriously and the sin of leaders may bring terrible consequences on their people.

v5 The lamb could be a young goat – as the Ghana group can confirm, telling the difference is not easy!

v8 Bitter herbs symbolized the bitterness of slavery.

v11 Eating the Passover while dressed for travel and in haste was a sign of faith. Although they were not yet free, they prepared themselves, because they trusted that God would lead them out as he had promised.

v18 The bread was made without yeast, because there was not time to allow it to rise. Jewish houses are searched to make sure all leaven or yeast has been removed before Passover, a symbolic cleansing and purifying.

v38 ‘Many other people’ left with the Israelites. These may have been other races, possibly including some Egyptians, who identified with the Israelites. The rules that follow apply to non-Israelites who wish to share in the Passover, so from this early stage God’s people was wider than just a racial grouping, but included others who wished to obey God.

Notes and some questions from Crossway Bible Guide on Exodus by Stephan Dray.

Moses 3 -  Exodus 14 – Crossing the sea

Read Exodus 13:20-14:31

The pillars of cloud and fire assure the Israelites that God was going with them. What assurances have we received of God’s presence with us?

How do the Israelites respond to their first set-back?

How do we respond to opposition to God’s work?

What effect does their deliverance have on the Israelites?

How can we make sure we remember what God has done for us in the past, as individuals, in our local church and as the church of Christ as a whole?

Has anything in these studies on Moses particularly encouraged you?

Has anything in these studies on Moses particularly challenged you?

Chapter 15:1-13 is used as an Easter canticle. The group may like to read it together.

Notes

The people were trapped between the sea and the Egyptian army. They were terrified, showing a lack of confidence in God and Moses. They asked the perfectly understandable question: ‘Can God cope?’ and received the reassurance that he could. Their fear had been unnecessary and victory was certain. However it was a lesson they had to repeat and re-learn many times in their history. We are unlikely to be tested in the same way, but we can have confidence that God will be with us in our own testing situations.

For those who are interested in such things:

What sea did the Israelites cross? The name literally means Sea of Reeds, so it may not be identical to what we call the Red Sea today. The Egyptians used geographical terms loosely, so it could have been applied to the marshy area where the Suez Canal is now or part of Lake Menzelah, as well as to the Gulf of Suez, the left hand arm of the Red Sea. The route described in chapter 13 appears to miss the top of the Gulf of Suez, so it may be that one of the above alternatives is correct. Wherever the water was, of course, it still required an act of God for the people to pass through!

Notes and some questions from Crossway Bible Guide on Exodus by Stephen Dray.