ExodusFickle People – Steadfast God

Lesson 7 – Exodus from Egypt

Last week: Memorials and Ritual

• Passover meal – to remember what God did

• The role of ritual– A human need to be reminded• Shared adversity and the “bonds that tie”• Order, discipline

– Dangers: ritualistic observance without meaning

• The Lord’s Supper – “Remember me”– Reminding us of God’s plan: always to save, provide, reconcile

Migdol

MarahElim

1

2

3

4

250 miles

200 miles

Migdol

Dophkah

God baits Pharaoh(Ex 14:1-9)

Crossing of ‘sea’ (14:13-31)• Few to several days after leaving Goshen(?)

3-day journey (15:22)

Sweetened waters (15:23-25)

Springs and dates (16:27)

Marah

Elim

1-month after leaving Egypt(?)• Ex 16:1• Grumbling• Quail and Manna• Sabbath observed

Water from a rock (17:1-7)War with Amalek (17:8-16)

Advice from Jethro (Chpt 18)Arrive Mt Sinai (19:1)• 2 months after leaving Egypt(?)

Salvation—Unearned and Undeserved

• Exodus 13:17-18:27o God continues to demonstrate His power and

steadfastness

o Man continues to demonstrate his stubbornness and lack of faith

What Does it take? Doubts and Demonstrations

• Signs of power, nine preparatory plagues, final definitive plague– Burning bush, staff, leprous hand (3:1-4:17), Signs to

elders (4:30), Signs to Pharaoh (7:8-13)

– Water/blood…darkness (7:14-10:29), Death of firstborn, Passover of those who believed and acted on that belief (11:1-12:32)

– God’s presence leads people by day/night (13:21-22)

God’s power repeatedly displayed

What Does it take? Doubts and Demonstrations (2)

• “Caught” in the desert with Pharaoh in pursuit– Response of Israelites? 14:11-12

• God’s presence intervenes, sea divided, passage on dry land, destruction of Pharaoh’s army– Response of Israelites? 14:30-31

• 3 days later…short of water…– Response of Israelites? 15:24

What Does it take? Doubts and Demonstrations (3)

• Two weeks later…hungry…– Response of Israelites? 16:1-3

• Food and instructions provided…– Response of Israelites? 16:19-20, 25-27

• A week of miraculous food…some travel time to Rephidim…thirsty again– Response of Israelites? 17:1-3

Hours

Months

Few days

2-3 weeks

Days

What Does it take? Doubts and Demonstrations (4)

• Man doubts, is fearful – God provides signs to prove power, instill confidence– 4:1-8 staff, leprosy, cure– 7:14-12:29 water to blood…death of firstborn– 13:21-22 visible Presence (pillar of cloud/fire)– 14:19-20 moved His Presence to interpose– 14:21-28 parted waters, gave passage, destroyed enemy– 15:25 sweetened waters– 16:10 visible Presence (His Glory in a cloud)– 16:13 provided meat (quail)– 16:14-15 provided bread (manna)• (16:35 continued providing sustenance for 40 years!)

– 17:6 provided water (from a rock!)– 17:8-16 defeated enemy

At war…right out of the gates!• Israel and Amalek (Ex 17:8-16)– Why not war with Philistines? (Ex 13:17-18)

• Amalekites– Inhabitants of Negev, southern Sinai– Descended from Esau (Gen 36:12,16)– Mentioned in conjunction with Lot’s experience in Sodom• Gen 14:7

– 1 Samuel 15:1-9 Saul ordered to destroy Amalekites for their actions against Israelites (1 Sa 15:2), noted Ex 17:8-16, described in detail Dt 25:17-19

• Historical enemy of Israel; memory of such carried through to modern references

Wisdom• The story of Jethro and Moses (Ex 18)– Moses had sent wife and children ‘home’– Jethro hears of Moses/Israel’s experiences– Travels to meet with Moses• Moses now relatively close to Midian

– Must have been a fond, meaningful memory for Moses, note 18:7-9

– Note significance of sharing a meal, how Jethro is referenced, 18:12

– Wisdom of being open to ‘wise counsel’– Value of shared responsibility, involvement of others

• Insight for us?

Insights?

Exodus: Fickle People—Steadfast God• July 12 – Overview • July 19—Joseph to Moses: Consequences of a Steadfast Faith• July 26—Moses: Prepared for the Task• Aug 2—The Plagues, 1-9• Aug 9—The Tenth Plague (Part 1)• Aug 16—The Tenth Plague (Part 2) – Passover, Feasts, Memorials• Aug 23—Exodus from Egypt• Aug 30—Songs and Prayers• Sep 6—Mount Sinai• Sep 13—Priesthood and Tabernacle (Part 1)• Sep 20—Priesthood and Tabernacle (Part 2)• Sep 27—A Mighty Culmination…and Beginning• Bonus – Odd things