ISRAEL IN EGYPT
God saves and trains Moses ##1
Exodus 1-2
Key Verse: 2:24-25 #1

SLAVES IN EGYPT (1)

1. Read verses 1-7. How did the sons of Israel (Jacob) come to live in Egypt? How many were there at first? How did the experience of Israel’s descendants in Egypt fulfill God’s promise to Abraham? (Ge 13:16; 15:5,13)

2. Read verses 8-14. Why and how did the new king of Egypt oppress the people of Israel? Why did he fear them? How successful were his efforts to reduce the Israeli population? (12)

3. What plan for birth control did the king order? Was it successful? Why? What showed that faith in Israel was alive? (15-21) What was the king’s next plan for preventing Israel’s population from increasing? (1:22)

" GOD WHO SAVED AND TRAINED MOSES 

4. Read 2:1-3. According to the law (1:22), what should have been done with baby Moses? How did his parents protect him? (Heb 11:23) How did God save Moses? (4-10) How might his own mother have influenced him? How did God use the Egyptian princess? What can we learn about God and his ways of working?

5. What special privileges did Moses have? (cf. Acts 7:20-22) Why was an Egyptian education valuable in preparing Moses for future leadership?

6. Read 2:11-15. What decision did he make when he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew? (Heb 11:24-27) Why did he have to flee for his life? (14) How do you think he felt when his own people rejected him? What kind of training did he need?

7. Read 2:15-22. What happened to Moses in the land of Midian? Who did he marry? What kind of life did he live there? What did he name his son? What do you think were his joys and sorrows? What further training did God give him? (3:1;4:18; 18:)

8. Read 2:23-25 How long was Moses in Midian? What happened in Egypt during that time? What did God remember: Why was his heart moved when he heard Israel’s cry for help?

GOD CALLS MOSES
A Land Flowing with Milk and Honey

#2
Exodus 3:1-4:17
Key Verse: Exodus 3:8a

1. Read 3:1-6. Where was Moses and what was he doing when God called him? Why was he drawn to the burning bush? How did God teach Moses awesome respect for the holy God? How did God first identify himself to Moses? (3:1-6) Why was this necessary? What do we learn here about God?

2. Read verses 7-10. Why was the Lord concerned about the Israelites? What did he know about their condition? What had God promised? (Gen 15:16; 46:3,4) What was God’s declared purpose in coming to Moses? What command did he give Moses? What does this teach us about God’s character?

3. What was Moses’ first response to God’s call?(11) What was God’s response?(12) What sign did God give Moses to prove his Presence? What do you think this sign means?

4. Read verses 13-17. Why did Moses want to know God’s name? What was the name God taught Moses? What else was Moses commanded to tell the people about God? What did God promise? Why did he promise a land flowing with milk and honey?

5. Read verses 18-22. What request did God tell Moses and the Israelite elders to make of Pharaoh? (3:18) Read 19-22. When and why would Pharaoh grant their request? Under what circumstances would Israel finally leave Egypt?

6. Read 4:1-9. When Moses protested that the people would not believe him, what signs did God give Moses to help the people believe that God had appeared to him and was with him?

7. Read 4:10-12. What other problem did Moses have? How did God deal with this problem? How was this Moses different from the Moses who left Egypt 40 years before? (2:14)

8. Why did God become angry with Moses? What compromise did God make with Moses’ weakness? (4:13-17) Why did God tell him to take the staff? (17)

LET MY PEOPLE GO
I Am The Lord; I Will Redeem You
#3
Exodus 4:18-6:27
Key Verse: 6:8

1. Read 4:18-26. As Moses took his family and started back to Egypt, what word of prophecy did God give him? What happened at the inn? Why was it important for Moses to circumcise his son? (Ge 17:10)

2. Read 4:27-31.What was the response of the people when Moses and Aaron told them God’s promise and showed them the signs? (4:27-31)

3. When Moses and Aaron made their first request of Pharaoh to let the people go, what was his answer? (5:1-2)

4. When they persisted, what did Pharaoh do? (5:3-14) What did the Israelite foremen say to Pharaoh? What was his response? (15-20)

5. Read 5:19-23. How did this situation make things difficult for Moses? What did he do? (5:19-23)

6. What is the subject of chapter 6:1-8? What does God teach Moses and the Israelites about himself? What has he done? What does he promise to do? What is the basis of his promise? What does it mean to “redeem?” What new revelation had been given to Moses?

7. Read 6:9-12. When Moses taught God’s word to the people, how did they respond? Why is Bible study hard for a people with a slave mentality? Why is it necessary, even though it is hard? (9) How did Moses respond? In what way was he now ready to go?

8. What weakness of Moses is repeated in 6:12 and 30? (Also 4:10-12) What do you learn about Moses from the genealogy? What is the mission God gave Moses? In which verses in this passage (6:10-30) is God’s commission repeated? How did God regard Moses’ excuses?

* What do you learn about God from the way he saved, trained, and called Moses? How is God’s way of dealing with Moses a small pattern of his way of working with the nation?

THE MIGHTY HAND OF THE LORD
Let My People Go

Exodus 6:28-10:29 #4
Key Verse 7:5; 9:16

" LET MY PEOPLE GO 

1. Read 6:28-7:7 Who were Moses and Aaron and what had God sent them to do? What was Moses’ role and what was Aaron’s? What was the basic message of the Lord to Pharaoh through Aaron and Moses? (7:2)

2. What was God’s game plan? (3-4) How would Pharaoh respond to God’s word? How would God use this to accomplish his purpose? How did Pharaoh respond in to God’s word? [note the references to Pharaoh’s heart being hardened: 7:3,13,22; 8:15,19,31;9:7,12,34,35;10:1,20,27] What was God’s purpose? (7:4,5;Ro9)

3. List the first 9 plagues. (7:20) (8:2-5)(8:16)(8:21-22)(9:2-7)(9:10)(9:22)(10:4-6) (10:21-22) What was God’s word to Pharaoh in each case?

4. Which miracles were imitated by the magicians of Egypt? Which one did they fail to imitate when they tried? Which one was especially hard on the magicians? In which plagues was a distinction made between the Egyptians and the Israelites?

5. What did the Lord want to teach the Egyptians through these great acts of judgment? (cf. 7:4,5,17; 8:10; 9:15-16) Why was this lesson necessary? (5:2)

6. What did the Lord want to teach Israel through these great acts of judgment and deliverance? (6:6,7; 10:1,2) What did God want to teach the whole world? (9:16; 1Sa 4:8-9; Ro 9:17)




THE MIGHTY HAND OF THE LORD
The Passover
#5
Exodus 11:1-13:16
Key Verse:12:13

1. What did God tell Moses? (11:1) What was he to tell the people to do?(2-3) What word of God did Moses tell Pharaoh? (4-8) What did he predict that Pharaoh and the Egyptians would do? What would clearly reveal God’s sovereignty and his almighty power? What was Moses’ attitude and his confidence? (8c-10)

2. When and how was this prophecy fulfilled? (12:1,2; 29-30; 31-36) Note the elements repeated in the prediction and its fulfillment.

3. Read 12:1-13. What instructions did the Lord give Moses about preparing the Lord’s Passover? What kind of lamb? What was to be done with it? With the blood? What was God teaching through this about himself?

4. ) Why was this feast called the “Lord’s Passover?” Why did the Israelites need to be protected from God’s judgment? (12:12,13) On what condition would God spare the firstborn of Israel? (12:13) [Jn 1:29; Jn 6:53-54;1Cor 5:7b)

5. With what attitude was the Passover lamb to be eaten? How does this teach faith? (11)

6. When Moses gave the people the Lord’s instructions, how did they respond? (12:21-23) (12:24-28)

7. How did Israel despoil Egypt? How was it that they were prepared to do so? How did this fit into God’s education of the Israelites slaves? (11:1-3; 12:33-36; Ge 15:13,14)

8. Read 12:14-20. Why were the cakes baked in the desert made without yeast? (12:39,33,34) Think about the historical roots of this religious ceremony, and the educational purpose and function of keeping the Passover as a festival to the Lord, an everlasting ordinance.

9. Describe the people who made the Exodus from Egypt. How long had they been in Egypt? (12:31-41) Why is the strict keeping of the Passover reiterated?

10. In chapter 13, what are the two ceremonies which the Israelites are instructed to keep? What does the consecration of the firstborn teach? What are the methods of education prescribed here? What can we learn about how to teach and discipline our children? Ourselves? Our sheep?

CROSSING THE RED SEA
(God of Grace, God of Glory)

#6
Exodus 13:17-15:21
Key Verse 15:1,2

1. Read 13:17-18. Where were the Israelites when they began their journey out of Egypt? (20). Why didn’t the Lord direct Moses to take the Israelites out of Egypt along the coastal road through Philistia? What road did they take? Why? (3:12)

2. Read 13:19-22. Why did Moses take Joseph’s bones with them?(Ge 50:24-26) How did the Lord indicate his presence and help for his people? What should this have meant for the Israelites?

3. Read 14:1-4. Why did the Lord instruct the Israelites to go back and encamp at Pi Hahiroth? (Where was Pi Hahiroth

4. Read 14:5-9. Why did Pharaoh and his officials change their minds? With what kind of force did they come after Israel? What does this show about them? Where did the Egyptians overtake them?

5. Read 14:10-12. How did the Israelites react when they saw the Egyptians? Why were they so bitter and sarcastic? What does this show about the fruit of living in slavery to sin?

6. Read 14:13-18. How did Moses tell the people to do? What did the Lord tell Moses to do? How would the Lord gain glory through Pharaoh and his army? Why is it so important that God’s people learn obedient faith?

7. Read 14:19-22. How did the Lord protect the Israelites? How did the Lord make a way for them to leave Egypt? What does this show about the Israelites (Heb. 11:29)? About the Lord?

8. Read 14:23-31. What happened when the Egyptians pursued the Israelites into the sea? What did the Israelites come to understand and believe through this event?


GOD OF GRACE, GOD OF GLORY
Through 3 Deserts
#7
Exodus 15:22-18:27
Key Verse:15:26 “I am the Lord who heals you”

1. How long did the lessons learned crossing the Red Sea last? Why did the people murmur against Moses in the Desert of Shur? What was the basic grace God gave them? What promise did God make? What did he reveal about his character in this promise?

2. When the people got hungry what did they remember? What does this show about their basic way of thinking and living? (16:1-3) Note the absence of praise and thanksgiving in the people. What four times do they murmur and complain. Why is murmuring is a sin?

3. When God gave them bread from heaven, what did he want them to see and what did he want them to know and remember? (cf. Deut. 8:1-8) (16:4-12)

4. What two rules did the Lord make concerning the bread that which he gave them from heaven? (16:4,5) What was the Lord testing?

5. In what ways did the people take these two rules lightly? What does this paragraph show about the people’s need for training? (16:13-30) Why was Moses angry? (20)

6. How did Moses try repeatedly to teach the people a sense of history? (16:31-35; 13:19; 15:14-18; 17:14) Why is it important to remember God’s grace?

7. What two events happened at Rephidim? How did God show his grace and patience and protective care of the people in each event? (Chapter 17)

8. Who was Jethro? Why did he come to meet Moses? How did he encourage Moses’ spirit? How did he help him practically? (Chapter 18) What does his witness and hymn of praise add to this section? Contrast Jethro with the murmuring people.

A HOLY NATION
Preparing for the Covenant With God

#8
Exodus 19:1-25 (20:18-26)
Key Verse 19:5,6


1. Where and when did Israel gather to make a covenant with God? (1-9) What act of God’s grace was the basis of the covenant? What was God’s purpose in saving Israel and making a covenant with her?

2. What was the basic requirement for being God’s own people a kingdom of priests, a holy nation? What do these things teach about God? What was the people’s initial response to the word of God?

3. Why did God descend to the top of the mountain in a dense cloud, and then to speak with Moses in the hearing of the people? (9)

4. How were Moses and the people to prepare for the Lord’s coming down? (10-15) How long did they have to prepare?

5. What were the phenomena which appeared on Mt. Siniai when the Lord descended to the top of the mountain? (16-19)

6. Why did the Lord call Moses to come up the mountain, then immediately send him back down again? (23-24)

7. What was the people’s attitude before God? Why is fear of the Lord a necessary attitude for receiving God’s word? (cf. Pr 9:10)

A HOLY NATION
The Ten Commandments
Exodus 20:1-23:9 #9+++
Exodus 20: 20:1-3

1. Memorize the Ten Commandments. Read verses 1-2. By what right does God give the law to Israel? What does this show about the basic relationship between God and his people?

2. In what way does God’s law limit human freedom? Make freedom possible? Which laws deal with man’s relationship to God; which laws with man’s relationship with man? How did Jesus summarize the law? (Mt 22:37-38)

3. Read verses 3-6. With which two commandments do these verses deal? What is forbidden? What is the implied command? How are these two commandments different and how are they similar? What does it mean that God is jealous?

4. Read verses 7 and 8. What does it mean to “misuse” the name of the Lord our God? Why is this a serious matter? What is the next commandment? How and why did God personally establish the Sabbath as a holy day? See Mk 2:27-28. How can we keep the Sabbath holy? What is God’s command for the other 6 days?

5. Read verse 12. Why does God command us to honor our parents? How can we do so? Read verses 13-15. What is forbidden by these commandments? What did Jesus say? (Mt 5) How are they related to the second great commandment to love your neighbor?

6. Which part of the commandments did the Lord reemphasize? (20:21-26) Why was this so important?

7. Peruse chapters 21-23:9. Find some of the people who are disciplined by the law; Protected by the law; What are some of the relationships regulated by law?

8. Find some laws in chapters 21-23 which are based on God’s compassion? Which laws are expressions of his justice? His mercy? Which are designed to keep material things from ruling men?

9. Find some laws which remind men that God must be first; some which provide for keeping a clear relationship with God? Some which would remind Israel of her own former life?

10 How did God promise to deal with the enemy nations who occupied Canaan? (23:20-33)

11. What are some things these detailed laws reveal about the life of these people who had just come up out of Egyptian slavery, Why did they need the law to become a holy nation?


The Covenant Sealed in Blood
Exodus 23:20-24:18 #10
Key Verse: 24:8

1. How will God send them to conquer the land? Who is this angel? What is God’s plan? Why must they obey their guide? How else will God protect and guide them? Why will he not give them quick, immediate conquest? What other dangers will they face? (23:33)

2. When Moses told the people the Lord’s words and laws, what was their response? (3) In what chapter and verse had they made a similar response in the past? Where else in this chapter is this response repeated? What is the significance of this repetition?

3. How was the covenant between the Lord and his people finalized and sealed? (4-8) What is the significance of the blood? (cf. Ge 9:4; Lev 17:11) (Ro 3:25; Heb 9:22,14;1Pe 1:18-19

4. What does the beautiful scene of the elders of Israel eating and drinking before the Lord suggest about the covenant relationship between God and his people?

5. Why did Moses go up the mountain again, and how long was he there? Who was left in charge of the people?

6. Of what New Testament event does this remind us? (Compare Jer 31:31-34;Lk 22:17-20)

GOD FORGIVES AND RESTORES SINNERS
The Golden Calf #11

Exodus 32:1-35
Key Verse: 32:31,32

1. How long was Moses on the mountain and who was in charge of people while he was away? (24:12-18; 32:1-6)

2. Why did the people grow restless? What request did they make of Aaron and what did Aaron and the people do? In what respect does this reflect their slave mentality?

3. When God informed Moses of the people’s sin, why did he say “your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt…” What did God mean when he called the people “stiff-necked” (9)? What did God propose to do about this sin? (7-10) Why might Moses be tempted?

4. In Moses’ prayer, what did he say about God’s relationship to the people? About God’s past actions and promises? What did he ask of God and what was the basis of his plea? (Did he make excuses for the people because of their weakness and past sufferings?) How did God respond? (11-14)

5. When Moses went down the mountain, what did he hear and see and how did he express his hot anger? What does this reveal about his heart and mind? (15-24)

6. What was Aaron’s excuse? What does this show about him?

7. How did the Levites ordain themselves for the service of the Lord that day? (25-29) What does this teach about the requirements for those who are set apart form God’s work?

8. What was Moses’ purpose in going back up to see the Lord? (30) How did his prayer reveal his shepherd heart and his great love for the people? Why did God refuse his offer of substitution? What did God tell Moses to do and what did God do? (30-35) Why was this such a serious sin? their sin so serious?

GOD FORGIVES AND RESTORES SINNERS
The People Repent and Mourn and Moses Prays
#12
Exodus 33:1-23
Key Verse: 33:15,16

1. How did God propose to keep the promise he had made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Why did he refuse to go with the people? (1-3)

2. Why was this news sorrowful news to Moses and the people? Why weren’t they satisfied to learn that God was going to give them the land flowing with milk and honey? What did the people do? (4-6)

3. What did Moses do while the people were in mourning? Why did he pitch the tent far from the camp? What did he call the tent? What kind of meeting was held there? What was the evidence of God’s Presence there? How did the people participate in Moses’ prayer? (7-11)

4. How does the author describe these conversations between the Lord and Moses during those days? (11) What does this passage teach us about God?

5. What did it mean to him that God knew him by name and that he had found favor with God? Why did Moses ask God to teach him God’s ways? Why did he remind God that this nation was God’s people? (12,13)

6. What was Moses’ main prayer topic? (12) Why did he insist that God personally go with him and the people to Canaan? What was God’s answer? (12-14) What is the significance of this to us? Why is materially abundant land without God’s presence like hell?

7. How can a people become a holy nation, a kingdom of priests? Why did God agree to go with the people to the promised land?

8. When Moses asked to see God’s glory, what do you think he was asking for?

9. What did God reveal to Moses about himself in answer to this request? Why did he refuse to show Moses his face?

COVENANT RENEWED
#13
Exodus 34:1-35
The Verse: 34:28b

1. What did God tell Moses to do in order to renew the covenant relationship? (34:1-3)

2. When Moses followed God’s instruction, what happened? How was this answer to Moses’ prayer that God show him his glory? (4-7) What did God teach Moses and us about himself? Why is it important to know God’s character?

3. Look at Moses’ prayer in verse 8 and 9. How is this prayer different from his prayer in 32:30-32? How is God’s response different?

4. What does God promise to do for and through his covenant people? What are the two basic things he asks them to do? (10-12) What is to be their relationship with the idolatrous people of Canaan?

5. Why does God not allow them to worship other gods or to compromise with people who do?

6. What are the specific commandments and which ceremonies and days were they reminded to keep and observe as the covenant is reestablished?

7. How are the commandments and relationships mentioned here important in strengthening and preserving the personal relationship between God and his people?

8. How long was Moses on the mountain this second time? What did he do before he came down?

9. When Moses came down from the mountain, how was he changed? What does this mean?

THAT I MAY DWELL IN THEIR MIDST
The Pattern on the Mountain # 14
Exodus 25:1-31:18
Key Verse 25:8

1. Read 25:1-9. What materials were to be collected for building the Lord’s sanctuary? How were these materials collected? (35:20-36:7) Who were the workmen? What limits were put on the work week? Why? (31:1-18) Who designed the sanctuary and what was its purpose? (25:8,22) (25:40; 26:30; 27:8) What does this teach us about God and about his dealing with sinful man?

3. Read verses 25:10-40. The instructions for what three objects are given here? Think first about the ark. What was to be put in it? What is the significance of this? What was its cover called? What was its special function? How was the table made? What was to be placed on it? What might this symbolize? What does the lampstand symbolize?

4. Skim chapter 26:1-29. Notice the tabernacle’s beauty; its covering. How it is designed for traveling. What does this teach us about God and his people?. Look at verses 30-35. What divided the tabernacle into two rooms? What were the names of the rooms and what was in each room?

5. Skim chapter 27. What was the altar to be made of? Why was it hollow? What do the various utensils suggest about its purpose and use? Try to draw a diagram of the courtyard to scale. Note north, south, east and west. Notice the progression in chapters 25-27.

6. Skim chapter 28. What was the general purpose for making such garments for the priests? (2,40) List the pieces of the high priest’s garment.

7. What is an ephod? How was it worn? What seems to be its purpose? (6-14) Why is the breastpiece called the breastpiece for making decisions? How is it worn? What seem to be its most important features? (15-30) What does this teach about the position and work of the high priests?

8. How is the robe made? What are its distinctive features? Why are there bells attached to the hem of the robe? What does this teach the high priest? What do you think is noteworthy about the other priestly garments? (36-43) What can we learn from them? Draw a picture that shows your idea of how Aaron was dressed in the high priest’s garments.

9. Skim Chapter 29. How many animals were sacrificed to consecrate Aaron and his sons? Why must they be consecrated in order to serve God as priests? (1-34)

10. How is the altar constructed? (35-37) What were the regular sacrifices to be offered on it? What does it mean to make atonement for the priests and the altar? (33,36b)

11. Read 19:42-46 again. How are the priests and the tabernacle really consecrated? What do these verses teach us about the purpose of the entire sacrificial system?

12. Skim chapter 30. What are the last 4 things the Lord commanded Moses to make? Think especially about the altar of incense. How is it made and where is it placed? How is it used and what is its significance? What must be done to this altar once a year? Why? Why do you think this altar is described here rather than in chapter 25, when the other furnishings of the Holy Place are described?



THAT I MAY DWELL IN THEIR MIDST
The Construction of the Tabernacle

Exodus 35-40 #15
Key Verse: 40:34,35

1. Why didn’t the construction of the tabernacle begin immediately? When did it begin? What instructions were reiterated in 35:1-3? How was preparation for construction made? (35:4-36:7)

2. Compare the order of construction with the order of the patterns. (36-38; 25-27) Why do you think the order is changed?

3. In chapters 38,39,40 find the phrase, “as the Lord commanded Moses.” How many times do you find this phrase repeated? What is the significance of this?

4. Skim chapter 40. Fill in the drawing of the court of the tabernacle with the tabernacle, (tent of meeting), ark, table, lampstand, altar of incense, bronze altar, basin. Include the curtain between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.

5. Describe what happened after Moses finished setting up the whole tabernacle. How did God become the practical shepherd of his people? What parallels can we find in how we must live our pilgrim life in this world?