This week we
shall continue the study of Exodus, the second book of the Old Testament.
(1) What did the Lord tell Moses to do that did not make sense on the surface?
(2) What was the purpose of such an instruction?
(3) Pause and reflect on your past. Has God ever guided you or done something to you that did not make sense at first? Did you eventually find out His purpose?
(4) The express purpose for the instruction was that the Lord will gain glory for Himself through Pharaoh and his army. If someone says to you, “Your God is so vain that He always seeks to glorify Himself", what will be your answer to such a question?
(5) What does the Bible say about the reasons for the change of mind of Pharaoh and his officials? Put yourself in their shoes: After being defeated by the 10 plagues (and especially the 10th plague), what might have motivated them to pursue the Israelites?
(6) How would you compare the Egyptian army to the “divisions of the Lord” (Exod. 12:51)?
(7) Upon seeing the array of their own army, do you think the Egyptians’ morale was high? Do you think the Israelites should be terrified? Why or why not?
(8) As they turned back and encamped near Pi Hahiroth, what or who was guiding them? (see Exod. 13:21-22)
(9) Perhaps, upon the sight of the Egyptian army, it was not too unexpected to see the Israelites terrified. However did it justify what they said in vv. 11-12?
(10) What words can you use to describe these Israelites?
(11) What have you learned today and how may you apply it in your life?
(1) As the people turned against him, Moses’ reply in vv.13-14 was very firm and ended with a very good piece of advice. What was this advice?
(2) Based on v.15, was Moses himself “still”? What does this tell you about the dilemma or struggle of a leader?
(3) Read vv. 19-20 very carefully. If you can, draw a picture of the scene (or at least imagine it mentally).
(4) How would you feel if you were one of the pursuing Egyptians?
(5) How would you feel as one of the Israelites being pursued?
(6) The parting and closing of the sea was entirely the work of the Lord. What role did the staff of Moses play?
(7) As
you read the account of the night in the sea, consider the following:
a. What would strike you as the most spectacular?
b. What would strike you as the saddest?
(8) Has God achieved His purpose in v. 18? How so?
(9) As you read the response of the people in v. 31, how do you feel about them?
(10) The crossing of the Red Sea is often likened to our salvation through Christ. Can you try to describe their similarities?
(11) What have you learned today and how may you apply it in your life?
With
gratitude and great jubilation, Moses penned this song with these puposes:
(1) to praise the Lord
(2) to express his growing knowledge of God
(3) to give a testimony to future generations
(4) to express his confidence in the ultimate fulfillment of entering into the Promised Land.
It is worth noting that in heaven, the singing of the song of Moses is mentioned in Rev. 15.
(1) See if you can divide the song into meaningful sub-divisions under these suggested headings (or your own headings):
a. Names of the Lord (or Who the Lord is to Moses)
b. The majesty and power of God expressed anthropomorphically (like His right hand, His nostrils, His breath)
c. No other gods like the Lord
d. Confidence in the Lord's future guidance and fulfillment of entry into the Promised Land
e. Ending with praise of His everlasting reign.
(2) List the names Moses used of God and reflect on the deepening of his knowledge of who God is.
(3) List the anthropomorphisms used by Moses of God and reflect on the use of each. How fitting is the use of each of them, as far as you are concerned?
(4) In
expressing his awe, Moses said that there are no gods like the Lord. He cited three aspects in his
expression. Can you identify with the
feelings of Moses, either through the reading of the events of the Red Sea or
your personal experience? Describe Moses' awe of God in the areas below:
a. Majestic in holiness—what does it mean?
b. Awesome in glory—how so?
c. Working wonders!
(5) If you were Moses, would you have described these aspects of God? What else might you add to them?
(6) In expressing his confidence that God will lead them into the Promised Land, how did Moses reveal his understanding of the ultimate purpose of Exodus?
(7) Why did he end the song with God’s reign?
(8) Since Revelation 15:1-4 refers to this song, but within the heavenly context, why not read the song in Revelation too? What is the common theme of the two?
(9) What have you learned today and how may you apply it in your life?
(1) What does the Bible call Miriam in this passage?
(2) From this title and her leadership of the women, what role did she play in the Exodus event? We should not forget her role in Exodus 2:7.
(3) How did the Israelites end up in Marah?
(4) How could they complain then?
(5) What should their attitude be?
(6) It was at this juncture that the first law or decree was laid down by the Lord. Read this decree carefully.
a. What was the emphasis of this decree?
b. Why was it framed in such a negative way?
(7) Was the leading into Marah an accident? What purpose did it serve?
(8) After this, why did God lead them to Elim, a place of complete contrast? Was there a message behind it?
(9) What have you learned today and how may you apply it in your life?
(1) How long had they been roaming in the desert by this time?
(2) If you have set foot on Sinai, you might have an idea of its conditions.
a. The unending sea of sand — nothing but sand in front and behind you.
b. The searing heat above your head and beneath your soles
c. The increasing thirst with limited water provision
d. The withered bread and food — After 1½ months, all of it was dried up and very hard to eat. It did not mean the food had run out, but just that it was hard to eat.
(3) Under such conditions, how would you feel? What would you have done? Would you have reacted like the Israelites? Why or why not?
(4) Read the words they used in their complaint. What kind of people of faith did their complaint reveal?
(5) Can you guess the tone of voice used by God in v. 4?
(6) What would you have done, if you were God? Why did He not punish them?
(7) Why was the “raining” of food a “test” for the people?
(8) Why did it take the raining of bread from heaven for the people to know that “it was the Lord” who brought them out of Egypt? Did they not know that by now? What was their real problem?
(9) Moses pointed out that on the surface the people were grumbling against him and Aaron, but in essence they were grumbling against the Lord (v. 8). What lesson can you learn from this statement?
(10) What have you learned today and how may you apply it in your life?
(1) Why did God choose to reveal Himself in glory in the (pillar of) cloud just as the Israelite community was summoned to gather before Moses and Aaron? How did it reinforce the words of Moses in v. 8?
(2) Now the people did not have to eat dry bread, but fresh “manna”; they did not have to eat dried meat, but fresh quail. Reflect on your personal walk with God. Have you ever experienced the Lord, “who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Ps. 103:5) in spite of your unworthiness?
(3) If you have, how can you tell it was the Lord who satisfied your desire? How did the Israelites know that the manna and the quail were not natural phenomena but miracles from God?
(4) As much as the Lord did satisfy them with “good things”, there appeared to be a spiritual principle behind it. Can you tell what kind of a principle was it? (See vv. 17-18)
(5) Does this principle apply to you too today?
(6) There is also one more principle spelled out by Moses in v. 19. What was it?
(7) Did all the people obey this principle? Why not?
(8) Have you violated this principle in your life?
(9) Read Matthew 6:25-34. Do you have anything to confess to the Lord today because of this passage?
(10) What is the main message for you today and how may you apply it in your life?
(1) Just the thought that knowing that when the sun grew hot, the manna would melt away, would you gather your “two omers” hurriedly or leisurely?
(2) We know the meaning of Sabbath as eventually set out in the 4th Commandment (Exod. 20:8-11), but at this particular moment of collecting manna, the instruction to keep the Holy Sabbath was its first announcement. What might be the messages behind this instruction, as far as the Israelites were concerned at the time?
(3) While normally the manna saved till the next morning would only rot with maggots and begin to smell, it was not so for those collected on the 6th day. What was the spiritual principle being taught here?
(4) Why did God express His anger towards those who ventured out to collect manna on the Sabbath (and apparently not at their initial grumble)? How important was it that they kept the Sabbath?
(5) Have you kept your “Sabbath” as God intends as well? How then should you spend your Sunday as a day of rest, worship and trust?
(6) It is interesting to read that God asked Moses to put an omer of manna in a jar for future generations to see. What was God’s purpose in so doing?
(7) What might be the equivalent to manna as far as you are concerned that will remind you always of God’s abundant provisions in your life?
(8) The Israelites ate manna daily for the entire duration of their sojourn in the desert. What a miracle! What gracious provision from the Lord! Again, what might be the equivalent of such grace in your life?
(9) What is the main message for you today and how may you apply it in your life?