3. The Call of Moses: Stubborn Reluctance Overcome
The milestones of history are marked by people who have met impossible demands. Battlefield monuments utter mute testimony to these events. Modern Turkey owes its existence to Kemal Ataturk, who rallied his troops with the impossible demand that they drive back the enemy from Gallipoli. Your most impossible demand may seem small in comparison-but not at the time the challenge presented itself. Perhaps it was writing an academic paper without adequate time or expertise. Or maybe it was the time when your church group undertook an evangelism program. This study shows how God put an impossible demand on Moses and propelled him into national leadership.
The milestones of history are marked by people who have met impossible demands. Battlefield monuments utter mute testimony to these events. Modern Turkey owes its existence to Kemal Ataturk, who rallied his troops with the impossible demand that they drive back the enemy from Gallipoli. Your most impossible demand may seem small in comparison-but not at the time the challenge presented itself. Perhaps it was writing an academic paper without adequate time or expertise. Or maybe it was the time when your church group undertook an evangelism program. This study shows how God put an impossible demand on Moses and propelled him into national leadership.
- Read Exodus 3:1-6, and Acts 7:30-35. In your own words describe the scene with the burning bush.
- What should be the human response to being in the presence of the Lord?
- Read Exodus 3:7-10. What motivates God to act on behalf of his people? What plan does he have in mind?
- Why do you think God chose an aged adopted Egyptian turned desert sheepherder to lead such an important mission?
- Read Exodus 3:11-13. Compare the calling of Moses and His response to that of some others:
a. Gideon, Judges 6:11-17
b. Samuel, 1st Samuel 3:1-10
c. Jeremiah, Jeremiah 1:4-10
d. Isaiah, Isaiah 6:1-10 - What is the source of Moses' sense of inadequacy for this assignment?
- Read Exodus 3:12-22. What reassurance does God give Moses?
- Much has been written about Exodus 3:14-15. What does it say about God that He reveals His name in this way?
- Read Exodus 4. What other doubts and fears does Moses have (Exodus 4:1,10)?
- How does God deal with these inadequacies (Exodus 4:2-9,11-12)?
- Why do you think Moses' final objection angers the lord (Exodus 4:13-17)?
- What reasons can you give for Moses' stubbornness in the face of God's call?
- When you are sure God is speaking to you, and a specific "Yes, Lord" is expected of you, what things influence your answer?
- How do the events in Exodus 4:27-31 confirm the Lord's promises to Moses?
Lesson 2 - The Birth and Escape of Moses: A Mother's Faith, a Son's Brashness
Few of us can brag about how bravely we have responded in crisis. Faith, for us, is often a comfortable intellectual exercise, not something that demands bold action. That definition becomes even more attractive when we're not sure how to distinguish between faith and foolishness. This study contrasts a privileged kid's brashness with a woman's courageous faith in action.
Few of us can brag about how bravely we have responded in crisis. Faith, for us, is often a comfortable intellectual exercise, not something that demands bold action. That definition becomes even more attractive when we're not sure how to distinguish between faith and foolishness. This study contrasts a privileged kid's brashness with a woman's courageous faith in action.
- What are some examples in our day and age that demand courageous faith?
- Read Exodus 2:1-10. How did God plan for the infant Moses to survive Pharaoh's murderous edict?
- What did Moses' survival cost his mother? His sister?
- Who is finally responsible for saving Moses, his Mother, sister, Pharaoh's daughter, God?
- Why do you think Pharaoh's daughter defied her father's order?
- Read Luke 14:25-33. What does Jesus mean to "count the cost"? What has been the most costly thing you have had to do for God?
- Consider the seeming hate for children that appears in the world, (Pharaoh, Herod, see also Leviticus 20:2-5). What is the source of this hate? (Also consider Genesis 3:15.)
- Read Exodus 2:11-15. Why did Moses flee to Midian? (He was 40 years old at the time.)
- Basil the Great: He who hated the pomp of royalty returned to the lowly state of his own race. He preferred to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than to have the fleeting enjoyment of sin. He who, possessing naturally a love for justice, on one occasion even before the government of the people was entrusted to him was seen inflicting on the wicked punishment to the extent of death because of his natural hatred of villainy. He was banished by those to whom he had been a benefactor. He gladly left the uproar of the Egyptians and went to Ethiopia and, spending there all his time apart from others, devoted himself for forty entire years to the contemplation of creation. What motivated Moses to kill the Egyptian? To settle a fight between two Hebrews?
- Read Acts 7:17-29. According to Stephen, what did Moses assume the Israelites would understand about him? Did they?
- Who did Moses challenge next, and why (Exodus 2:16-22)?
- What kind of a person does Moses show himself to be in this chapter (See also Hebrews 11:24-25)?
- Meanwhile, what was happening to the Israelites in Egypt (Exodus 2:23)?
- How did their condition affect God, and why (Exodus 2:24-25)?
- God hears the cries of his people today. What difference does that make when you are confronted by circumstances you are powerless to change?
Parallels between Exodus/Moses and Jesus
| Exodus/Moses | Jesus/New Testament |
|---|---|
| Pharaoh kills Hebrew baby boys | Herod kills baby boys in Bethlehem |
| God gives name as "I AM" | Jesus refers to Himself as "I AM" |
| Israel is saved in then delivered from Egypt | Jesus is saved in then returns from Egypt |
| 10 plagues (miracles) | 10 miracles recorded in Matthew |
| Tempted and Tested 40 years in the wilderness | Tempted 40 days in the desert |
| Moses fasts 40 days | Jesus fasts 40 days |
| Law given on Mount Sinai | Jesus' sermon on the Mount |
| Passover lamb without blemish | Jesus as Passover lamb, not one |
| no bones broken | of his bones were broken. |
| Moses intercedes for God's people | Jesus intercedes for God's people |
| 12 tribes of Israel | 12 disciples |
On the Aramaic language
Aramaic is a language independent of but related to Hebrew in the sense that both are Semitic languages of the Northwest language group. During the time of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, Aramaic began to grow as the common language of the area. At it's height it was spoken over much of what we call the middle East. When the Jews were displaced from Israel and Judah by the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians, learning Aramaic would have been important. Several translations of the Old Testament into Aramaic were created including the Peshitta (Syraic) and Targum. 268 verses of the ("Hebrew") Old Testament were originally written in Aramaic, including significant portions of Ezra and Daniel. Several verses in the New Testament also contain Aramaic words transliterated into Greek letters. It is widely held that the Jews in Jesus time likely used Aramaic as their everyday language, but would have retained Hebrew in religious settings. Many educated Jews in Jesus day would have known Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek and possibly Latin.
See also:
Aramaic is a language independent of but related to Hebrew in the sense that both are Semitic languages of the Northwest language group. During the time of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, Aramaic began to grow as the common language of the area. At it's height it was spoken over much of what we call the middle East. When the Jews were displaced from Israel and Judah by the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians, learning Aramaic would have been important. Several translations of the Old Testament into Aramaic were created including the Peshitta (Syraic) and Targum. 268 verses of the ("Hebrew") Old Testament were originally written in Aramaic, including significant portions of Ezra and Daniel. Several verses in the New Testament also contain Aramaic words transliterated into Greek letters. It is widely held that the Jews in Jesus time likely used Aramaic as their everyday language, but would have retained Hebrew in religious settings. Many educated Jews in Jesus day would have known Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek and possibly Latin.
See also:
Lesson 1 - Israel's Oppression: Evil Plans, Bold Resistance
Oppression is a nasty word, but it grabs the headlines because it's the reason for much conflict today. Scenes out of this chapter fit totalitarian societies. Only the methods of oppression change. God's people were not spared in 1700 B.C., and they are not always spared now. But in this study you will find a bright spot of courageous resistance.
Oppression is a nasty word, but it grabs the headlines because it's the reason for much conflict today. Scenes out of this chapter fit totalitarian societies. Only the methods of oppression change. God's people were not spared in 1700 B.C., and they are not always spared now. But in this study you will find a bright spot of courageous resistance.
- Read Exodus 1:1-22. How did "the sons of Israel" (Jacob's descendants) fare in Egypt (Exodus 1:1-7?)
- What was their situation under a king who had forgotten Joseph's role (Genesis 41) in saving the country (Exodus 1:8-14)?
- How might oppressors today justify their actions?
- Why did Pharaoh's strategy backfire (Exodus 1:12)?
- The old privileged status of the Hebrews had faded into abject slavery. How would you have felt as a Hebrew youth doing backbreaking labor under a burning sun?
- What new population control plans did Pharaoh devise (Exodus 1:15-22)?
- How were his plans thwarted?
- Imagine the emotions of the king and the midwives when he summoned them (Exodus 1:18). What was the secret of the women's self-control and wisdom (Exodus 1:17, 21)?
- Pharaoh is in authority over the Hebrews. Read Romans 13:1-4. If Pharaoh had issued a just decree, which commandments would these midwives have been violating? (Exodus 1:17,19)
- Why is God pleased with the midwives' behavior? What does their example teach us?
Augustine: Many lies indeed seem to be for someone’s safety or advantage, spoken not in malice but in kindness: such was that of those midwives in Exodus, who gave a false report to Pharaoh, to the end that the infants of the children of Israel might not be slain. But even these are praised not for the fact but for the disposition shown; since those who only lie in this way will attain in time to a freedom from all lying. - How does your fear of God motivate right moral conduct and give you the courage to withstand the temptation to do evil?
- The tougher Pharaoh's pressure, the greater Israel's increase (Exodus 1:20-21). How do you account for this?
Introduction
Name
The name "Exodus" comes from the translation of the Old Testament into Greek, a translation known as the Septuagint which goes back to the year 285 B.C. Exodus means "departure" or "going out."
Authorship
The Prophet Moses, though modern "scholars" may disagree. See what Jesus says in Luke 24:44.
Time period
There is great debate over the dating of the events described in Exodus. Basically two camps have emerged "late date," and "early date." The dating of the Exodus is based in part on evidence from non-Biblical sources, including the history of Egypt itself. First we look at the "early date" theory. Consider 1 Kings 6:1 (though the Greek and Hebrew texts have a difference here.) Based on archaeological evidence, particularly a list of Assyrian officials, historians place the 4th year of Solomon's reign about 966 B.C., which puts the date of the Exodus as 1446 B.C. If this is correct, then the "new king who did not know about Joseph" would come from the dynasty that drove out the Hyskos. This would be the time of the "new kingdom." This would make Thutmose III the pharaoh during the oppression and the pharaoh of the Exodus would be Amenhotep II.
The so-called "late date" of Exodus is a more modern proposal based on various archaeological findings and on Exodus 1:11. These dates vary but scholars in this camp would put the Exodus between 1350 and 1225 B.C. Most assume that Rameses II was the pharaoh of the Exodus and Rameses I and/or Seti I as the pharaohs of the oppression.
Other issues with dating involve difficulties reconciling Exodus 12:40 (see also Genesis 15:13, and Gal. 3:15-17), with the genealogy of Genesis 46:8-27. However, this issue is related more to the timing of Jacob's arrival into Egypt. The difficulty is that even if we can pin down the date of Jacob's arrival we can't with certainty pinpoint the date of the Exodus, and vice versa.
If you're interested, the following links provide additional information on the dating debate:
- https://www.cbcg.org/430-years-of-galatians-3-17.html
- https://rb.gy/06wrze
- https://biblicalhistoricalcontext.com/israelite-origins/israelite-origins-late-date-exodus/
- https://www.evidenceunseen.com/date-of-the-exodus/
Proposed Timelines: holypig.com/cotor/Bible/Timelines/PDFs/Visio-1630-1510%20small.pdf
holypig.com/cotor/Bible/Timelines/PDFs/Visio-1510-1390%20small.pdf
Outline
Abridged from the Lutheran Study Bible
I. Israel Enslaved in Egypt (chs 1–11)
A. Israel in Egypt (ch 1)
B. Moses the Deliverer (ch 2)
C. God’s Plan of Deliverance (chs 3–4)
D. Preparation and Confrontation with Pharaoh: the 10 Plagues (chs 5–11)
II. Passover and Exodus (12:1–15:21)
III. Through the Wilderness to Mount Sinai (15:22–18:27)
IV. Initial Events at Sinai (chs 19–24)
V. Prescriptions for the Tabernacle and Accessories (chs 25–31)
VI. Apostasy and Restoration (chs 32–34)
VII. Construction of the Tabernacle (chs 35–40)
Geographic Information
There is also debate and confusion over the location of several places mentioned in Exodus, including the point of the Red Sea crossing, and Mt. Sinai. Consider the differences in the following proposed maps.
Name
The name "Exodus" comes from the translation of the Old Testament into Greek, a translation known as the Septuagint which goes back to the year 285 B.C. Exodus means "departure" or "going out."
Authorship
The Prophet Moses, though modern "scholars" may disagree. See what Jesus says in Luke 24:44.
Time period
There is great debate over the dating of the events described in Exodus. Basically two camps have emerged "late date," and "early date." The dating of the Exodus is based in part on evidence from non-Biblical sources, including the history of Egypt itself. First we look at the "early date" theory. Consider 1 Kings 6:1 (though the Greek and Hebrew texts have a difference here.) Based on archaeological evidence, particularly a list of Assyrian officials, historians place the 4th year of Solomon's reign about 966 B.C., which puts the date of the Exodus as 1446 B.C. If this is correct, then the "new king who did not know about Joseph" would come from the dynasty that drove out the Hyskos. This would be the time of the "new kingdom." This would make Thutmose III the pharaoh during the oppression and the pharaoh of the Exodus would be Amenhotep II.
The so-called "late date" of Exodus is a more modern proposal based on various archaeological findings and on Exodus 1:11. These dates vary but scholars in this camp would put the Exodus between 1350 and 1225 B.C. Most assume that Rameses II was the pharaoh of the Exodus and Rameses I and/or Seti I as the pharaohs of the oppression.
Other issues with dating involve difficulties reconciling Exodus 12:40 (see also Genesis 15:13, and Gal. 3:15-17), with the genealogy of Genesis 46:8-27. However, this issue is related more to the timing of Jacob's arrival into Egypt. The difficulty is that even if we can pin down the date of Jacob's arrival we can't with certainty pinpoint the date of the Exodus, and vice versa.
If you're interested, the following links provide additional information on the dating debate:
- https://www.cbcg.org/430-years-of-galatians-3-17.html
- https://rb.gy/06wrze
- https://biblicalhistoricalcontext.com/israelite-origins/israelite-origins-late-date-exodus/
- https://www.evidenceunseen.com/date-of-the-exodus/
Proposed Timelines: holypig.com/cotor/Bible/Timelines/PDFs/Visio-1630-1510%20small.pdf
holypig.com/cotor/Bible/Timelines/PDFs/Visio-1510-1390%20small.pdf
Outline
Abridged from the Lutheran Study Bible
I. Israel Enslaved in Egypt (chs 1–11)
A. Israel in Egypt (ch 1)
B. Moses the Deliverer (ch 2)
C. God’s Plan of Deliverance (chs 3–4)
D. Preparation and Confrontation with Pharaoh: the 10 Plagues (chs 5–11)
II. Passover and Exodus (12:1–15:21)
III. Through the Wilderness to Mount Sinai (15:22–18:27)
IV. Initial Events at Sinai (chs 19–24)
V. Prescriptions for the Tabernacle and Accessories (chs 25–31)
VI. Apostasy and Restoration (chs 32–34)
VII. Construction of the Tabernacle (chs 35–40)
Geographic Information
There is also debate and confusion over the location of several places mentioned in Exodus, including the point of the Red Sea crossing, and Mt. Sinai. Consider the differences in the following proposed maps.
Preliminary discussion
Themes
While trying to understand the technical details of the Exodus, when did it happen, what was their route, etc., we can be tempted to focus on those details and miss the theological points of the book, and there are many. As Christians we must also study this book in light of the coming of Christ. Some things to consider throughout this study:
- What first comes to mind when you think about the book of Exodus?
- What do you suppose the main point of the book is?
- Do you have any particular questions you would like to see addressed as we go through the book?
Themes
While trying to understand the technical details of the Exodus, when did it happen, what was their route, etc., we can be tempted to focus on those details and miss the theological points of the book, and there are many. As Christians we must also study this book in light of the coming of Christ. Some things to consider throughout this study:
- Salvation. The Jews recognize the events of the Exodus as their primary "salvation story." God's work in bringing his people out of Egypt is recounted numerous times in the Old Testament especially in Joshua, Judges, and the Psalms. The Exodus prefigures salvation in Jesus Christ in several ways, and therefore application can be made to us as well.
- The giving of the law. God gives the people His law from Sinai. This law is for the people's good, so they would know how to live in harmony with God and with each other. Luther: The third kind of pupils are those who see Moses clearly, without a veil. These are they who understand the intention of the law and how it demands impossible things.… For if Christ’s glory did not come alongside this splendor of Moses, no one could bear the brightness of the law, the terror of sin and death. These [third kind of] pupils fall away from all works and presumption and learn from the law nothing else except to recognize sin and to yearn for Christ. This is the true office of Moses and the very nature of the law.
- The "pre-Sacraments". Passover, water from the rock, the parting of the Red Sea, the sacrificial system. These things foreshadow baptism and the Lord's Supper and are mentioned in the New Testament.
- Worship. This is an often overlooked theme in Exodus. We will make note of the liturgical nature of the Passover Feast, and the detail with which God prescribes how the other sacrifices are to take place. Also in Exodus, God gives the people His personal name, Yahweh. Note also the extreme detail and the, for lack of a better term, money that goes into the construction of the tabernacle. The Israelites are not just a rag-tag group of down on their luck people; they are a worshipping community of the true God.
- The unfaithfulness of God's people. They are witnesses to great signs and wonders yet their faith waivers and even fails. They seek to make God in their own image, and want him to act according to their desires. Thus, we see them have Aaron build for them a golden calf to worship, for example. What does this reality teach us about our day and age or even about ourselves as God's New Testament people?
This material is adapted and borrows heavily from a study on Exodus at Lutheran Church of the Cross Laguna Woods and Aliso Viejo, CA as found here. Additional sources:
- Wendland, E. H. (2000). Exodus (2nd ed., pp. vi–2). Milwaukee, WI: Northwestern Pub. House.
- Engelbrecht, E. A. (2009). The Lutheran Study Bible (p. 95). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.
- Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (p. 742). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.