BOOK OF EXODUS AND MOSES Exodus picks up

BOOK OF EXODUS AND MOSES

Exodus picks up where Genesis left off – Joseph brings Hebrews to Egypt to live in safety from the famine. Then two things happened (Ex. 1: 8 -14) • New pharaoh who “did not know Joseph” • Hebrews increased in number and were perceived as a threat/opportunity

LITERARY STRUCTURE OF EXODUS: • 1: 1 -12: 36 – Israelites in Egypt • 12: 37 -18: 27 – Israelites in the wilderness • 19: 1 - 40: 30 – At Mt. Sinai – the covenant Book of Exodus chronicles the making of Israel the people into God’s Chosen people. Like Creation epic, Exodus is referred to often throughout Israeliterature, theology and culture

MOSES • Next to God, the main character in the Exodus story • Humble beginnings (like a lot of Old Testament characters). A Hebrew raised in an Egyptian home. • Early salvation was by the very hands that were persecuting his people – & Moses struggled with this conflicted identity

MOSES • Ex. 3: 1 - 4: 17 Theophany of the burning bush. God appears to Moses & calls him to tell Pharaoh to let God’s people go. Moses offers four excuses. • 3: 14 – “I AM WHO I AM” – God shares God’s personal name with Moses. – In Hebrew, YHWH (Hebrew has no vowels). – Was never spoken out loud in Hebrew circles out of reverence.

THE PLAGUES (Ex. 7: 8 -11: 10) • Plagues were God’s way of forcing Pharaoh’s hand. • First six plagues could be associated with annual flooding of Nile River. A chain reaction of natural events interpreted through the eyes of faith. • #1 – Nile changes to blood (7: 14 -24). Possibly a blood-red algae. • #2 – Frogs (7: 25 -8: 15) – common event when the Nile flooded - frogs died and carcasses rotted.

THE PLAGUES (Ex. 7: 8 -11: 10) • #3 – Gnats/Mosquitoes (8: 16 -19) – probably bred in the stagnant pools of flooded water • #4 – Flies (8: 20 -24) – more than likely attracted to rotting frogs. • Pharaoh relented a bit here, promised God’s people freedom, but later recanted. • #5 – Livestock disease (9: 1 -12) – Grazing probably took place where dead frogs were. • #6 – Human boils (9: 11) – From flies

THE PLAGUES (Ex. 7: 8 -11: 10) • #7 - Hailstorm and lightning (9: 13 -26). Rare but it can happen. Pharaoh tries to compromise here, saying that only the men could leave. • #8 – Locusts (10: 12 -20) – a variety of grasshopper that plagued Africa and the Eastern countries. • #9 – Darkness (10: 21 -29) – probably a severe sandstorm blocking the sunlight. • #10 – Death of the first born Egyptian children (11: 1 -10)

THE PASSOVER (Ex. 12: 1 -32) • Celebrated by Hebrews during 10 th plague. Lamb’s blood on doorpost signified Death to. “pass over” the house. – Vss. 1 -11 – Instructions for Passover preparation – Vss. 14 -20 – Instructions for continuing Passover celebration into the future – Vss. 21 -28 – Moses relays instructions to people – Vss. 29 -33 – Pharaoh finally relents • Purpose of Passover was/is to re-live Exodus events from one generation to the next. A family festival – intended to be celebrated within the community.

THE EXODUS

• Exodus 12: 29 -42 – The journey begins! Hebrews mobilize pretty fast. • How many? Ex. 12: 37. 3 million too large a number. Translation of “thousands” can mean other things – probably closer to 25, 000 30, 000. • Exodus would last 40 -/+ years – an entire generation. • Searching for the “Promised Land” • So where did they go?

PARTING OF THE RED SEA Not only are God’s people delivered across waters, but the receding waters vanquished their enemies. A “root experience. ” Some question as to what actual body of water was crossed. “Red Sea” – too far. Yam Suph in Hebrew Better translation “Reed Sea, ” a reference to marshy waters at north end of Gulf of Suez (Lake Manzaleh).

AROUND HERE… �� PROBABLY �� NOT HERE

PARTING OF THE RED SEA Two accounts: 1. Narrative (Chpt. 14) 2. Poetry (Chpt. 15) Note complaints in 14: 11 ff – would become common throughout Exodus narrative: – 15: 22 -26 Brackish water – 16: 2 -3 Longing for fleshpots in Egypt – 17: 2 -7 No water

GOD PROVIDES NO FOOD (16: 1 -36) • People complain (vss. 2 -3) • God provides manna & quail (vss. 13 ff. ) Manna – a “white flaky substance. ” We don’t know what it was (bug secretion, sap from tree? ) Hebrew word means “What is it? ” NO WATER (17: 1 -7) • People complain (vs. 3) • God commands Moses to strike a rock with his staff & water comes out of the rock.

COVENANT AT MOUNT SINAI & TEN COMMANDMENTS God established covenant with Israelites: “If you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be a treasured possession out of all peoples. ” (19: 5) A “holy nation” (19: 5 -6) - meant they were set apart for a specific divine purpose.

TEN COMMANDMENTS: 1. 2. 3. 4. No other gods (20: 2) No idols (20: 4) Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain (20: 7) Remember the Sabbath (20: 8) 5. Honor father and mother (20: 12) 6. You shall not murder (20: 13) 7. You shall not commit adultery (20: 14) 8. You shall not steal (20: 15) 9. No false witness (20: 16) 10. Don’t covet anything that belongs to your neighbor (20: 17)

The Covenant Code (Ex. 20; 22 -23: 33) • Laws designed for agricultural society. The Priestly Code (Leviticus) • Concerned with proper worship. • Ark of the Covenant, where Ten Commandment tablets were stored. • Outlined Tabernacle and “Holy of Holies, ” where Ark was kept. Deuteronomic Code (Deuteronomy) • Discovered during reign of King Josiah. • A restatement of the law; “modernizing” of the law to fit & reflect a changed situation.

EXODUS 32 – THE COVENANT BROKEN • Moses up on Sinai, the people make a golden calf. Moses is so upset when he returns, he throws two tablets down & breaks the ten commandments! • Moses’ prayer of intercession (vs. 7 -14). Talks God out of destroying God’s people – evokes the covenant God made (vss. 13 ff)!! • Reflects a common theme throughout Israel’s history – the temptation to dilute the religion of Yahweh with the popular religions of the time.

IN CLOSING