Exodus  One…(1-22)

1. Verses 1-22                                     

a.   How many of Jacob’s family went to Egypt originally?     (verses 1-5)

There were seventy people.

b.  What does verse 7 tell us about Israel?

That they had increased abundantly and filled the land.

c.  What was the current Pharaoh afraid of?   (verses 8-10)

Being over-run by the Israelis.

d.   How did he deal with the situation?    (verse 11)

By keeping the Israelis tightly under control, and by making them work hard at building his cities.

e.    Did this stop the Israeli people from multiplying?      (verse 12)

Not at all, they still increased.

f.   What was the real position of the Israeli people?       (verses 13-14)

They were virtually slaves, working from dawn to dusk under bondage.

g.     What sort of bondage do people endure today from a spiritual point of view? What are people slaves to?  Think about this carefully.     (Galatians 5:13-23)

People are slaves to sinful ways, bad habits, and selfish deeds which lead in turn  to breaking the laws of the land to say nothing of breaking God’s laws.

h.  What is the end result of this sort of lifestyle as far as God is concerned?

He can’t have people like this in His kingdom, still covered in their sin (or bad ways)

i.   We see in the Romans passage that this way of life will end in death (i.e. spiritual death) so how do we get the gift of God which is eternal life?        (Romans 6:21-23)

By simply confessing we are helpless sinners and asking Him for it Then we must believe that we have received it and thank Him for it. We may not immediately feel any different, but as we read the Bible its truths will fill our souls and minds  and we will become different people.

 Exodus Two…. (v1-25)

1.  Verses 1-14                    Exodus 15:20                   

a.      What were the names of this couple, and how many children did they already have when this new baby boy arrived ?       (Exodus 6:20)

They were Amram and Jochebed, and they had two children, Miriam and Aaron.

b.     Where did this new baby boy fit into the family?

He was the youngest of them.

c.      Read from verses 2-9 carefully, and then write what happened to this child…….

He was a beautiful baby who never cried (or he would have been discovered) and his mother hid him for three months. By this time he was too big to hide, so she made a little waterproof basket for him and put him on the edge of the river where the Princess went each day to bathe. His sister Miriam watched to see what would happen. When the Princess came down the baby started to cry, and her maid opened it. The baby was so beautiful, that he caught the Princess’ eye immediately and although she knew he was a Hebrew baby, she wanted to take him for herself. Miriam stepped forward and said she knew a lady who would look after the child until the Princess was ready for him…..the Princess agreed and Miriam ran home to get her mother. Not only could she look after her own child a bit longer, but she was paid to do it!

d.     The day came when he had to go and live in the palace……who had given him the name Moses, and what did it mean?       (verse 10)

The Princess named him Moses which means “Drawn from the Water” because that it how she found him.

e.      What sort of things do you think his mother would have taught him while she still had him at home? What can we teach our children?     (2 Timothy 1:5)

She would have told him stories of his real heritage, and ancestors…..most of all she would have taught him about the true God of heaven whose people they were, and the faith that was their heritage.

f.   What were the contrasts between Moses at this time and his real countrymen, the Israelis?         (Acts 7:21-22)

He was living in the luxury of Pharaoh’s palace with a high education and learning the wisdom of the Egyptians, while his people  the Israelis, were slaving away in bondage working in  hard labour for the king.

g.    What attitude did Moses have towards his own people?    (verse 11)

He felt a kinship with them and decided had had enough of the palace and soft living.

h.    How does the Hebrews passage put it?       (Hebrews 11:24-26)

He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter any longer and tried to help his people.

i.   What did he do to try to help his people?       (verses 11-13)

He went out and saw an Egyptian whipping one of them and he gave him (the Egyptian) a whack with his fist and felled the man dead. So he hastily buried him and hoped no one was watching. The next day he went out again, and this time two Israelis were fighting. When he tried to intervene they asked if he was going to kill them as he did the Egyptian the previous day.

j.   What did he do when he realised he had been discovered?       (verse 15)

He left the palace and Egypt for ever, he thought, and went off to the land of Midian.

k.   How was it that things went wrong in his desire to help?

He was doing it in his way and time, not in God’s way or  waiting  for God’s timing

l.   What lesson can we learn from this story?         (Exodus 3:10-12; Ecclesiastes 3:14)

When we want to do  things for God, we must make sure that we do it  in God’s way, not ours, no matter how good or right our way may seem. When God’s time was right for Moses, there was no doubt about it as we shall see, and it is the same for us too.

2.  Verses 15-25

a.      Where did Moses rest when he reached the land of Midian? What did he see and do?               (verses 15b-17)

He stopped and rested beside a well and saw shepherds chasing away seven girls who were trying to water their sheep, so he got up to help them.

b.     What trait of Moses shows in this incident?      (Hebrews 11:25-27)

He was a helpful sort of person, always wanting to help others.

c.      What did they think he was? Why?       (verse 19)

They thought he was an Egyptian because he would have sounded like one and he was dressed like one.

d.     What was the end result of Moses’ kindness to the girls?   (verses 20-21)

When they went home and told their father  about him, he insisted that they go and bring him home to stay.

e.      What happened to Moses then?        (verses 21-22)

He stayed there with the family, and married one of the daughters named Zipporah who then had a son they named Gershom.

f.       What work did Moses do now?      (chapter 3:1)

It was completely different to what he had been doing in Pharaoh’s palace where he had the best of everything; now he had to learn how to exist in the desert, and how to find fodder for the sheep.

g.     We could say that Moses had come to a bend in the road of his life…..how did he tackle it? What can we learn from this?      (verse 21;  Romans 8:28)

He made the best of his circumstances and went forwards, not looking back yearning for what had been his lot once..

h.   What was going on back in Egypt while Moses was learning to be a shepherd?   (verse 23)

The king who had been the Pharaoh when Moses was there had died, and the new Pharaoh was just as cruel to the Israelis.

i.   What did the Israeli people do about it?      (verse 24)

They  cried to God for deliverance from their bondage.

j.   Did God hear them? What did He do about it?     (verses 24-25)

Yes, God heard their cries and sympathised with them.

k.   What did God remember when He heard their groans?      (verses 24-25)

He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, about giving them the Land of Canaan for their own.

l.   Have you ever felt in a similar situation, caught up by circumstances that seem unbearable? What can you do about it?     (Philippians 4:6)

Remember God’s promises to His people when they are in trouble, then pray about it all. Don’t give up, keep praying until the answer comes.

m.   What does God tell us to do when we are in trouble? What is our response to be?   (Psalm 50:15)

God says to call on Him when we are in trouble and He will deliver us. Then we are to glorify Him, that is, to thank and praise Him for the result.

n.   What else can we remember when we are in the midst of problems and troubles?   (1 Corinthians 10:13)

That God won’t allow us to be tested or tried more than we are able…..He will give us the strength to get by, and will be with us to help when we look to Him.

 Exodus Three……(v 1-22)

1.  verses 1-6                    

a.    What was Moses continuing to do all these years?       (verse 1)

 Shepherding his father-in-law’s sheep.  

b.   How many years did he do this for?       (Acts 7:30)

Forty years.

c.   How old would Moses be by this time?        (Acts 7: 23)

Eighty years old.

d.   What sort of man would Moses be now compared with what he been when he arrived?       (verse 1b;  Acts 7:22  )

When he arrived, he had been highly educated and was well versed in all the arts of Egypt. He knew all the court etiquette and how to behave in polite company with the highest in the land.  But  now  he was well skilled in living in the desert conditions, he could read the weather signs, and tell where there was likely to be water found, he had learned all about looking after  animals.

e.   This particular day started off the same as any other…..what happened that was different?       (verse 2)

He saw a bush that was burning but wasn’t being consumed in the fire…..it just kept burning, so he went closer to see why it was like that

f.    What did he hear when he got closer?     (verse 4)

He heard a voice calling his name  from the burning bush.

g.    What did the voice say?       (verse 5)

 Don’t come any closer! Take the shoes off your feet because you are standing on holy ground.

h.   What did God  mean by saying it was  “holy” ground?      (verse 5b)

He meant that  He was there in the fire in Person, and because of His holiness and purity and detestation of sin, no-one could approach Him with their shoes on.

i.   Later on, what did God say the people were not to do when He came down on Mt. Sinai?      (Exodus 19:10-24)

They were not to even come near the mountain, or touch it because of the holiness of God, upon pain of death.

j.    What should we take out of these statements?     (Revelation 1: 12-17)

That  we are only  to approach God in awe and reverence, having cleansed ourselves by confessing our sins first.

k.     How did God describe Himself to Moses? How should we view God today?   (1 Timothy 1: 1-2)

As the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  God is described as our Saviour, our Father, and Jesus Christ as our Lord.

l.   What are the implications of Jesus Christ being our Lord?     (John  15:7, 10)

It means that we are to abide in Him, that we belong to Him and we should obey Him implicitly.

2.      Verses 7-15                                

a.      What did God say He had seen of the Israelis?     (verse 7)

The affliction and oppression of His people.

b.     What had God heard? What was He going to do about it?     (verses 7b-9)

 Their cry for help had risen to Him, and He was going to deliver His people.

c.      What did this have to do with Moses?    (verse 10)

God wanted him to go to Pharaoh and tell him to let the Israelis go

d.     What does God want each of His people to do today?     (Mark 16:15-16)

To preach the Gospel and tell others about the Lord Jesus…..if they believe they will be saved from eternal death, and if they don’t they will be damned.

e.      What are some ways we can do this?       (1 Peter 3:15)

Tell others what we believe when they ask us, perhaps take a class of some sort with children or young people, just talk naturally about what God means to you to others. Most of all, teach our children by example as well as by reading  Bible stories to them every day

f.   What was Moses’ reaction to this idea?      (verse 11)

I can’t Lord! I’m a nobody!! No-one will listen to me!.

g.   Can you relate to this? What are we to do in this situation?    (Malachi 3:6)

Ask the Lord for strength to say something even  if it is only a small comment for Him, and to make sure we speak to each other of the things concerning the Lord.

h.   Was this the same Pharaoh that Moses had lived with as a child?    (Exodus 2:23)

No, he had died.

i.   What was God’s promise to Moses?     (verse 12)

That He would be with him, and would eventually bring the people to this same mountain.

j.   What was Moses’ next excuse?       (verse 13)

The Israelis won’t believe that You have sent me! What shall I say Your Name is?

k.   What did God tell Moses to say to them?     (verses 14-15)

Tell them that His name is “I AM THAT I AM”.

l.   What does this name suggest to you?     (Revelation 1: 17-18)

That God is always there, He always HAS  been, and always WILL be

m.   Is God still the same today as He was then? Does He still see what happens to His people? Does He hear our cry when things go wrong?       (Malachi 3:6)

Yes !  Yes!! Yes!!!

3.  Verses 16-23                      

a.  What was the first thing that Moses was to do when he got back to Egypt?      (verses 16-17)

He was to gather the elders together and tell them that God’s time had come to get ready to leave Egypt.

b.   Who was to go with Moses to the king to make the  request to leave the land?  (verse 18)

The elders of Israel were to go with Moses to the king

c.    What would the outcome of this visit be?     (verse 19)

The king would not agree immediately.

d.   What would God do in the meantime?    (verse 21a)

 He would show His great wonders to all the people around.

e.    What lesson is there in this for us today?      (1 Peter 1:6-7)

That even though God is working in our affairs, it may not happen straight away or be an easy road; in fact the Lord Jesus told His people that they would have trials and tribulations in this life.

f.   What do we learn through trials and troubles?      (John 16:33)

That  the Lord Jesus is with us and He has been there before us and has overcome these things. We will come out at the end on the winning side, having learned many valuable lessons on the way.

 Exodus Four….(1:31

1.       verses 1-23                   

a.   What was Moses’ main concern?        (verse 1)

That the Israelis would not believe him.

b.   What signs did God give Moses to perform?      (verses 2-9)

His rod turning into a snake; his hand turning leprous, and the water turning to blood.

c.   What was Moses’ next excuse?      (verse 10)

I can’t talk eloquently; I’m not good enough!

d.   What did God say to that?       (verse 11)

Haven’t I made you like you are? Can’t I put words in your mouth for you?

e.    What lesson is there in this for us?       (1 Peter 4:11)

If God has laid something on your mind to do or say, He will enable you to do it! Just do the best you can and leave the results to Him!!

f.   What was concession did God give to Moses after all his objections?  (verses 12-16)

He allowed Aaron to go with him and be his mouthpiece to Pharaoh. 

g.  What did Moses do then?      (verses 18-21)

He went back home and told his father-in-law what had happened, and then packed his wife and sons up and went back to Egypt.

h. What did God tell Moses to do now, and what did He say would happen?    (verse 21)

To go to Pharaoh and show him the signs, telling him that God wanted the people to leave Egypt …… but that Pharaoh would not listen to what Moses said.    

i.   What did God say would happen if he (Pharaoh) refused to let the people go?   (verse 23)

 That if he (Pharaoh) wouldn’t let Israel (God’s son) go, then he would lose his own son as a result.

j.    What lesson is there in this for us today?      (James 4:17)

We cannot get away with disobedience  by ignoring what God says. If we know we should do something and refuse to do it, then we will have to pay the consequences.

2. …Verses 24-31                        

a.   What happened in the inn on the way to Egypt? Why did this happen? (verses 24-26)

God met Moses and tried to kill him because he had let one of the most important things in his family to slide.

b.   Why do you think God allowed this to happen without spelling it out plainly before he got this far?    (Deuteronomy 8:2)

God sometimes leaves things to test us and see whether we are totally obedient to His word. Moses would have known that this was a requirement for an Israeli man.

c.   What does this teach us?       (Song of Solomon 1:6b)

That we cannot expect to work for God if we are disobedient, even in one little thing!

d.  How should we prepare ourselves when starting (and continuing!) a work for God?    (1 Corinthians 11:27-28)

By praying and  examining ourselves and our motives…. it is  so easy to do a right thing in the wrong way!

e.  Who came to the rescue while Moses was wrestling with God?     (verses 25-26)

His wife Zipporah didn’t wait for Moses….she took a sharp stone and did the deed immediately on her son (and told Moses what she thought of him at the same time!!)

f.   What did the rite of circumcision go back to?   What was it a sign of?   (Genesis 17:13-14)

God’s command to Abraham. It was a sign of  God’s covenant with Abraham.

g.   What do we have to be so careful about not doing?      (Song of Solomon 1:6b )

Keeping another person in order when we can’t keep ourselves in order!  

h.   Who came to meet Moses on his way back to Egypt?  What made Aaron go to meet him?    (verse 27)

His brother Aaron went to meet him, because God had told him to go and see him.

i.   What did Moses tell Aaron?        (verse 28)

 He told him everything that had happened in the desert.

j.   Do we need signs today to convince us of the truth of the Scriptures? Who has told us the Truth?     (John 14:6)

No, Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life

k.   What is the only sign we are given?     (John 3:14; Matthew 12: 38-40)

The sign of Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection after three days.

l.   Why is a special blessing given to believers today?       (John 20:29)

Because we believe God’s Word without any outward sign…… this is called believing by faith.

m.   What does verse 31 tell us about the people of Israel?

They believed and worshipped God.

 Exodus   Five….(v.1-23)

1.       Verses 1-23                   

a.   Read the whole chapter through in one sitting and then write what it is about briefly……

Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh asking that the Israelis be let go to worship God in the wilderness. Pharaoh  immediately made the people work harder. Saying that they were idle…..they now had to get their own straw for the bricks and yet were still expected to produce the same amount. The people blamed Moses who then took the matter to the Lord.

b.   What was Pharaoh’s attitude to God? What did he say?     (verse 2)

Who is the Lord? I don’t know Him and I’m not going to let the people go!.

c.   Where does an attitude like this lead people to today?       (Genesis 6:3a; Romans 1:21-24a)

If a person refuses to listen to and obey God long enough, God will give up on them. God will not always strive with a person.

d.   What does Romans 6:23 tell us of the end of a person in this context?

That the end of a person like this is that they will die in their sins……the wages of sin is death.

e.   The people then turned and blamed Moses and Aaron… what did they say?

It’s all your fault, look what’s happened to us now!

f.   How did Moses feel? What did he do?

Moses probably felt that God had let him down…..he had done what God said and nothing worked!! So he took the matter to the Lord in prayer.

g.    Have you ever felt like this? What must a person do when everything seems to be going wrong?

We  must trust God and not panic.

h.   How did Job view his situation?

 He didn’t blame God…. he was prepared to trust God even if he died in the process.

i.    How did David overcome his feelings in his bad situations?

By telling God about it, then trusting in God and singing to Him for all the positive things he had.

j.   What are we told to do in the  1Thessalonians passage?

To give thanks in every situation we find ourselves in….. not necessarily FOR the situation, but in spite of the situation!

k. What is one thing we can always thank God for?

For all that He has done for us (all His blessings)  and for His salvation!

 Exodus   Six….(v.1-30)

1.       Verses 1-30

a.  What did God tell Moses this time he prayed?      (verses 1-6)

i.   Pharaoh WILL let the people go.

ii.   I am the Lord….I was known to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty, but I  

      want you to know Me as JEHOVAH.

iii.   I haven’t forgotten my covenant  with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

iv.   I have seen and heard what Israel is going  through.

b.   What promises did God renew with His people?    God says  “I will” seven times…. what are they?     (verses 6-8)

I WILL bring you away from the bondage of Egypt.   (x2)

I WILL be your God

I WILL redeem you.

I WILL have you for my people

I WILL give the land to you for a heritage   (x2)

c.  What sevenfold promise does God give His people in  Isaiah 41:9-10?

You are My servant and I have chosen you

Don’t be afraid

I am with you.

I am your God.

I will strengthen you

I will help you

I will hold you up with the right hand of My righteousness

d.   What can we take out of the last two questions for our selves today?    (Galatians 5:1; Ephesians 1:3; 1 Peter 5:7)

God is still saying these things to His people today. He has taken us from the bondage that sin held us in, and has taken us for His people. He wants to be our God, and He wants us to be His servants. He will give us everything that we need to  walk in His ways (strength, help and will hold us up in His righteousness (right living).

e.   How did the people react to Moses’ message from God? Why?     (verse 9)

They wouldn’t listen because their load was too heavy to bear.

f.   How should we react in bad situations when everything is going wrong?    (Philippians 4:6-7)

We should tell the Lord all about it and trust in Him to give you the right answer (it may not always be the one you want!) and He ill take the panic away and give you His peace.

g.   How did Moses feel again, in the face of the people’s disbelief?   (verses 11-12, 29-30)

Totally discouraged…..he felt it was no use going back to Pharaoh.

 Exodus   Seven….(v.1-25)

1.       Verses 1-25                               

a.    Some people say that it wasn’t Pharaoh’s fault because it was God who hardened his heart… what do you see led to this attitude of Pharaoh’s ?   (verses 1-3; Romans 1:28)

Pharaoh didn’t want to know anything about God, and God gave up on him.

b.   What did God show to everyone through Pharaoh’s hard heart?   ( chapter 9:16)

His might and power in His wonders that were performed.

c.   What would all the people KNOW by the time God had finished His signs and wonders?      (verse 5; chapter 9:14)

They would know Who God was, and that there is a mighty powerful God behind the universe who was operating on Israel’s behalf.

d.   How old were Moses and Aaron at this time?      (verse 7)

They were 80 and 83 years old respectively.

e.   What was the purpose of Aaron’s rod miracle?      (verses 8-13)

To show God’s might and power.

f.    What did Pharaoh think about that?    (verse 11)

He immediately brought in his wise men and they did the same thing.

g.   Did God allow this to go unnoticed? How?    (verse 12)

 No, Aaron’s rod swallowed the others all up.

h.   What do we have to be aware of today? How can we tell if they are genuine?   (1 John 4:1-3)

Of false teachers and their messages….if they do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, they are from the devil.

i.   What is Satan’s main aim? What do we have to do to counteract this?  (1 Peter 5:8-9)

His main aim is to trip people up and keep them from God….we have to be aware of this and resist his temptations and ideas.

j.    Where did God tell Moses and Aaron to meet Pharaoh next?   (verse 15)

By the bank of the river the next morning when he was going down to it.

k.   What was God’s message to Pharaoh this time?   (verses 16-18)

Let My people go to worship Me in the wilderness….you wouldn’t let them go last time, now I am giving you a second chance.

l.    What happened when Pharaoh refused?     (verses 19-20)

Aaron stretched out his stick over the river and whacked the water with it, and all the water in the land turned to blood.

m.   What was the result of this?   (verse 21)

 The people couldn’t use it for drinking or washing, and all the fish in the river died. All the waterholes and containers of water were the same….everything stunk for a week!

n.   What did Pharaoh’s magicians do?     (verse 22)

They found they could do the same, so any clean water left was turned to blood by them doing this wonder too.

o.   How did the people survive for that week?    (verses 24-25)

They dug down in the sand for fresh water until the river came clean again.

 Exodus   Eight….(v.1-23)

1.  Verses 1-15                                    

a.   We saw in the last lesson that the River Nile was affected in the first plague….why would this have been so disastrous for the people?

Their whole economy depended on the water from the Nile, from personal hygiene to commerce and agriculture.

b.   The frog was one of Egypt’s gods, along with a lot of other things. What was the second plague and how did this one affect them?      (verses 1-6)

Frogs overran the land, the cities and their houses. Because the frog was one of their deities,  it was as though God were saying to them, “ you worship the frog, here it is in abundance!” They were a terrible nuisance to the people.

c.   Could the magicians make the frogs  come too? What could they NOT do? (verses 7-8)

Yes, they could bring them, but they couldn’t get rid of them….only God could take them away.

d.   What did Pharaoh say to Moses this time?       (verse 8c)

He wanted Moses to ask God to send the frogs back into the river, and said that then  he would let the people go.

e.   What did Pharaoh recognise about this plague?      (verse 2, 8a)

That God had sent it, and only God could get rid of it.

f.   How did God deal with the frogs? What did this mean for the people? (verses 12-14)

He caused them to die where they were, and the whole land stunk of rotten frogs.

g.   Can you see any parallel in this for people today?    (Proverbs 14:12)

Anything that takes God’s place in a person’s life, can often become an addiction that takes control, and causes dissatisfaction with a danger of destruction.

h.   How did Pharaoh react to this stinking  mess of dead frogs?    (verses 14-15)

He hardened his heart himself and changed his mind about letting  the people go.

i.   What does this tell us about people who continually refuse to do what they know God wants them to? What is the end result?    (Romans 1:20-26)

In the end, God stops speaking to them and lets them go their own way which ends in death.

2.     Verses  16-28      

 a.   How did the third plague come? Did Moses warn them what was coming? (verse 1)

Moses gave no warning what would happen. Aaron whacked the dust on the ground and it turned into lice on man and animal.

b.   Could the magicians do this miracle? What did they recognise this time?     (verses 16-19)

They couldn’t make the lice come and told Pharaoh that it was the work of God, but he wouldn’t listen.

c.    What happened to the lice? What was God’s next message to Pharaoh?     (verses 20-24)

It doesn’t say what happened to the lice. God told Pharaoh that there would be swarms of flies in the whole land, except for the land of Goshen where Israel was living.

d.   What did this show the people of Egypt?     (verses 22-23)

 That God was protecting His people, and that this was not just a natural phenomena.

e   What effect did these flies have on Pharaoh?    (verse 25)

He was frantic and told Moses to get the people to sacrifice to God in the land.

f.   Was this acceptable to God?      (verses 26-27)

No, the people were all to leave together and go into the wilderness for three days before sacrificing to God.

g.    Who else had to go a three day journey to sacrifice to God?    (Genesis 22:3-4)

Abraham and Isaac had to go a three day journey to sacrifice to God.

h.   Why do you think this was? Remember that Egypt was an idolatrous nation…does it have any application to us?    (Psalm 66:18;   1 Corinthians 11: 28-29)

Egypt had many heathen practices. How could God’s people worship a holy God in this situation? We cannot worship God until we have examined ourselves and taken away anything that is displeasing to Him.

i.    What did Moses mean in verse 26 when he talked about the abomination of the Egyptians?    (Genesis 46:34)

He meant that the Egyptians would go mad if they saw sheep being sacrificed near them as they couldn’t stand sheep at the best of times.

j.    What was Pharaoh’s reply when Moses told him they all had to go for three days first?    (verse 28)

That’s OK, just get rid of these flies for us!

k.   Did Moses trust Pharaoh’s word that he would do this?    (verse 27)

 No, he didn’t ,  Pharaoh  had  promised so many times to let the people go and then changed his mind.

2.   verses  29-32         

a   What did Pharaoh do once the flies were gone?      (verses 31-32)

He hardened his heart and changed his mind yet again.

b.   What does the Bible teach about a person who continually hardens their heart and refuses to do what God says?    (Proverbs 29:1)

That one day, God will take them at their word and they will be destroyed with no chance of any change.

c.    What was the cause of Pharaoh’s attitude to God?         (chapter 7:3-5; 9:17)

God knew that he was stubborn and proud, and would refuse to give in, so He used Pharaoh as an example to show His mighty wonders to all the people.

d.     What do we have to be careful of?       (1 Corinthians 11:29)

 Not refusing God until He gives up on us…..there is no more hope when that happens.

e   Did the people of Israel go or stay at this time?      (verse 32)

They stayed and continued to work.     

 Exodus   Nine….(v.1-35)

1.   Verses 1-35

a.   What plagues are told about in this chapter?      (verses 3, 9, 18)

Animal disease, then boils on people, and a bad hailstorm.

b.   Were the people of Israel affected by these plagues?   (verses 4)                                                                                                                                   

No, they were protected.

c.    What do verses 7 & 12 tell us?

That Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he wouldn’t agree to letting the people go.

d.   What do you think the term “hardened heart”  means?

It means a stubborn person who refuses to listen and obey.

e.   What was God trying to get through to Pharaoh?

Who He is! The fact that He (God) has power and authority over mankind.

f.   What was the root of Pharaoh’s attitude?  How does God feel about this?   (Proverbs 6: 16-17a)

Pride was the root of Pharaoh’s trouble; God cannot stand pride, He absolutely detests it.

g.   What must we as Christians do with this sort of attitude?    (2 Corinthians 10:5))

We must put it down, and bring proud thoughts into obedience to Christ.

h.   Who does the exalting?     (Luke 1:52)

God exalts those He wishes to.

i.   How did Pharaoh react to the cattle disease and boils?    (verse 12)

It seemed to have no effect on him or his intentions.

j.   How were the Egyptian people reacting to God’s word?      (verses 18-21)

Those who believed, obeyed and saved their remaining cattle, while those who didn’t[t believe lost them in the hail storm

k.   What about the Israeli people in Goshen?      (verse 26)

There was no hail there.

l.  What was Pharaoh’s admission to Moses in verses 27-28? 

I’ve gone too far, I’ve sinned and we are a wicked people.

m.    Does this constitute a sincere repentance? Why not?      (verses 27-28, 34)

 He didn’t really mean what he was saying! He changed his mind yet again and hardened his heart once more.

n.   Can we fool God by saying what we think He wants to hear?    Why not?   (Psalm 139: 4))

Because He knows our very thoughts and every  word we say. There is no way we can fool God!

o.   What should our prayer be as Christians?      (Psalm 139:23-24)

Search me O God, and know my  heart; try me and know my thoughts, see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.  

 Exodus   Ten….(v.1-29)

1.       Verses 1-29                               

a.   What was the purpose of God hardening Pharaoh’s heart?     (verses 1-2; chapter 9:14-16)

That His might and power could be seen by all the people in the land, and also as a lesson for us today too.

b.      What was Pharaoh’s main problem (sin) ?     (verse 3)

He was too proud to humble himself before God.

c.   What was the next plague to come? Was Pharaoh warned ahead of time? What did his servants say?      (verses 4-6)

Moses told Pharaoh that if he didn’t let the people go that locusts would swarm in and invade the land….his servants told him to let the Israelis go before the whole land of Egypt was destroyed..

d.   What was Pharaoh prepared to do?      (verse 11)

He said that just the men could go to worship God, and leave everything else behind.

e.   Why was this not acceptable to Moses?     (verse 9)

Because it wasn’t full obedience to God, it was a compromise.

f.       What does this teach us for today ?      (1 Corinthians 10: 6, 11)

Several things…. i. Partial obedience is not good enough

                        ii. Families are meant to worship God together

g.      How much damage did the locusts do to the land?    (verses 13-15)

They ate every green leaf of crop and tree until the land was absolutely bare and denuded.

h.  What did Pharaoh say to Moses this time?      (verses 16-17)

“I have sinned against God and against you”

i.   Why did Pharaoh,  when saying he had sinned, wasn’t really repentant?   (verse 17b)

Because he didn’t really mean he had sinned at all….he wasn’t sorry for his sins, he was only sorry for the result of the locusts! His true colours came out when the locusts had gone, and his heart was hardened again.

j.    What do we see about Pharaoh’s heart now?   (verses 18-20; chapter 9:34)

He had hardened it himself once too often, and now God was hardening it.

2.    Verses 21-29

a.   What sort of things had God used in the plagues up until now?

He had used natural things like frogs, diseases, insects, thunderstorms.

b.   What was unnatural about the ninth plague?  Why was it spooky?     (verses 21-23)

God sent a thick darkness on the land, and the people were not able to make a light work, they had to grope around for three days. Yet in the land of Goshen, lights were able to be lit and used!

c.   What was Pharaoh’s compromise this time?   (verse 24)

Take your families, but leave your cattle.

d.   Why was this unacceptable to Moses?     (verses 25-26)

Because God intended them to take EVERYTHING! How else could they offer a sacrifice without an animal?

e.   What was Pharaoh’s ultimatum to Moses this time?      (verse 28)

Go away, don’t come back or you will die!!

 Exodus   Eleven….(v.1-10)

1.       Verses 1-10

a.   What did God say to Moses next?      (verses 1-2)

I am bringing one last plague on Egypt….go and tell the people to ask the Egyptians for jewels and clothing.

b.     How were the people able to do this for it to work?     (verse 3)

Because God had given them favour in the eyes of the Egyptians, and they were glad to hand their valuables over….Moses had a great mana (presence) before the Egyptian people.

c.   What was the final plague that God was going to bring?      (verses 4-6)

All the firstborn of man and beast in the land would die.

d.   What about Israel in the land of Goshen?      (verse 7)

They would be exempt, totally protected upon their obedience to what God said.

e.   What would this show?       (chapter 9:6-7)

That Israel was God’s special people.

f.   What was Pharaoh’s reaction to Moses’ prediction?      (verses 9-10)

Total indifference to the warning….he still refused to let them go.

g.   How did Moses feel about it all?       (verse 8c)

He was very angry with Pharaoh.

h.   Is it permissible for a Christian to get angry? What is the criteria?   (Ephesians 4:26-27)

If we can be angry and not sin in the process. We are not to remain angry beyond that day or we will be giving place to Satan.

 Exodus   Twelve….(v.1-51)

1.      Verses 1-28                                

a.   How was Israel to regard this particular month in succeeding years?     (verses 1-2)

As the beginning of a new life, a new year for them.

b.   What did God tell them to do?       (verse 5-7)

To take a perfect lamb for each family, examine and keep it for fourteen days, then kill it, catch the blood in a basin and then sprinkle it on the door posts and lintel.

c.   What were they to do with the rest of the lamb?    (verses 8-10)

To roast it, and eat it the same night and burn the remains.

d.    In what attitude were they to eat it?      (verse 11)

They were to be all packed and ready to leave….they were to eat it in a hurry.

e.   What was this meal called? Why?      (verses 11c-14)

It was God’s Passover because His angel would go through the land and pass over those who had their doors sprinkled with blood.

f.   What    was God bringing on Egypt this night?       (verse 12c)

Judgement.

g.   What was Israel to do each year as a memorial?     (verses 14-18)

They were to keep the Passover feast each year at the same time of the year.

h.   What was the Passover a symbol of?        (Matthew 16:6, 11-12;  1 Corinthians 5:6-8)

h.   What was the main purpose of the Passover feast?       (verses 21-28)

To remind them of God’s deliverance and to teach the children of God’s greatness and power.

i.   What   feast of remembrance are Christians today asked to keep?      (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

The breaking of bread and drinking of wine to remind us of Christ’s death

j.   What was the lamb being killed a symbol of?     (John 1:29;  Revelation 5:6)

It was a symbol of the Lord Jesus Christ and the death that He died for man’s deliverance from sin.

2.      Verses  29-39  

a.   What happened at midnight? What was the result?       (verses 29-35)

The Lord killed the eldest son in every family in Egypt, and there was a great cry of grief through the whole land. Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and was insistent that all Israel go immediately. The Egyptians were so urgent for them to leave, that they pressed costly clothes and jewels on them to go at once.

b.   What made the Egyptians give these things to Israel?       (verse 36)

The Lord gave favour in the sight of the people of Egypt.

c.   How many people are we told left Egypt that night?       (verse 37)

There were 600,000 men plus women and children.

d.   Did any other people leave with them?    (verse 38)

Yes, a mixed multitude went with them, people who believed what God had said.

e.   What sort of bread did they take with them? Why?      (verse 39)

The bread had no yeast in it as they didn’t have time to wait for it to rise….not only that, but leaven was a symbol of sin and deceit and the people were to be free of all that as they obeyed God.

f.   How long had Israel been in Egypt for?     (verses 40-41)

430 years to the day.

g.   What had God told Abraham about this time years before?     ( Genesis 15:13-14)

He had told Abraham that his descendants would be in bondage for 400 years and that He would judge that nation.

h.   What was one reason that Israel was detained in Egypt for this time before they were given the land of Canaan?    (Genesis 15: 16)

Because it took all these years for the Amorite nations to commit enough sin for God’s judgement to fall on them.

i.   What were God’s rules for keeping the Passover feast in later years?    (verses 42-49)

i.   It was to be kept each year at the same time

ii.  It was not to be kept by any uncircumcised male

iii.  The lamb was not to have any broken bones, it was to be eaten in one house, and not taken anywhere else.

iv.  ALL the people were to keep it, it was a command, not an option

j.   Does it seem that Israel always kept the Passover from that time on?       (2 Kings  23: 21-23)

No, it seems that it was not kept very often down through the years.

k.   What does Joshua tell us about the first Passover in the promised land?      (Joshua  5:6-8)

The men and boys all had to be circumcised as the people had got slack during the 40 years of wandering in unbelief….not until then, were they able to celebrate the Passover as God had told them.

l.   How are we told to partake of our remembrance feast?    (1 Corinthians 11:27-29)

We must examine OURSELVES (not the next person!) and put wrong attitudes and sin away before we take it.

 Exodus   Thirteen….(v.1-22)

1.       Verses 1-10                                                                                                         1 Timothy 4:12-16

a.   The word “sanctify” means to “set apart” or make special. What is God saying  about all the firstborn?         (verse 2)

They were all His and as such were to be special.

b.     What were the people to remember each anniversary?      (verses 3-10)

That they had been delivered from bondage in Egypt.

c.      What does this tell us we should remember when we take the bread and wine in memory of the Lord?     (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

That we have been delivered from the bondage of sin by our Lord Jesus Christ, and His sufferings in doing so…..we are to do it in memory of what He has done for us.

d.   What were they to eat seven days prior to the Passover?       (verse 6)

Flat bread made without yeast.

e.   Leaven (or yeast) tells of sin because of the way it spreads through the lump of dough….what were they to keep out of the house before the feast and what does this tell us for today?        (verse 7)

They were to clear the house out of all leaven…this tell us that we are not try to worship the Lord and partake of His feast if we have sin in our lives…. any form of moral sin, dishonest sin, rebelling sin, or sin of bitterness against others.

f.   What was one of the reasons for the Passover feast?       (verse 8)

To teach the young ones (the future people) what God had done for His people.

g.   What effect was it to have on the people’s lives? 

h.  What are hands a symbol of?   ii. What is “between our eyes” a symbol of?    (verse 9)

        i. It was to have a cleansing effect on what they DID.

 ii. Between our eyes is symbolic of our thoughts…. Our thoughts and attitudes are to be clean

i.   How often were the people to keep the Passover?      (verse 10)

Every year at the same time.

j.   What was to be kept specially for the Lord in the new land?      (verses 11-13)

The eldest male offspring of every man and beast

k.   What was to be done with these ?       (verse 13)

The animals that were kept were to be redeemed by sacrificing a lamb; it was the same with the sons.

l.   What was the reason for this?       (verses 14-16)

It was to be a continual reminder of their deliverance from Egypt’s bondage and as an object lesson for the children of the future.

m.    What do you think it means when it says this custom was to become “frontlets between your eyes” ?      (verse 16)

It means that it was to be a continual reminder….they were not to forget what God had done for them

2.   Verses 17-22               

a.   Why did God not lead the people the direct route across country?     (verses 17-18)

Because it would have taken them through the Philistine’s territory and they weren’t in a fit state for battle.

b.   What other purposes did God have in taking them across the Red Sea ?   (chapter 14:25b-27; Joshua 2:9-11)

To destroy Pharaoh and his army, and to let the surrounding nations KNOW that He was the Lord God and was going to give Israel their lands.

c.  What did Moses take with him?  Why?    (verse 19; Genesis 50:25)

He took the bones of Joseph because it was Joseph’s last request that his bones  be buried in the land that was given to his grandfather Abraham.

d.   How did God show the people that He was with them?   (verses 21-22)

He led them with a pillar of cloud during the day, and this glowed like a fire at night to give them light…it was continually there.

e.   What does this remind us of today?        (Hebrews 13:5b-6)

That God’s presence is with us, to lead and to guide, to protect and give light how to act.

 Exodus   Fourteen….(v.1-31)

1.   Verses 1-15

a.   Where did God lead Israel on this first stage of their journey?       (verse 2)

To camp by the sea.

b.   What did Pharaoh and his people begin to think?     (verse 5)

Why did we ever let these people and their free labour go!!! Let’s go and bring them back!

c.   What state of mind was Pharaoh in when he set off with his horsemen and chariots?       (verse 4, 6-9)

He had forgotten God’s judgement on his nation during the last little while, all he wanted was to get these people back again!

d.   How did Israel feel when they saw Pharaoh’s army coming up behind them and the sea in front of them?      (verses 10-12)

They panicked and were terrified…..they cried to the Lord on one hand and blamed Moses on the other!

e.   What was Moses’ reply?       (verses 13-14)

Don’t be frightened! Stand still and see what God will do to save you!

f.   Have YOU ever been in a situation that has taken you by surprise and where there seems to be no solution?

Yes!! We will have all been in these situations, and if you haven’t as yet, they are still ahead of you!

g.   What should a Christian do when in that situation?      (Philippians 4:6-7)

Take it to the Lord and wait to see how He will work things out….if we have the right attitude before Him, we will experience His great peace.

h.   Who did Moses remind the Israelis that the battle really belonged to?    (verse 14)

 That it was God’s battle and He would fight for them.

i.   When one is in the midst of an insurmountable problem, what would God have one to do? What did He tell Israel to do?      (verse 15, Romans 8:28, 31)

To go on, to move forward, and God will make a way through the problem.

2. Verses 16-31           

a.   What did God tell Moses to do? What was He going to do?     (verses 16-17)

God told Moses to lift up his rod and hold it over the sea…..God would harden Pharaoh’s heart and determination to get Israel even more until they were totally destroyed.

b.   What was God’s purpose for Egypt in all of this?     (verse 18)

That they would recognise that He was Almighty God, sovereign over all things.

c.   How did God physically protect Israel that night?     (verses 19-20)

He put His cloud between the two camps…..that which was darkness and mist to the Egyptians was light to Israel.

d.   What did Israel see the next morning?       (verses 21-22)

A dry path through the sea bed with walls of water on either side.

e.   Did this miracle tell the Egyptians anything?     (verse 23)

No, they still didn’t believe God!

f.    When   did Egypt realise that God was fighting this battle against them?    (verses 24-25)

When things started to wrong halfway across the sea bed.

g.   Could they repent and escape then?      

No, it was too late, they had gone too far!

h.   What does this tell us about one who continually  refuses God’s ways?    (Genesis 6:3a)

That one can go too far, and then God will give them up and it is too late to repent.

i.    When is the right time to accept God’s message?       (2 Corinthians 6:2b)

NOW!   TODAY!

j.   What can happen, even to a Christian, if one refuses God’s message long enough?    (Hebrews 3:12-13)

We can become hardened by the sin that we are doing until it doesn’t seem so bad any more.

k.    What was the end result of this exercise?       (verses 30-31)

Israel saw the sea flat and level again….they were all safely across, but the Egyptians lay drowned on the sea shore. Israel had their faith in God strengthened, and they believed and reverenced Him and His servant Moses

 Exodus   Fifteen….(v.1-27)

1.       verses 1-19               

a.   What did Moses and the people do after this marvellous deliverance? What should we do when we see something similar in our lives?      (verses 1-18)

They praised God and sang of His goodness and mercy. We too, can do this and in doing so are giving God glory.

b.     What did the people recognise God as now ?     (verses 2, 6-7)

Their strength and song; their salvation; their God; as the Lord in the outcome of the war.

c.      What was the main reason that God overthrew the Egyptians?     (chapter 14:24-25)

Because they refused to believe Him….they pitted themselves against the power of God.

d.   What are the people saying in verse 11?

There is no God like the Lord….He is the most glorious, the most Holy, does the most wonders and deserves the most praise.

e.   What can we never do too much of?       (Revelation 5:9-14)

We can never think about the Lord or give Him thanks and praise too much for all He has done.

2.    Verses 20-27                                

a.   Who took the lead among the womenfolk in this song to the Lord?    (verses 20-21)

Miriam, the sister of Moses.

b.   After this marvellous deliverance, what did they find in three days’ time?  (verses 22-24)

More problems….they were travelling in the desert and ran out of water.

c.   When we have experienced a wonderful solution to a problem, what is likely to happen next?       (1 Corinthians 10:11-13)

More problems! We are inclined to get slack and complacent and need to be brought back to God again.

d.   Why did God allow this problem? Why do we have problems?     (2 Corinthians 12:7-9; Hebrews 12:11)

God was testing and proving them….we don’t enjoy the problems we go through, but we can look back later and rejoice in the presence of God and His strength that we had them.

e.   What did God promise the people after this test?      (verse 26)

That He would keep them free from the diseases of Egypt.

f.   What sort of “diseases” can we pick up from the world that we have been delivered from?      (Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8-9)

Worry, bad habits, bickering, filthy talk and immoral living.

g.   How does God expect us to live in the strength that He gives us?

To be happy, cheerful and kind, uncomplaining, patient and forgiving.

h.   What did the people find when they took their problem to the Lord?

He made a way through it, and told Moses how to make the water drinkable.

i.    What do we find when we are tested (not tempted as we know it) by the Lord?

God knows how much we can stand and He will not allow our problems to overcome us if we look to Him…..He will find a way out and give us the strength to bear it.

j.   After this testing time for Israel, what did they come to next?    (verse 27)

A place that had much water where they could rest, relax and gather up their resources

k.    What is the lesson in this for us?       (Psalm 23:4;  30:5b; 1 Thessalonians 5:18)

That the bad times WILL pass….make the most of the good times remembering always how the Lord was faithful in the bad times and always giving thanks in every situation we find ourselves.

 Exodus   Sixteen….(v.1-36)

1.   Verses 1-9             

a.   How long had Israel been on their journey when they left Elim?    (verse 1)

Six weeks.

 b.   How did the people feel when they found themselves in desert country again ?  (verses 2-3)

Very grumpy.

c.     What were they saying?      (verse 3b)

Bother Moses for bringing us here…we wish we were still in Egypt! At least we had plenty of food there!! We’re going to starve to death here!

d.   What did God have in mind for the people when He took them into the desert?    (Deuteronomy 8:2-3)

It was another proving ground and testing time for them….they were now having to obey God and rely on Him for everything.

e. What does this tell us in our daily life?      (Hebrews 12: 5-11)

When things don’t suit us or go our way, we are to remember that God is testing us….we must remember to not let Him down! We are totally dependant on Him for all our spiritual needs.

f.  When were the people to gather this daily food from God?       (verses 4, 21)

Every morning before the dew dried.

g.     What lesson is there in this for us?        (Psalm 68:19; Hebrews 3:13)

We are to make sure we come before the Lord daily to gather our spiritual food every morning before other pressures take over our minds.

h.   The people were grumbling about Moses, but who in reality were they grumbling about?     (Psalm 106:13-14, 21)

They were really grumbling about God’s leading and forgetting about all the wonderful things He had already done for them.

i.  If we grumble and complain about circumstances that we can do nothing about (e.g. ill health, bereavement, accidents etc) what are we really complaining about?  (Isaiah 50:2; 59:1)

About God for allowing these things to happen to us.

j.   What had the Lord been listening to? Think of it from His point of view….(Psalm 106:24-25)

Here were His people, freshly delivered from a life of slavery, having seen the most wonderful signs of His  power, guidance and protection; now they were moaning that they would die of hunger!

2.      Verses 10-26                              

a.   What did the people see when Aaron spoke to them?     (verse 10)

The glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud.

b.   From other Scriptures, what do you think this glory looked like?   (Matthew 17:2, 5; Acts 26:13)

A bright shining light, supernaturally white and glistening.

c.   What was the Lord saying out of this glowing light?     (verse 12a)

“I have heard the complaints of the people….”

d.   What is the contrast between the Lord and His complaining people?   (John 1:5; 3:19b)

One is light, and the other is darkness.

e.   What did God do about their complaints?       (verse 12)

He told them He would give them meat that night and bread in the morning.

f.   How did He do that?   (verses 13-14)

He brought a tremendous flock of quails into the camp that night and bread on the ground in the morning.

g.   What were the rules for gathering and using the manna? What would happen if they took too much?       (verses 16-26)

They were to go out each morning of the week and get enough for their daily needs….it had to be gathered before the sun melted it. On the sixth day they were to get twice as much because none would fall on the Sabbath Day. If they took more than one day’s amount, it grew maggots and stunk, yet on the sixth day it stayed perfectly good for the next day!

h.   What did it look and taste like?     (verses 14-15; Numbers 11:7-9)

It was small, white and round, like a coriander seed. It could be ground into flour and used to make cakes with, and it tasted like fresh oil.

i.   What promise does the Lord give to His people who follow Him?  (Revelation 2:17a)

That He will give them the secret manna to feed on.

j.   What is this secret manna?        (John 6: 48-51)

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself  is the Bread of  Heaven who satisfies each hungry soul and gives eternal life.

k.   In what ways is the manna a type of Christ?  (e.g. its colour and taste)

It was white…Christ’s purity

It was round…. Christ’s eternity

It was small….Christ was meek and lowly

It was sweet and fresh…..so Christ is to the believer who feeds on Him

It sustained them….so Christ sustains His people.

3.  Verses 27-36           Joshua  5:10-12           Psalm 77: 10-12;    119: 11      

a.   How obedient were the people in this matter?      (verse 27)

Some were and some weren’t.

b.   What did God think about those who went out on the Sabbath?   (verse 28-30)

He took a dim view of it as He saw them going out and told them all over again to NOT do it!

c.   What were the people to do for a memorial?     (verses 32-34; Hebrews 9:4)

Put some in a jar and keep it before the Lord for ever.

d.   Why do human beings need a memorial like this?    (Psalm 143:5)

Because our memories are so short….the problems of today overshadow the victories of yesterday.

e.   How can we train ourselves to remember things?       (Psalm 1:2; 77:10-12)

By making a conscious effort to memorise God’s Word and remember the way He has led us in the past, to read books on the lives of the servants of God. To meditate and think of these things….to fill our minds with them and talk of them to others.

f.  How long  did the Lord give manna to Israel?     (verse 35; Joshua 5:10-12)

For forty years, until they passed into the Promised land and ate the crops that were grown there.

g.   What lesson can we learn from this?          (John 14:26;  16:13)

That the Lord supplies what we need when we can’t provide for ourselves….when we can do it, He expects us to work for it! After all, the people had to go out and pick the manna up for themselves!

 Exodus   Seventeen….(v.1-16)

1.       Verses 1-7         

a.   Where did God  lead the people to next?     (verse 1)

To a place where there was no water.

b.   Why did God take them to such a place? What was His purpose in doing this?   (Deuteronomy 8:2-3)

God was testing them yet again to see how they would react…..He was chastening them to get them to believe Him

c.   What must we ask ourselves and acknowledge when we look at our circumstances?    (Hebrews 12:6, 10-11)

We must realise this is a test to teach us lessons from the Lord…..how we react will prove whether we are trusting the Lord or not!

d.   What did the people do as soon as they ran into this problem?   (verses 2-3)

They moaned against Moses and were almost ready to kill him.

e.   What did Moses do then? What must we do in such circumstances?   (verse 4; Philippians 4:6-7)

Take the problem to the Lord and ask Him to solve it.

f.   What did God tell Moses to do?     (verses 5-6)

To hit the rock face there and water would come out of it for them.

g.   What is the Rock a type or picture of?      (1 Corinthians 10:4)

It is a type of Jesus Christ, He is our Rock.

h.  When was He hit? When did He suffer?      (1 Peter 2:21-24)

When He died on the cross for our sins.

i.   The water came when the Rock was hit…..what does this typify for us today?     (John 4:10-14; Revelation 22:17)

Now that the Lord Jesus has died for us, we can drink of the water of life and our thirst for God will be satisfied.

j.    How do we know that these things are so?       (1 Corinthians 10:4-6)

Because Paul says that these things were written for our examples to learn from.

k.   What was Israel saying when they were faced with this problem?   (verse 7)

Is God really with us? Has He left us?

l.   What must we remember when we are having trials?      (Hebrews 13:5b)

That God NEVER leaves His people, but is going through these things with us..

2. Verses 8-16             

a.   Who did Amalek come from?      (Genesis 36:12)

Esau was his grandfather

b.   What were Esau’s characteristics?     (Hebrews 12:16)

He was an ungodly man and Amalek came from this line.

c.   What do we see Amalek doing in this passage? Why did he attack from behind?  (verse 8; Deuteronomy 25:17-19)

He attacked from behind where the women and children were….he sneaked up on the weakest and most vulnerable.  Romans 7:21-25;  8:1, 5-9, 12-14;   1 Thessalonians 5:17, 25            James 5:16    

d.   Amalek is a type of the flesh (the natural man) and this is a constant enemy of anyone who wants to walk in the way of the Lord….it is always ready to attack at one’s weakest point. What did God tell Israel to do to Amalek?       (verse 14)

To totally destroy them and not leave one alive….He would utterly destroy them all.

e.   What do we see here about the flesh and natural man?        (Romans 7: 21-25; 8:1, 5-9)

We are not to live after the flesh, but to live in the power of God’s Spirit…..those who do not have the Spirit of God, do not belong to Him and cannot please Him.

f.   What did Moses do about the situation?      (verses 9-13)

He sent Joshua out to fight while he Aaron and Hur (the older ones) wemt up into the mountain to pray…..Moses held up the rod that God had used, and thus Israel was able to win the battle.

g.   What happened when Moses got tired and put his stick down?   (verse 11) 

Amalek started to win over Israel.

h.   How did Aaron and Hur overcome this problem?        (verse 12)

They sat Moses on a stone and each help Moses’ arms up until the battle was completely won

i.       What does this tell us for today ?       (1 Thessalonians 5:17, 25; James 5: 16)

That we need to pray for each other, especially in tough times, and not give up until the emergency is completely over.

j.     What did God tell Moses to do after the battle was over? Why?      (verse 14)

He told him to write it in a book and to make sure Joshua knew it was there. God knew that Amalek would surface again in the future, and He wanted Joshua (and others) to know what He had decreed concerning him.

k.  What did God want the people to know?       (verses 111-12)

That they couldn’t win this sort of battle without God’s help.

l.   What are we told about Amalek here?       (verse 16)

That Amalek would always remain warring against God and His people.

m.    What lessons can we learn from all of this?     (Romans 7:18, 22)

We have a constant battle with the flesh which can never be totally won while we are in the body. The only way the flesh can be kept down is by constant alertness and prayer, with others supporting us in prayer as well.

n.   What do we notice in our lives ?      (Romans 7:23)

A constant battle between what we want to do (the flesh) and what we ought to do (the Spirit)

 Exodus   Eighteen….(v.1-27)

1.  Verses 1-27                         Romans 12:4-8               1 Corinthians 12::27-30

a.   Read the whole chapter through and say briefly what is in it……..

Moses had sent his wife and two sons back to her parents’ place at some stage, and now her father had brought them to meet Moses and the Israelis. Jethro heard the story of the exodus from Egypt and rejoiced in God’s deliverance, but he was concerned at the amount of time and energy that Moses was expending on the people listening to their troubles. He advised Moses to set godly sensible men to deal with minor matters and for him to hear just the larger problems. Moses did this, and it worked well.

b.     How many sons did Moses have? What did their names mean?        (verses 3-4)

He had two sons…..the eldest was Gershom  meaning “Stranger in a strange land”. The second son was Eliezer meaning “God is my deliverer”.

c.      How did Jethro feel when he heard what had happened?      (verse 9)

He rejoiced to hear of their deliverance.

d.   What do verses 11-12 tell us about Jethro as a priest of Midian?

As a priest he would have been ministering to idols and heathen deities……now he cane see for himself that Moses’ God was greater than all the others put together, and he turned to the God of heaven making sacrifices to Him in the presence of Aaron and the elders of Israel.

e.   What did Jethro notice while he was with Moses?      (verses 13-16)

How all the people kept coming to him with minor  squabbles and arguments.

f.   What advice did he give to Moses?    (verses 17-23)

You’re doing too much! It will get you down! Why don’t you organise others to help you? Your job is to teach the people and tell them  what God wants.

g.   What lesson is there in this for us?      (Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-30)

No one person is expected to do everything…..God has given each person an ability to do easily and well some aspect of His work. We are to be gracious and allow others to share the burden of the work, no matter how capable we are.

 Exodus   Nineteen….(v.1-25)

1.  Verses 1-11                                                

a.   How long had it taken Israel to get to Mt. Sinai?      (verses 1-2)

It had taken them three months

b.   What was God’s pronouncement and promise to Israel?     (verses 3-6)

You have seen how I delivered you from the Egyptians….now IF you will obey Me, then you will be My special people and a kingdom of priests,  a holy people.

c.   What picture did God use of His deliverance of His people?     (verse 4b; Deuteronomy 32:9-11)

That of taking His people up on Eagles’ wings.

d.   How can we too, experience the same thing?     (Isaiah 40:31)

By waiting on the Lord and obeying Him.

e.   How does Peter describe God’s people today as compared to how God described Israel here?       (1 Peter 2: 9-10)

In exactly the same way….God’s people have always been and will always be His “peculiar” (special) chosen ones; a kingdom of priests and a holy nation gathered out for Himself.

f.   How did the people receive the Word of God?      (verses 7-8)

Very well…..they said they would do everything that God said!

g.  What do we see Moses doing between the people and God?     (verses 8-9)

He was the go-between taking God’s Words to the people and the people’s word back to God.

h.  What is the contrast between then and now? Who do we have as a “go-between” ?   (Hebrews 7:25;  1 John 2:1-2)

Our  “go-between” is the Lord Jesus….He is our Advocate and makes continual intercession for His people.

i.   How were the people to stand before God?     (verse 10)

They were to be clean and wear newly washed clothes.

j.    What lesson is there in this for us?   ( Isaiah 1:16-18)

We cannot come before God unless we are clean.

k.    How do we get clean before God?     (Psalm 51:2, 10; 1 John 1:7-9)

By confessing our sin….the blood of  Jesus Christ cleanses us from ALL sin

2.  Verses 12-25                      

a.   What did God warn the people against doing?    (verses 12-13)

Coming too close to the mountain or even touching it.

b.   How does God react to man’s idle curiosity?    (1 Samuel 6:18 b-20;  Luke 23:8-9)

He won’t tolerate it, and will not answer a person indulging in it. A person can only approach God in sincerity and truth

c.  What did God’s physical presence do to the mountain?    (verse 18)

There was thunderings and lightnings, a thick cloud and a trumpet sounding….the mountain seemed as though it were on fire, and the ground shook with great rumblings.

d.   How did the people react to all this?     (verse 16c)

They were frightened and literally shook in their shoes.

e.   How did Daniel and John react when they saw the Lord in His glory?    (Daniel 10:5-9; Revelation 1: 13-17)

They fell on their faces before Him….Daniel went unconscious in the process.

f.   What did God remind Moses of when he stood before the burning bush?    (chapter  3: 4-5)

That the ground there was holy ground and he had to take his shoes off.

g.     What causes man to be not able to approach God physically?    (verse 23;  Isaiah 6:5-7)

Man in his sinful nature cannot approach God’s holiness

h.   Who were the two men who WERE able to go up the mountain?    (verse 24)

Moses and Aaron were the only two able to go up the mountain.

 Exodus   Twenty….(v.1-26)

1.   Verses 1-26

a.   Moses had come down from the mountain top and was ready to tell the people what God wanted them to know.  What did Moses tell them in verses 2-4?

To honour God, and worship only Him; they were not to have any other gods at all

b.   How does God describe Himself?  Has God changed since then?  (verses 5-6; Malachi 3:6a)

He had brought them out of Egypt; He was a jealous God who would not tolerate a divided heart; He was holy and would punish those who stayed in their sins; He was merciful to those who came to Him and kept His commandments.  God cannot change….what He was then, He still is today!

c.   What were the next three commandments?    (verses  4-8)

They were not to make any idols or  worship anything else than God Himself; They were not to use God’s name as a swear word or carelessly in profanity; they were to remember to keep the Sabbath day holy for the Lord.

d.   Why did God make the fourth rule?     (verses 8-11)

Because He had worked for six days and taken a rest on the seventh (He had made man and beast to only be able to work efficiently for six days), and His people were to do the same.

e.   What do we notice about these four rules?

They were all to do with man’s behaviour  towards God.

f.   What were the other six rules ? Write them out…………..  (verses 12-17)

They were to honour their parents; they were not to murder others; they were not to have sex outside of marriage;  they were not to take what didn’t belong to them (steal);  they were not to tell lies about anyone or any thing; they were not covet anything belonging  to others, from a wife to an animal to a  tool.

g.   What was the reaction of the people to the greatness of God on the mountain? What did they see?    (verse 18)

They were afraid and kept away from the mountain when they saw the smoke and lightning, and heard the thunder and a trumpet blasting in the clouds.

h.   What did God veil His glory with?      (verse 21)

There was a thick cloud of darkness to keep the people from being curious about His appearance.

i.   What did the people tell Moses to do?       (verse 19)

To tell them what God was saying….they didn’t want  to listen to His actual voice.

j.     How can we relate this to people today?        (1 Timothy 4:13)

People today can’t be bothered to study God’s Word for themselves, and they would prefer to have someone else tell them what it says.

k.    What does verse 21a tell us about the people’s position? Are we like this?

They stood a long way from the mountain because they were afraid of God. People who don’t know God’s word very well, tend to keep away from talking about it or having anything to do with it……they prefer to just listen to it being preached by someone else once a week.

l.   What does verse 20 tell us?

That God was testing His people yet again, to see if they would sin by disobeying what He had said.

m.  What is the rest of the chapter about?   (verses 22-26)

God told the people how He wanted them to make their sacrifices, and that they were on no account to make any idol that was supposed to represent Him just because they had heard His voice physically in the distance.

 Exodus  Twenty One—– Twenty-Two…

1.   Chapter 21

a.   What was the law for any physical harm done to a person?     (verses 23-25)

An eye for an eye etc…..to pay back the way you were hurt.

b.  What is the new law that our Lord Jesus gave?     (Matthew 5:38-39)

Not to pay back evil for evil, but to take it quietly.

c.  How did Paul expand that thought?      (Romans 12:17)

To live quietly without quarrelling, remembering that God will reward your enemies and take vengeance on them.

2.   Chapter 22

a.   What did God say they were to do with a witch?     (verse 18)

They were to put her to death.

b.  How was this expanded on later?      (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

Anyone who played around with the occult or spirits was not allowed in the people of Israel.

c.   How does God feel about these things?      (Deuteronomy 18:12)

He utterly detests them and can’t stand them.

d.   What    are some of the modern day equivalents of them?

Fortune telling, horoscopes, ouija boards etc.

e.  What is a Christian to do about such things?       (Ephesians 5:11-12)

A believer is to have nothing  whatever to do  with them, not even to read or look at them in magazines. It is a disgrace to even talk about them.

f.   For what two actions was a person to be put to death?     (verses 19-20; Leviticus 18:22-24)

For living a vile life immorally and for sacrificing and worshipping idols.

g.   How are these two things translated into modern life?     (Romans 1:25-28)

Homosexuality and bestiality (humans having sex with animals); playing around with Eastern religions, and talking about forces outside of life that leaves God out, and New Age concepts; trying to explain God away.

h.    Where do these things lead to?     (Romans 1: 28-32; Revelation 21:8)

They lead to worse ways, to murders and to law breaking of every sort and inevitably straight to eternal destruction if they are not confessed and repented of.

i.  Who does God feel very tender towards?  Why?     (verses21-24; Isaiah 1:17)

Strangers among them because Israel was once a stranger in a strange land and ended up being oppressed; He is very protective of widows and fatherless children because they have no-one else they can turn to.

j.   What would happen if the disadvantaged were oppressed?      (verse 24)

God would cause the same calamity to fall on their families!

k.   What characteristic of God is stated here?    (verse 27c)

His graciousness.

l.   What is God’s graciousness a part of?      (chapter 34:5-7; Psalm 103:8)

It is part of His Name, His very being and His holiness.

m.   What is God called in Peter’s letter?    (1 Peter 5:10a)

The God of all grace.

n.   Define the words “grace” and “gracious”…..

Everything that is beautiful in a person’s character….the opposite of awkward and cantankerous….tolerant, patient and kind. A gracious person moves to meet those less advantaged and is helpful and kind without being condescending in manner.

 Twenty-Three….

1.   Verses 20-23, 27                           

a.   Who do you think this Angel (with a capital A) is?     (verse 20; 1 Corinthians 10:4)

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

b.   How do we know the Lord Jesus was with the people as they travelled?    (1 Corinthians 10:4)

Paul says He was that spiritual Rock that was with them.

c.   What did God promise that His Angel would do for the people?    (verses 21-23)

If the people would obey His commands, His Angel would go before them into the land where they were going.

d.  How do we know this happened?     (Joshua 2:9-11)

By what Rahab told the two spies when they went into Jericho and the people there were afraid of what was going to happen.

e.   What did God tell Israel would happen when they went into the new land? Why?    (verses 25-30)

He told them that the inhabitants of the land would only be driven out little by little so that the land would not revert to weeds and rubbish, nor the wild animals over-run the place.

f.   What was the ultimate aim for the land? Why?    (verses 31-33)

It would belong to Israel….they weren’t to save any inhabitants because they would contaminate Israel with their  heathen gods and idols.

g.   What similarity are we told today? For what reason?     (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)

We are told to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers because they will be a snare to us, and drag us away from the Lord.

 Exodus Twenty-four. (v. 1-18)

1.     Verses 1-15                                                         

a.   What did God tell Moses to do?     (verses 1-2)

He told him to take Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and the seventy elders of Israel and come up into the mountain to worship God afar off….. only Moses was to go closer, nearer to God and hear His message for the people.

b.   Who were Nadab and Abihu?       (chapter 6:23)

The two oldest of Aaron’s sons

c.   What was the people’s reaction when Moses told them God’s commands?  (verse 3)

They said, “We will do everything that God tells us to”

d.   What did Moses do as well as  reading God’s Word to them?   (verses 4-8)

He offered burnt and peace offerings to God.

e.   What did the people promise a second time?     (verse 7)

We will be obedient to what God says!

f.   What are we told that God was thinking when they said this? (Deuteronomy 5:27-29)

I wish that they really meant it with all their hearts, then I would always be able to bless them!

g. Are we ever like this? Are we ever guilty of making a promise to God and then going back on it?   (Psalm 81:10-14, 16)

If we have, we will surely pay for it in the end….we will miss out on God’s blessings for our lives, and only have second best..

h.     When it says “ they saw  the God of Israel”, what do we know they did NOT see?   (verses 9-11; chapter 33:20-23)

They did not see God’s face because no person living on earth can look on the glory of God’s face with their earthly eyes.  

i.   What feeling do you get about the appearance of God from these descriptions?  (verses 10, 17; Revelation 1:13-16; 4: 2-3)

Beauty, clearness, the colour blue predominating, full of depth and sparkle; immense brightness.

j.   What did God say to Moses?   (verse 12)

Come further up the mountain and I will give you the law to teach the people.

k.   What does this tell us for today?   (Galatians 1:15-17)

That we must spend time with the Lord before we can teach it to others.

l.   Who did Moses leave in charge while he was away?   (verse 14)

Aaron and Hur.

2.  Verses  16-18         

a.    What did the “glory of the Lord”  look like to each of these people?  ( Isaiah 6:1-4; Ezekiel 1:26-28; Revelation  1:10-17;  4:2-3)

To Israel….. it looked like a devouring fire, more scary than beautiful.

To Moses…. It was bright and shining because his face reflected this.

To Isaiah…. It was the seraphims surrounding God’s presence, with a lot of smoke in evidence.

To Ezekiel…. It was brightness and light, the appearance of a blue-like sapphire stone (clear and sparkling), also the colour of amber and fire with a bright rainbow surrounding everything.

To John…… it was a great throne surrounded by a beautiful sparkling rainbow, the colour of an emerald, there was clearness and glowing colour everywhere.

b.     What effect did seeing the “glory of the Lord”  have on each of these people?   (verses 11, 17)

God allowed the elders of Israel to see His beauty from a distance and to eat and drink  in safety.

Isaiah felt utterly filthy  in the presence of God and in need of cleansing;

Ezekiel fell on his face to the ground, and had to be lifted up again to listen to God;

John  fell at His feet as though dead.

c.    What do you think was the difference between the elders of Israel and the other individuals who saw the glory of the God?  Why did the sight of God’s glory have such an impact on Isaiah, Ezekiel and John?

The elders did not know God in a personal way, to them God was Someone at a distance away from them, while the others were all men of God who reverenced Him and worshipped Him as their God.

d.   Look up Psalm 16:11 and 17:15 and 1 John 3:2…..what do these verses tell us about being in God’s presence in person?

We are going to be like Him physically, mentally and spiritually, we will be like Him in every way; we will be totally  surrounded with love, joy and peace and enjoy pleasures for ever and ever!!!!

e.   How long was Moses up in the mountain for?   (verse 18b)

Forty days and forty nights.

f. Forty is the number of testing and we read of many occasions where forty is mentioned. Can you think of one now?

The people of Israel wandered for forty years in the wilderness

g.   Who was being tested in this instance?   (chapter 32:1-10)

The people’s patience was being tested and they failed miserably.

 Exodus  Twenty Five……(v 1-40)

1.  Verses 1-9  

a.       How were the people to give their offerings  to God?        (verses 1-2)

Willingly and cheerfully.

b.   How does God expect us to give to Him today?    (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Willingly and cheerfully!

c.   What counts about the AMOUNT that people give?    (Mark 12:42-44; 2 Corinthians  8:12)

People are to give in proportion to what they have….those who have much are to give much, and those who have little are to give little.

d.    What sort of things was God asking the people to give?           (verses 3-7)

Gold, silver and brass; fabrics in blue, purple and red materials and white linen; rams’ and badgers treated skins; shittim timber; oil and spices and precious stones.

e.   What was God  wanting them to make with these things?       (verse 8)

 Sanctuary, or place where He could live among them.

f.    What were they to follow in making these things?      (verse 9)     

The pattern that God had showed Moses in the mountain.

g. What are some of the things that God asks us to give today?     (Hebrews 13:15-16)

 Our praise and thanksgiving and sharing what we have with others.

h.   Where does God live in this world today?      (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27)

Inside every believer…. our bodies are the  temple of God.

i.   What pattern of life are we to follow in this temple?     (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

That which is shown in God’s Word.

2.  Verses 10-22          

There are many spiritual types and pictures in the lessons of the tabernacle and what was put in it, as well as the measurements given in the original translations…..let’s see what we can find…….

a.    The ark was an oblong box….what was it to be  made of?     (verse 10)

It was made of shittim (acacia) wood overlaid with gold.

b.     This wood was extremely durable, and could stand tremendous heat without actually burning up. Where did the wood come from? What did the gold signify?

The wood grew commonly in the desert (the desert being dry and barren, speaking of Christ coming to earth as a human) and it was to be covered with gold which speaks of God’s divinity.

c.    What do you think these two components speak of,  or show us? (Philippians 2:5-11)

They show us the humanity of the Lord Jesus (the wood) , and yet He was God in the flesh.(gold equals  divinity)

d.    What else can we see about the wood in relation to the Lord Jesus?     (Matthew 26: 37-39;  Hebrews 10:5-10)

It was durable……nothing could deflect our Lord Jesus from His purpose of going to the cross

e.   How was this box (ark) to be carried?      (verses  12-15)

It was to have four gold rings, one in each corner, for two poles (staves)  to go through.

f.   Who was to carry the ark?       (Numbers 4:15)

Members of the family of Kohath, of the tribe of Levi.

g.   Were the poles to be taken out of the rings at all?   (verse 15)

No, they were stay in the rings at all times.

h.   What was put into the ark (box)?     (verse 16; Hebrews 9:4)

The testimony (laws, rules) which God gave Moses, Aaron’s rod that had budded and the golden pot of manna which was to be kept for ever.

i.    What do we see about the Lord Jesus in these references?   (John 1:1-2; 6:63b, 68-69 )

 He IS the living Word of God…. He spoke the words of  eternal life.

j.   A mercy seat was to be made and placed on top of the box (ark). What was the mercy seat made of and what was made to go on either end of it?     (verses 17-20)

It was made of pure gold with angels on each end that faced each other with outstretched wings over the mercy seat

k.   What was the purpose of the mercy seat?    (verses 21-22)

It was the place where God met with His people and talked with them.

l.   How does God meet with His people today? How does He talk to us?    (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

He speaks to us through His Word when we take the time to meet with Him in reading it.

3.   Verses  23-40                                

a.    What was made to match the ark? What was it made of?       (verse 23)

A table was made out of shittim wood and covered with gold the same as the box.

b.   What design was set in the border around the edge of both of them?    (verses 11,  24-25)

A design of a crown.

c.   What does a crown signify?      

Royalty, a king….it was something that belonged to a king.

d.   What was put onto the table in verses 29-30?

Dishes, spoons and bowls of pure gold as well as the shewbread.

e.   What was the Shew-bread and how often was it put there?    (verse 30;  Leviticus 24:5-8)

It was bread  made from fine flour and formed into twelve rolls which were placed in two rows of six on the table. Pure frankincense was poured on each and it was put out fresh each sabbath day.

f.   What do you think this would show us for today?  (John 6:50-51; Revelation 5:8c)

Jesus said He was the Bread of Life for us and incense is the prayers of God’s people. We can come to the Lord’s table each week and share of Him in prayer, praise and ministry.

g.   What is this next section all about?     (verses 31-39)

It is all about the candlestick (or lamp-stand) that was to give light in the tabernacle.

h.   It’s a bit hard to visualise the golden candlestick (or lampstand) as some diagrams show it as a flat object with a tall centre and three branches on either side, while others show it as circular, still with the tall centre stalk surrounded by the six shorter branches. Whichever way it looked, we can still get some lessons from it…..What was it made of? What significance can we see in this candlestick thus far?   (Mark 1:1; John 1:4-10; 8:12)

Remembering that everything in the tabernacle had great significance, we can see Jesus Christ as the light of the world, the Son of God, the Divine One. The candlestick was made of gold which speaks of Divinity.

i.  Where does Jesus Christ stand in relation to His people?      (Philippians 2:15; Revelation 2:1, 5)

He stands tall in the centre of His people with them shining round about Him.

j. Just reading the description of how this candlestick was to be made, what impression do you get of it?   What do we often forget about God and His creation?   (verses  33-36; Genesis 1:31; Psalm 27:4; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Isaiah 4:2)

It seems to be very beautiful with its flowers and knops coming out of each of the branches. We tend to forget that God has created great beauty, and is  Himself very beautiful.

k. What did God stress to Moses?  Why was this so important?  (verse 40; Hebrews 8:1-5)

That everything was to be made strictly according to the pattern he had been given because these things are symbolic of what is in heaven and the spiritual realm today.

l.  In the light of this, how should we view God’s instructions to (and dealings with) us?      (1 Timothy 1:16; Hebrews 9:1-28)

In the same way…..everything that God has ordained for His people is a picture of heavenly truths. Everything that Jesus Christ did fulfilled some part of these things.

m.  What is one common act on earth that shows a heavenly truth that people so often ignore these days?     (1 Corinthians 6:15-20; Ephesians 5:22-33)

The act of marriage and sexual union, shows the bond there is between Christ and His people…when a divorce takes place, this breaks the whole picture down because Christ will never forsake  or leave His people.

Also God instructs His women to be submissive to men’s leadership… just as His people are under the headship of Christ, so husbands are to love and protect their  wives just as Christ does his people, and women are to respond to this in reverence and obedience as the church (God’s people) is meant to be towards Christ. This picture is being broken down more and more in this age.

 Exodus  Twenty Six……(v 1-37)

1.       Verses  1-13                  

       All the measurements for the curtains and other parts of the tabernacle are in the Hebrew measurement of cubits. We are keeping  to these measurements as there is great significance in them in the truths of God, and the pictures and types they show. The number five in the ancient Hebrew represents God’s grace and as we go through these pictures and types we will be amazed at what we find. Nearly every number will be able to be divided by five, thus showing God’s grace  in every part of the tabernacle. The number seven represents perfection, twelve represents government or governing, and so on.

       Any translation that puts these measurements into metrics,  loses the significance that God intended His people to see.

These verses are about the inside layer of curtains for the tabernacle….

a.   How many pieces of curtains were made for this? What were they made from?    (verse 1a)

There were ten curtains made of fine white linen

b.     How were they embroidered? What designs and colours were used?    (verse 1b)

They were embroidered in colours of blue, purple and red on the white linen with designs of cherubims.

( Blue is the colour of the sky; purple is the colour of royalty; red is the colour of blood, and white is the colour of purity. Cherubims were a sort of angel, and spoke of worship. )

c.  These inside curtains speak of Christ…. in what ways can you think that these colours and designs represent Him?     (John 20:31; Philippians 2:10-11; Hebrews 7:26)

Christ came from heaven (The Heavenly One); Christ is the Son of God (the King of Kings); Christ is the Saviour of the world because He shed His blood; Christ was the only Sinless One on earth (He is pure through and through); Christ is the only Man  to be worshipped

d.   These inside curtains were beautiful, but where were they seen?

Only from the inside.

e.      Who sees Jesus Christ as beautiful and precious?      (1 Peter 2:3-7)

Only those who believe on Him.

f.    The curtains were held together by gold clips (v.6), and gold speaks of being divine. How was Jesus Christ Divine?       (Philippians 2:5-11)

He is the Eternal Son of God, God Incarnate in the flesh

g.    How many curtains were there? How many times does five go into that? What does that tell us?      (verse 1, 3; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Hebrews 2:9)

There were ten curtains, and five goes into ten  twice. That tells us that Christ was  given to the world by the Grace of God.

h.    Now we are reading about  the middle layer of curtains…..   what were these curtains to be made of?      (verse 7)

Goat’s hair

i.   Do you think that they would have been particularly beautiful? 

No, they were quite plain and unattractive

j.    How did we see Christ before we became a Christian?      (Isaiah 53:2b)

We saw no beauty in Him and didn’t even want Him.

k.   How many curtains were there in  this covering?      (verse 8)

There were eleven.

l.    What were the clips for these curtains made from?       (verse 11)

They were made from brass.

m.   Brass speaks of judgement…in what way was Christ connected to judgement?     (1 Peter 2:21-24)

He took our sins on Himself and bore God’s judgement for sin on the cross.

2.   Verses  14- 30   

a.   There were two more coverings for the tent…..what were they made of?   (verse 14)

Ram’s skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins

b.   What do the red skins speak of?       (1 Peter  1:18-19)

The blood that Christ shed on the cross for us.

c.   What did the top layer have to bear the brunt of?   

It had to bear all the weather, and be weatherproof….it had to stand the  heat of the sun and the cold of the winter.

d.   What lesson about Christ can we learn from this?     (1 Peter 2:24; 1John 1:7b)

He had to bear all God’s anger against sin, and He will keep us from this for time and for eternity.

e.  How many boards did the south and north sides have?    (verses 18, 20)

Twenty boards each.

f.   How many boards for the west side?      (verse 25)

Eight boards.

g.   How were the boards fastened together?      (verses 26-28)

By five bars going half way on each side, with the middle bar going right from end to end holding the whole thing together.

h.   Each board was made of acacia wood, the commonest wood in the desert….what were the boards and bars covered with? How can we relate this to Christians?     (verse 29)

They were covered with gold. Believers are made the sons of God, and one day will be like Jesus Christ in His glory.

i.  The bars held the boards together…..what picture can you see in all this concerning God’s people?     (chapter 36:31-33; John 13:34; Romans 8:11)

Believers are just common ordinary people who have been made the children of God, given eternal life (gold), and are held together by love and the Holy Spirit who makes it all possible.

j.  Can you imagine what it would have been like if one of the boards had pulled out of place…what was the command that the Lord Jesus gave His people?    (John 13:34)

To love one another as He has loved them.

3.   Verses  31-37        

a.   What was the inside curtain used for?        (verse 33)

Dividing between the Holy Place and The Most Holy Place

b.    What colours were used and how was it decorated?     (verse 31)

It was embroidered with blue, purple, and red on white material in a pattern of cherubims.

c.   What was put in the “Most Holy Place” ?       (Hebrews 9: 2-10)

The box (ark) which was covered with gold and had two large cherubims attached to the Mercy Seat. It contained Aaron’s rod that budded, a pot of manna and the tables of stone with the Ten Commandments written on them.

d.    What was in the “Holy Place” ?    (verse 34)

The table that was made of wood and overlaid with gold with the golden candlestick (lampstand) on it

e.    Who was allowed into the “Most Holy Place” ? How often?    (Hebrews 9:7)

The High Priest went into the Most Holy Place once a year with blood for an offering for the people’s sins.

f.   What happened to the vail of the temple at the time of the crucifixion?   (Matthew 27:51)

It was torn from the top to the bottom.

g.   What was significant about the tearing of the vail?

Tearing from the top to the bottom shows that no man had torn it, but it was God’s doing.

h.     What does the tearing of the vail show?   (Hebrews 10: 3-6, 10, 19-20)

It shows that the way to God is open for all now because of the blood of Christ…..the blood of animals is no longer required by God.

i.   What was the difference between the inside curtain and the outside door curtain?   (verses 31,  36)

Both were made of white material embroidered with blue, purple and red, but the outside one didn’t have any cherubim embroidered on it.  

j.   The cherubim typified worship….what significance can you see in this?     (John 4:22-24)

Only those who are inside the Most Holy Place who can worship God in spirit and in truth…. only believers can worship God.

k.   What can we see in each item that is described so far?      (Hebrews 9:9-14)

Pictures of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Exodus  Twenty Seven……(v 1-21)

1.       verses  1- 15                             

a.   What is an altar used for?         (verse 1)

For making a sacrifice to God.

b.    Is a literal altar necessary for God’s people today? Why not?     (Hebrews 10:7-14)

No it isn’t,  because the death of Christ is  the supreme sacrifice for sins for ever, and altars have become redundant

c.   What shape was the altar to be? What were the measurements of it?    (verse 1)

It was square, and was to five cubits each way.

d.    What do we see in these measurements…(5 cubits X 5cubits square)?    (Romans 5:19-21)

God’s grace is what has given us the everlasting sacrifice of Christ and eternal life through Him.                                   

e.   What was the altar made of?   (verses 1a, 2c)

It was made of acacia wood and covered with brass

f.   Do you remember the picture of the sort of wood  to be used in making this altar? How does this refer to Christ?      (Hebrews 9:23-24; 10: 7-12)

It was durable and able to withstand great heat, and so the Lord Jesus was able to take all the heat that the authorities heaped on Him at His trial, and go through God’s judgement without being destroyed.

g.   Brass represents God’s judgement….. how do we see Christ in this?     (Hebrews 10:1, 14)

Christ bore the fires of God’s judgement  on the sins of the world.

h.   What were the rest of the utensils around the altar made of?      (verses 3-8)

They were made of brass too.

i.   What surrounded the tabernacle?    (verse 9)

A plain linen curtain

j.   What size was this outside curtain?     (verses 11-12)

It was 100 cubits long, by fifty cubits wide by five cubits high

k.   What is this a picture of again?       (Ephesians 2:8)

God’s grace is seen again in the measurements of this curtain

l.    Describe the gate…..          (verses 14-16)

It was twenty cubits wide and was embroidered beautifully.

m.   What is the gate a picture of?    (John 10:9; 14:6)

It is a picture of the Lord Jesus who is the gateway to God, He is the only WAY! We have to go through Him before we can be covered by the sacrifice for our sins.

2.       Verses 16-19      

The  tabernacle  was God’s dwelling place in the wilderness, and it was completely surrounded by an outer curtain. We today, as God’s people, have God living in the middle of us, and also inside each believer. The beautifully embroidered gate is in the centre of the front curtain, and so Christ is the Beautiful One in the centre of His people.

(If you want to see a simulated picture of how the tabernacle looked, go to BiblePlaces.com and type in tabernacle model)

a.   What held the outside curtains up?       (verse 17)

Pillars (or poles) with  hooks and couplings of silver to hold them together sitting in sockets of brass.

b.   Thinking of silver as representing redemption, and brass as the judgment of God, how can the believer relate to these things?     (Romans 5:9; Colossians 1:14)

The believer has been saved (has redemption) and is under that, with God’s judgment under his feet figuratively speaking.

c.   What do we see about the measurements of the outer court? What number goes into them?  What significance is in this?     (verse 18)

The number five goes into 100 and fifty, with five cubits being the height of it….. in all of these measurements we see the grace of God shown to human beings.

d.   What was in the middle of the court?      (verses 20-21)

The tabernacle, altar and utensils for sacrifices together with the lamp stand.

e.   Who is in the middle of a group of believers?       (Matthew 18:20)

Our Lord Jesus Christ who offered Himself to God for our sacrifice.

f.   In the Scriptures, oil speaks of the Holy Spirit……what do we see in John 14:16 about the Holy Spirit ?

Jesus Christ, the Son, prayed to the Father for the Holy Spirit to be given to His people for ever.

g.   How long was the light to burn in the tabernacle?      (verse 21)

It was to burn for ever, and not be allowed to go out.

h.    What picture can we see from this light?    (John 1:4-9; 8:12)

Jesus Christ is the Light of the world for ever

i.   Who had the responsibility of the order of the tabernacle?     (verse 21)

Aaron and his descendants were the only ones who were to function within the tabernacle.

j.   What do John and Peter tell us about believers?      (1 John 3:1;  1 Peter 2:9-10)

All believers are sons of God and priests of the royal priesthood.

k. What is their responsibility as such?     (Hebrews 13:15-16)

To offer the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving continually to God for taking them out of darkness into His marvellous light.

l.  In the light of what we have just seen, can unbelievers function or offer anything to God acceptably?      (Psalm 51:3, 17; Romans 8:8-9; 1 John 1:9)

The only thing that God will receive from unbelievers is a contrite heart and the prayer of confession.

 Exodus   Twenty Eight….(v.1-43)

1.  Verses  1-5                                             

This chapter is all about the clothes that the High Priest and priests were to wear. Just because the old temple sacrifices and priestly orders are done away with on earth, doesn’t mean that in God’s order there is no more place for priests etc.

a.  Who does God consider the High Priest now?       (Hebrews 3:1; 8:1-2)

The Lord Jesus is our High Priest

b.   Who are considered as priests of God now? What is their function today?     (1 Peter 2: 9-10)

All believers are part of the holy priesthood, and as such are able to go into the presence of God with requests and thanksgivings.

c.    What do we see about Jesus Christ being our High Priest?      (Hebrews 1:3; 3:1-3)

He is faithful in every way and everything He did; He is sitting on the right hand of God in heaven; He is a minister of the true tabernacle which was set up by God and not by man; He is sinless and holy who needed no sacrifice for Himself; He made  an eternal sacrifice for people at His death.

d.   Who was appointed as high Priest in Moses’ time?      (verse 1)

Aaron was the first high priest.

e.  What were these special clothes made for?       (verse 2)

For glory and beauty.

f.   How does Isaiah describe the Lord?       (Isaiah 28:5)

As a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty.

g.    James and Jude were both earthly brothers  of our Lord Jesus…..how did they refer to Him?      (James 1:1a; Jude 1:1, 20-21)

They both gave Him His full title of “Lord Jesus Christ”,  the Lord of glory….Jude uses His Name as being equal to God the Father and the Holy Spirit.h

h.   What does this tell us?    (chapter 20:7;  Isaiah 42:8)

That if anyone could presume to call Him by His earthy name of “Jesus”, James could have but he didn’t. It shows us that we should be careful to always give Him His full title, and not treat Him  or His Name lightly.

i.   How do His people view him? Do we see Him as such?  (1 Peter 2:4-7)

His people view him as a precious Person, priceless,  beyond value. We should never allow ourselves to become blasé about these things

j.   Some of the garments that the High Priest was to wear are a bit vague to our way of thinking, so we will just take an over-view of them. How many garments are mentioned in this passage that Aaron  was to wear? What were they?      (verse 4)

There were six  different bits of clothing mentioned in this passage…

A breast plate                                                               Ephod

Robe                                                                            An embroidered coat

A Mitre (hat or bonnet)                                                  A girdle or sash

k.  What do the colours and materials remind us of to do with our Lord Jesus?    (verses 5-6)

The white is of His purity and perfection; the gold of His Deity and Divinity; the blue of His heavenly character; the purple of His royal position in God’s sight; the red of His great sacrifice in shedding His blood.

2.    Verses 6-29               

a.   The first garment mentioned is the ephod and then its girdle…..they were made of fine white  linen and embroidered with the three colours of red, blue and purple. Where was it joined together?     (verse 7)

It was joined together on the shoulders where it hung loosely from.

b.   What held it around the priest?     (verse 8)

The beautifully embroidered girdle (belt or sash)

c.    What was set into the shoulder part of this garment?    (verses 9-12)

Onyx stones set into settings of gold.

d.   What was engraved on these stones? What were they set into?    (verses 9-10)

The names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and they were put into settings of gold.

e   What does verse 12 tell us about the significance of these engraved stones?

Aaron as the High Priest bore the names of Israel on his shoulders before God.

f.      What do the gold settings tell us about God’s people?      (1 Peter 1:7; 2:5, 9)

That they are precious to Him, being set into His divine nature with eternal life.

g.   What does our high Priest do for us?      (Hebrews 7:22-25)

He is able to save to the uttermost, He makes intercession before God on our behalf; each one of us can say, “ He gave Himself for me!”.

h.   As Aaron bore the names of Israel before God, what does Christ bear for us?   (Hebrews 7:25; 1 Peter 2:24)

He bore MY sins in His own body when He died on the cross, and He still carries those marks in His hands and feet. He bears my name before his Father in Heaven constantly

i.   The breastplate was made of a double  piece of material with an opening like a big pocket, and it was also embroidered beautifully. What was set in this breastplate in rows?     (verses 15-21)

Different coloured precious stones.

j.   What was engraved on each stone?      (verse 21)

The name of a tribe of Israel.

k.    What is the significance of this for us?     (John 17:20-23, 26)

We could say that our names are held over His heart with His great love.

l.   The breastplate was fastened securely to the undergarment with chains of gold and blue lacy cords…..what do you think this speaks to us of?     (verses 22-29; John 10:28-29)

Believers are each fastened personally to the breast of Christ (our Great High Priest) and are held in His hands, linked to Him with heavenly cords.

m.   What is the cord that binds us to the Lord Jesus?

The cord of His love for us     (Galatians 2:20c)

n.   What does verse 29 tell us? What is the  picture for us there?      (Hebrews 7:24-27; 9:11-12)

It tells us that the high priest carried the peoples’ names on his breast before God. Our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ takes us before the holiness of God and presents us to Him in His great love for us.

3.   Verses  30- 39       

  The Urim and Thummim is mentioned very little in the Scriptures. It means “Lights and Perfections”, and it was significant in finding out God’s directions for His people. It was jewels set into a plate and put into the pocket of the breastplate that the high priest wore.

a. After Moses, who used it next?      (Numbers 27:18-23)

Joshua did not hear God speaking to him directly like Moses did, but had to go through the high priest using the Urim and Tthummim.

b.     Who else was mentioned as trying to use it?     (1 Samuel 28:6)

King Saul could not get any answer or direction from God because of his sin of disobedience.

c.      What time frame is the last mention of it?    (Ezra 2:63)

When the people went back to the land in the reign of Cyrus king of Babylon

d.   Where did Aaron carry the Urim and Thummim?       (verse 30)

In the pocket of the breastplate behind the jewels with the names of Israel  and against his chest.

e.   What lesson can we see in this for us today?      (2 Corinthians 3:5; 12:8-10)

God has a heart for His people and still directs them individually in love, and for their own good.

f.   When and how  does God direct us today?      (Psalm 37:5)

When we commit our way to Him and wait for Him to move.

g.   After the coat (under shirt) was put on, what went on next?       (verse 31)

The robe of the ephod.

h.   Can you describe it? Colour? Anything else?     (verses 32-35; Leviticus 8:6-8)

It was blue in colour, and had a bound neckline for his head to go through. Around the hem there were golden bells alternating with artificially made red, blue and purple pomegranates, and these made a tinkling sound as Aaron moved around. It told the people outside that all was well with him in performing his duties inside the Most Holy Place.

i.   Again, what do these colours  remind us of? (1 Thessalonians 1:10; Hebrews 10:12)

It reminds us of the character of Jesus Christ….blue is the heavenly colour; purple is the colour of royalty; red speaks of sacrifice and gold speaks of His divinity.

j.   The hat was the last item to be put on……what was on the forehead band of the hat?   (verses 36-37)

A pure gold plate was made with “Holiness to the Lord” engraved on it.

k.   How does this represent the Lord Jesus to us?     (Hebrews 4:15)

He was pure and holy in every way, totally without sin

l.    What significance does this golden plaque have in our lives?     (Ephesians 4:22-25; Philippians 4:8-9)

That we are to renew our minds….thoughts, attitudes, motives…. and to model ourselves on the Lord Jesus Himself.     

m.   What other significance did it have to Aaron as he went about his duties in the temple?      (verse 43 )

 As a human being, he was making offerings for the people’s sins before a Holy God bearing their names on his breast, and as such he had to be the cleanest and purest he could possibly be.

n.     What is the significance for us in this act of  Aaron’s?      (Isa 53:6, 12)

It reminds us that the Lord Jesus made the supreme sacrifice for sin for us, and that He continues to make intercession for us before His Father.

4.   Verses  40-43                    

      We have been looking at the High Priest’s clothes, and now we will see what the clothes for  the other priests are……….

a.   What sort of garments did they wear?      (verses 40, 42)

Coats with a belt, bonnets for their heads and breeches underneath

b.   Which garments were embroidered with colours?      (verse 39)

The coat and its belt.

c.   For what reason?    (verses 2, 40c)

For glory and beauty

d.  What are we as believers today, to put on for God’s glory?       (Philippians  4:8; Revelation 3:5)

God has called us to His Kingdom and His glory, and we are to put on the new man, the image of God which shows itself in goodness,  kindness, humility and patience and the overcoat of love which is the most beautiful of all.

e.   How does that answer above make you feel?

Very humble and ashamed of my shortcomings!!

f.    What were the linen pants for?      (verse 42)

To cover their nakedness

g.    What does the white linen show us?     (Revelation 19:8)

It represents the righteousness of God’s people….their righteousness in Christ, covering their natural born nakedness before God.

h.  What was the consequence for Aaron and his sons if they tried to go into God’s presence without these clothes?       (verse 43c)

They would be committing a grave sin and would die.

i.   What are we as believers today, to put on for God’s glory?      (Colossians 3:10-14; 1 Thessalonians 2:12)

God has called us to His Kingdom and His glory, and we are to put on the new man, the image of God which shows itself in goodness,  kindness, humility and patience and the overcoat of love which is the most beautiful of all.

j.   How does that answer above make you feel?

Very humble and ashamed of my shortcomings!!

k.   What was the consequence for the sons of Aaron when they offered incense to God that they weren’t supposed to?     (Leviticus 10:1-3)

They were struck dead by fire from God.

l.   What did Moses say to Aaron after it was over?   (Leviticus 10:3)

God said that He must be obeyed by those who go near to Him…..it is not glorifying to God to disobey Him.

m.   What happened to Ananias and Sapphira when they lied to God?   (Acts 5:1-11)

They were both struck dead at different times

n.    What do these stories tell us for today?        (Romans 6:23)

We cannot take God lightly, we must be in awe of Him and obedient to Him at all times. We cannot do things our way and get away with it;  the only right way is God’s way. Anything less than this will lead to eternal death.

 Exodus   Twenty Nine….(Verses 1-46)

1.   Verses 1-9 

a.  What offerings were to be brought?     (verses 1-3)

A young bullock and two rams (perfect in health),  and in a basket, unleavened bread, cakes mixed with oil and wafers with oil

b.   In what way do these animals relate to our Lord Jesus Christ ?      (Luke 3:23; John 1:29;  1 Peter 1:19)

The bull was to be not old….neither was He, being only 33 when He died. The rams were to be perfect in every way….so was He, being sinless and pure.

c.   Remembering that leaven speaks of sin, and oil is a type of the Holy Spirit, what can we see in the bread, cakes and wafers?   (Matthew 3:16; John 6:50-51)

The Lord Jesus is the Bread of Life, and without sin, pure and holy. The Holy Spirit was seen to rest on Him at His baptism.

d.   What processes does the wheat go through to become flour? What parallels can we see to our Lord in this?        (Matthew 27:26)

The wheat has to be thrashed and ground to become flour, and our Lord was thrashed and flogged before He went to the Cross and could become the Bread of Life.

e. What does the fact that all these items come together in this sacrifice, tell us?    (Hebrews 8:5)

That they all represent the One Person from  different aspects; they were all a pattern of what Christ was going to perform when he was on earth.

f.  What was the first thing that Aaron and his sons had to do before they could perform the priest’s office?        (verse 4)

They had to have a bath and make themselves as clean as they could be.

g.   What does this tell us about people today?      (1 John 1:7b, 9)

A person must confess their sins to be cleansed.

h.  What did Aaron and his sons do next?      (verses 5-9)

They put on their special priestly clothes.

i.   What is the believer clothed in?      (Isaiah 61:10)

With the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness.

j.  What does the parable of the wedding feast tell us?      (Matthew 22:10-14)

That those welcome at the feast had to be clothed in the appropriate clothes; it means for us that we have to wear the robe of salvation or we won’t be there.

k.   What is the significance of this story to people today?

That anyone who hasn’t come to Christ cannot enter heaven….it’s as plain as that.

l.   What was poured over the priest’s head?     (verse 7)

The annointing oil.

m.   What does this show us?        (Romans 8:8-14)

That if a person does not have the Holy Spirit living inside them, they are not a born again Christian.

2.    Verses 10-22         

a   What is this passage telling us about?     (verses 10-14)

The bullock that was killed as a sin offering.

b.   Why do you think that Aaron and his sons put their hands on the head of the bullock?       ( Hebrews 9:25b)

Because they were identifying with it as it was killed for their sins.

c. What are we told in the New Testament  about these sacrifices?  (Hebrews 9: 21-22)

That God requires blood to be shed  to cover man’s sin, but the blood of animals could never TAKE it away….it is only the blood of Christ which can take it away for ever. The blood of animals had to be shed every year, but Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient for ever.

d.   What was the sacrifice of the bullock called?     (verse 14c)

The sin offering.

e.    Where was the main part of the animal burnt?       (verse 14)

Outside the camp of the people.

f.    What is the parallel picture to Christ in this? What about us?      (Hebrews 13: 11-13)

Christ was taken outside the city to be crucified. We must not be surprised if we are ostracised by others

g   What sort of sacrifice was ram number one? What was done to it?       (verse 18)

It was a burnt offering to the Lord…..it was burnt up.

h.   What was an earlier occasion when a ram was offered as a sacrifice?     (Genesis 22:13)

When Abraham was about to offer Isaac, God provided a ram instead.

i.    What parallel is there to Christ in the burnt offering?         (Hebrews 10:10, 19-20)

He had to pass through the fire of God’s judgement for sin for us.

j.     What happened to ram number two?       (verses 19-22)

It was killed after Aaron and his sons had put their hands on its head, and the blood was put on the priest’s right ears, right thumbs, right toe and then sprinkled on the beautiful clean clothes they were wearing.

k.   What did this ram signify?        (verse 22)

It was the ram of consecration

l.    What is the significance of this for us today?        (Hebrews 10:10, 20-22)

Jesus Christ has made a new and living way which He has consecrated for us.

m.   What is the dictionary definition of the word “consecration”?

Something that is made sacred, or dedicated to the worship or service of God

n.  What is the significance for us of the blood on the right ear, thumb and toe?        (verse 20; 1 Corinthians 6:11, 19-20)

It shows how careful we must be in what we hear (listen to) what we do and where we go as Christians.

o.  What do “sanctified” and “justified” mean?      (1 Corinthians 6:9-12)

“Sanctified” means to be set apart for God, and “justified” means to be made “just as if I’d never sinned”….they both mean to make a thing or person holy….we are to live for Christ, and not ourselves.

3.    Verses 23-46             

a.   What was waved before the Lord as a wave offering?    (verses 23-24)

One loaf of bread, one oiled cake and one wafer.

b.   What happened to it after it was waved before the Lord?      (verse 25)

It was burnt on the altar.

c.    The wave offering was seen by God and by the priests…..what did God say about His Son?        (Luke 3:21-22)

He said He was very pleased with Him.

d.   What can the believer say about the Lord Jesus?        (1 Peter 2:7a)

That He is precious, beyond price!

e.    What did they do with the rest of the offering of the bread and cakes etc, as well as part of the meat?    (verses 26-28)

It was to be given to the priests as their portion of food.

f.    What does the believer feed on spiritually?       (John 6:35, 50)

The Lord Jesus is the Bread of Life and supplies our every spiritual need.

g.   How should we regard the Word of God?     (Psalm 119:103)

His word should be sweeter than honey to us.

h.   What was/is God’s ultimate desire for His earthly people?      (verses 45-46; Genesis 17:8; Jeremiah 32:38)

To live among them and be their God….. He IS the Lord!

i.   What is God’s desire for His people today?        (John 15: 4-5; 2 Corinthians 6:16)

That they live in Him, and He in them…. He wants us to be His special people obeying His word, and ABIDING in Him.

 Exodus   Thirty….(verses.1-38)

We will just look briefly at this chapter and glean a few thoughts from it……

1. Verses 1-10

a.    What is being described here? What was it to be used for?       (verse 1)

It was a small altar for burning incense on.

b.   How big was it ? What would that be in today’s measurements?  (verse 2)

Approximately 45 cm square and 90 cm high.

c.   What was it to be made from?   (verses 4-5)

 It was to be made of shittim (acacia) wood and overlaid with pure gold.

d.   What did these items represent?

The acacia wood was readily available in the desert and it could withstand tremendous heat without burning or charring such as our Lord went through for man’s salvation, and the gold represented His divinity.

e.  Where was it to be put, and what was to be burnt on it? How often?    (verses 6-8 )

It was to be put in front of the vail (curtain) where God met His people and Aaron was to burn fresh incense on it every morning and evening without fail.

f.  Remembering that incense represents the prayers of God’s people, what can we get out of this for ourselves today?      (Revelation 8:3-4)

We are to come before God morning and evening in prayer and communion with Him.

g.  What warning was given to Moses concerning it?       (verses 9-10)

Nothing else was to be burnt on it, and it had to have the blood of atonement sprinkled on it each year.

h.  How can we relate this to ourselves?      (Psalm 66: 18; Hebrews 7:24-28)

We are not to come before the Lord with wrong attitudes or with unconfessed sin in our lives, but to come with the realisation that we are there through the atoning blood of Christ.

i.   What does this whole passage show us?

That we can only come before God acceptably through the blood of  our Lord Jesus Christ, and that we are to do this twice daily without fail.

j. What rule did God make for whenever the people were numbered?  What would happen if this rule was broken?      (verses 12-13)

Each person was to pay a certain sum of ransom money, or else there would be a plague fall on them.

k. Was there any variation in this amount of money according to what people could afford?   (verse 15)

No, it was a flat rate for every single person who was twenty and older.

l. What was this money called and what was it used for?       (verse 16)

It was called atonement money for their souls and was used for the service of the tabernacle.

m. What do we rely on today for the atonement of our sins?    (Romans 5:8-11)

Our atonement money was paid for at the cross of Jesus Christ

n. What is the rest of the chapter about?   (verses 17-38)

It is about how the priests had to wash and be clean before they could go into the tabernacle and perform the various tasks they did there, and the perfumed ointments and creams they were to make to for the priests only….it was forbidden for anyone else to make and use these creams.

o.  What do you think this shows us for today?      (Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15-16; 1 Peter 2:5)

Only those who belong to the Lord are able to offer acceptable sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise to God…. no-one else’s prayers will be accepted by God apart from the prayer of repentance.

 Exodus   Thirty One….(verses.1-18)

1.   Verses 1-18                                   

a.   Who was the man who God called to organise the work of making all of these things?    (verses 1-2)

He was Bezaleel from the tribe of Judah.

b.   What was the main qualification that her had for this task?      (verses 3-5)

The fact that he was filled with the Holy Spirit who gave him the necessary wisdom and knowledge and creative ideas to do the work.

c.    Was he to do the job all by himself?        (verse 6; chapter 35:34-35)

No, it was to be a community effort…..he was able to co-ordinate it all and teach others as well.

d.   What does the New Testament have to say about things that people can do?   (Romans 12: 5-13)

That everyone has a gift of some sort that they can do, given by the Holy Spirit for the benefit of all.

e.    What sort of work had to be done?          (verses 7-11)

Building, working with gold , silver and brass overlays, sewing, embroidery, etching and stone cutting and setting.

f.   Who would need to be involved in all this work?     (verse 6b)

Everyone, both men and women…..all were necessary.

g.   Would all be involved with the beautiful embroidery and other lovely aspects of the work?     (verse 5)

Yes, but not all would be seen to be doing it…..many jobs had to be done in preparation as  foundation jobs.

h.   What lesson is there in this for us?       (1 Corinthians 12:22)

That those who work in the background are just as important to the whole job as those who are up-front.

i.    What is the important lesson in this whole subject?     (1 Corinthians 12:11-28)

That the finished article be as perfect as possible…everyone is to do their best for the betterment of the whole, not for their own glory.

j   What was the main  point of keeping the Sabbath Day?        (verses 12-17; Genesis 2:2-3)

The main point in keeping it was because God had requested it! It was a sign between God and His people that they were different to the other nations…..they honoured God by obeying Him and keeping the day that He rested on.

k.   What punishment would fall on the people if they disobeyed this rule?   (verse 15b)

It was punishable by death.

l.    Was this punishment ever meted out? Where? What were the circumstances?    (Numbers 15: 32-36)

Yes, when they were still in the wilderness, a man picked up sticks for his fire on the Sabbath, and was taken before Moses and Aaron. Moses asked the Lord what they should do and he was told to take the man out and stone him.

m.   It seems a harsh punishment, but the man deliberately disobeyed God and an example was made of him. He may have thought it wasn’t important, and we don’t read another case of a thing like this happening. What sort of attitude does God want people to have towards the Sabbath day?      (Isaiah 58:13-14)

He wants his people to take a delight in it and regard it as holy to the Lord…..to take time out to meditate on and delight in,  the Lord.

n.   What day has replaced the seventh day in the New Testament church? Why?  (Mark 16: 2-9; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2)

The first day of the week, because that is the day that the Lord Jesus rose from the dead, and that was the day that the early disciples met together.

o.   What attitude should believers have with regard to the first day of the week? What does this do for a person?    (Isaiah 58: 14; Hebrews 10:25)

The same attitude as in the Old Testament times. Delight in it as a day of rest from the usual activities that occupy one during the week; prize it as a time to gather with the Lord’s people , to remember what He has done for us, and to delight in Him. this will be a time of refreshing the soul and recharging one’s spiritual batteries.

p.    What did God give Moses as he came to the end of his time up Mt. Sinai?  (verse 18)

Two tablets of stone with the law written on them by the finger of God.

 Exodus   Thirty Two….(verses 1 -35)

1.   Verses  1-35                                  

a.    Read verse 1 and compare it with chapter  24:3, 7, 10-12…..what do you make of the situation now?      Give a run down on the circumstances…..          

The people had seen God’s presence on Mt. Sinai when they first arrived there.  Moses had already given them a run-down on the law that God wanted them to follow and they said they would do it all and be obedient, and  the leaders had actually seen God as they ate together and they knew that God had called Moses to go further up the mountain where He would give him an expansion on the law.

b.   How long ago was that before this occasion?        (chapter 24: 18)

It was now forty days later and they were tired of waiting for Moses to return, they felt that God wasn’t moving fast enough and had left them.

c.   What did they tell Aaron to do?     (verses 1b, 23)

They told him to make them a god that they could see and touch because Moses had disappeared.

d.   We wonder how the people could forget so quickly, but are we ever like this? We have a wonderfully uplifting time with the Lord and then go flop into the doldrums soon after, wondering if God has left us! What should we do in a case like this? (Psalm 86:1- 17; Philippians 4:6-7)

We should take our eyes off ourselves and off our feelings. We should spend time in prayer, realise that there are no other gods out there in the world worth having, and concentrate on the Lord and His goodness and greatness. We should praise and glorify God for all He has done and count our blessings!!

e.    Aaron was their temporary leader….what sort of leader was he proving to be?   (verses  2-6, 21-25)

He was weak, giving into the peoples’ wishes, thus proving that he was no better than they were!

f.    What should we do if we hear someone with totally different ideas we’ve never heard of before?      (1 John 4:1-3)

Test them against what the Bible says….if they don’t measure up, they are false teachers.

g.     What should our  measuring stick always be?     (John 17:17; Romans 3:23)

God and His Word…..not what other people say. Never think that because you aren’t as bad as others that that is a valid standard. God Himself is the standard…..what would He think of these ideas?

h.   What did Aaron and the people do? What did God think of their antics?  (verses 7-10)

They made a golden calf and bowed down before it saying it was their God….they even sacrificed animals to it. God knew everything they were doing, and He became very angry with them.

i.   How many, and which laws had Aaron broken?      (chapter 20:3-5, 16)

He had made a false god and encouraged others to worship it, and then he lied about it to Moses. He had broken the first two…. “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me” ,   “Thou shalt not make thee any graven image and bow down to it”, and then the ninth one, “Thou shalt not bear false witness” when he told Moses that he had just thrown the gold into the fire and the calf came out by itself.

j.    How did God describe the people?  What was He wanting to do to them?    (verses 9-10)

As being stiff necked, stubborn and disobedient…..He said He wanted to destroy them all and start again with Moses’ line.

2.   Verses   10-35                                   Deuteronomy 9:24-29                       Numbers 12:3 

a.    What did Moses do before God?      (verse 11)

He fell down on his knees and prayed earnestly that God would not destroy the people in his anger.

b.   What does this show us about Moses?      (verses 12-14; Numbers 12:3)

Moses was humble and patient (meek) with these people. He did not want a great nation from himself, he wanted God to forgive the people. He was afraid that the people’s action would bring discredit to the name of God before the heathen round about.

c.   What else did he remind God about?   What good did his prayer do?     (verse 13; Deuteronomy 9:9-20)

He reminded God of His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; God listened to it and granted his request

d.    Who went down the mountain with Moses, and what was he carrying?   (verses 15-17)

Joshua had been with him all the time…..they carried the stone tablets with the law written on them.

e.   What did Joshua think the noise was?   What did they hear as they got closer?   (verses 17-18)

Joshua thought it sounded like war in the camp, but as they got closer they could hear the sound of singing and dancing.

f.   How did Moses feel when he actually saw what was going on?     (verses 19-20)

He got very angry and threw the tablets of the law down the mountain, breaking them to pieces.

g.    Why do you think he did this?      (chapter 20:3-5)

Because he knew that the people had broken God’s first two major laws.

h.    What did Moses do to the calf?      (verse 20)

He broke it down, and threw it into the fire and then ground what was left to powder and threw it over their drinking water.

i.    What were the consequences of the people’s sin?     (verse 28, 34-35)

Three thousand of them lost their lives. Moses again prayed earnestly that they would be forgiven, but they eventually paid for their sin in plagues and early death.

j.    What do we read about Moses’  prayer?       (Psalm 106:19-23)

That Moses’ prayer stopped the Lord’s greatest anger falling on them.

k.     What does James tell us about prayer?      (James 5:16)

That when we confess our faults to one another, the prayers of our friends will be very effective in helping us overcome them.

l.   What was Moses prepared to have done to save this people?     (verses 31-32)

He was prepared to suffer eternally if it would help them

m.    What was God’s reply to this prayer?        (verse 33)

Only those who have sinned will be blotted out of My book….. not those who haven’t sinned!

n.    What is God’s attitude to sin ?       (Ezekiel 18:20-23, 32; Romans 6:23)

The soul that sins will die, while the soul that repents and turns away from his sin will have eternal life. God has no pleasure in the death of the unbeliever…..He wants everyone everywhere to turn to Him and live.

o.    What does John 3:36 tell us?

Those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ have everlasting life, but those who refuse to believe will suffer from God’s wrath falling on him.

 Exodus   Thirty Three….(v.1-23)

1.  Verses 1-17  

a.  What did God tell Moses in verses 1-2?       (chapter 32:34; 32:34)

That the people would eventually get to the promised land  and that His Angel would go before and they would be able to drive the heathen nations out and settle there.

b.   Who do you think this protecting Angel was?    (1 Corinthians 10:1-4)

The Lord Jesus Christ.

c.   What encouragement do we get from this today?   (John 17:20-26)

Our Lord has prayed for us that we might understand that He is with us at all times and that we are to love one another as He has loved us.

d.   How did God describe the people once more?  What  does that  mean?    (verse 5; Deuteronomy 31:27)

As being stiffnecked which  means a stubborn  and rebellious person who refuses to listen and obey.

e.   Because their attitude was so bad at this stage, what did Moses do with the Tabernacle?      (verse 7)

He took it from inside the camp and pitched it on its own outside the camp.

f.   Did this mean the people could not worship God while that was the case?     (verses 8-10)

No, but it would be an effort for them to go to the Tabernacle outside and everyone would notice those who went.

g.   How was the relationship between God and Moses described?    (verse 11)

God spoke to Moses face to face like a friend….. God came down in a cloudy pillar to meet Moses when he went to the Tabernacle.

h.   What does the Lord Jesus say to us today about this?     (John 15:14-15)

We are His friends if we obey Him and He has told us all the things from His Father.

i.   What does this whole passage tell us for today?       (Psalm 66:18)

That if we are disobedient, or hugging some sin to our hearts, God will not hear us.

j.   What comes between us and  God?      (Isaiah 59:2)

Our unconfessed sins, and wanting to do our own thing.

k.   What did Moses depend on for strength in the task God had given him?   (verses 12-13)

He depended on God’s presence with him.

l.   Can we have that same assurance that God is with us forever? Why?     (John 15:5; Hebrews 13:5b)

Yes, we can because the Lord Jesus said so.

m.   What do we have to do for the Lord to be with us?      (John 10:27-30)

We have to obey and follow Him, and not be like the world around us.

2.     Verses 18-23                                           

a.   What was Moses’ request of God?        (verse 18)

I want to see Your glory!

b.   What is part of God’s glory? What did God reply?     (verses 19-20)

God’s goodness, holiness, His Name and all it signifies, His graciousness and mercy are all part of God’s glory. No person  living on earth can see God’s  face and live.

c.   So what DID Moses see? Where from?     (verses 21-23)

Moses stood in a cleft in the rock while God passed by him and he only saw God’s back parts.

d.   What was the nearest thing to that, that the New Testament people saw?     (Luke 9:29; 2 Peter 1:16-18; Revelation 1:12-17a)

The disciples saw Jesus Christ’s clothing, face and form become very bright and glistening on the mountain top, and John saw Him in detail in Revelation.

e.   What effect did the sight of Christ’s glory have on them?    (Matthew 17:2-6; Revelation 1:12-17)

The disciples were afraid and didn’t speak of it for some time. John fell down on the ground in a faint until he came to.

f.   Stop and think about this for minute….what would looking at a sight that was brighter than the sun do to you?  Who did this happen to?   (Acts 9:1-9)

It would blind us, either temporarily or permanently.  This happened to Saul of Tarsus when the Lord spoke to him on the road to Damascus.

g.  What does this whole passage tell us for today?      (verse 19; John 17:24)

Only those who are walking close to the Lord can see His glory…that is, know His goodness, mercy, grace and holiness and the significance of His Name.

 Exodus   Thirty Four….(verses 1-35)

1.   Verses 1-35                       

a.   What did God tell Moses to do when he went up the mountain again?   (verses 1-3)

He told him to two more tablets of stone for God to write the ten commandments on again, and that he was to go up alone this time.

b.   What did God allow Moses to see? What effect did the sight of God’s glory have on Moses?       (verses 5-7, 28-30)

God showed Moses His holiness, and proclaimed all the attributes of His Name to him. Moses  worshipped God, and his face was so bright and shining  afterwards that the people were afraid of him..

c.    What effect did the glory of the Lord have on Daniel and Ezekiel?   (Ezekiel 1:26-28; Daniel 10:5-9)

Daniel fell down in  a faint and Ezekiel got down with his face to the ground.

d.   What does all this tell us?       (Psalm 33:8; 89:7)

We are not to take God lightly, but realise Who He is and be reverent and full of awe in His presence.

e.   What does Hebrews 12:28-29 add to this?

That God is like a consuming fire, and those who are not covered by the blood of Christ will suffer the everlasting fires of God’s anger and judgement.

f.   How does this make you feel about those who say they are going to confront God with their own goodness when they meet Him?    (Matthew 12:36-37; Romans 14:11-12; Philippians 2:9-11)

Every single nasty and mean thing they have ever said and done will come flooding back to them and they will have to bring it out into the open and admit it all in front of God. They will then be speechless before Him, and acknowledge that they deserve everything that is coming to them.

g.   What is another of the names of God that we don’t usually associate with Him?    (chapter 34:14)

Jealous…. God is a jealous God.  

h.   In what sense is God jealous? What is He jealous of most?     (chapter 20:3-5; Matthew 22:36-38)

God has told all people to love him with ALL their heart, with ALL  their mind and with ALL their soul. No-one can really do this and God is jealous of the things that people dote on rather than on Him….things that take our minds and affections off Him.

i.     What does Paul warn all believers against?        (1 Corinthians 10:21-22)

Trying to have one foot in the world and one with the Lord….it cannot be done.

j.    How does God feel when we dabble in the world?      (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)

He feels jealous that we see fit to allow other things to take first place in our hearts and minds.

k.   What is the antidote to this?     (Romans 12:1-2; Colossians 3:1-2)

We must set our minds on God and His things and to place our affection on heavenly things, and not be conformed to the world’s ideas, fashions and habits.

l.    Which two men have the testimony of being “perfect” before God?  (Genesis 6: 9; Job 1:8)

Noah and Job

m.   How does a person have a perfect heart before God?     (Genesis 6:9; Micah 6:8)

A person must walk with God to have a perfect heart…..notice that it is that way around and not to wait until the heart is perfect and THEN walk with God. It is the walking with God that makes the heart perfect before Him.

n.   How does one “walk with God” today?       (Psalm 119: 8-11, 15-16)

By spending time reading His word and in prayer, and thinking about Him as we go about our daily duties, and having a tender conscience toward that which is wrong.

 

Chapters 35-39 are a recap of what Moses had made and did with the tabernacle just as God told him to. We will now go on to finish the book….

Exodus Forty….(verses 1 -38)

1.  Verses 1-38                         

a.   Moses erected the finished tabernacle and put everything in order….how did he know exactly what to do?       (verse 1-12, 16)

God told him how to put everything in the right place.

b.   What showed God’s approval of the finished work?     (verses 33c-35)

His glory filled the tabernacle.

c.   How did the people know this?      (verses 36-38)

They could see the pillar of cloud by day and the glow of it at night, and they knew that God was with them when they saw this.

d.   What was the tabernacle a picture of?      (Hebrews 8:5; 9:22-24)

It was a picture and type of things in heaven…..not necessarily a copy of an actual tabernacle in heaven, but a picture of the great truths of God wonderful salvation for man. That was why it was so important for Moses to follow God’s instructions so carefully.

e.   What has now taken over the tabernacle rituals?      (Hebrews 10:1-20)

The work of Christ in shedding His own blood for sin, once and for ever, and now He is our High Priest before God.

f.   How do we take advantage of all these spiritual blessings?    (John 3:16; Romans 10:9; Galatians 2:20)

By simply believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who loved me and died for me, and then following Him daily.

g. Now that the tabernacle and all its bits were put in order, what did it do?      (verses 34-38)

It was the place where all the people could see God’s glory

h. What does this tell us for ourselves today?    (1 Corinthians 6:9-20; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

That we cannot demonstrate God’s glory to others until our lives are fully in order before God….we are to live godly and Christ honouring lives. This is when God is glorified in and by us.