The Inglorious Beginning

This is the Bible study page for the study of Exodus 5. This chapter begins the confrontation of Pharaoh by Moses and Aaron. There are no plagues, only the response of Pharaoh to the request to go worship Yahweh in the wilderness.

Read through chapter 5 by itself a few times. Then read it again, continuing into chapter 6. Be sure, at this point to read all of chapter 6 along with 5. The point is both to gain context, but also a prelude to the study of the problems presented by the structure of chapter 6. Makes notes on what you discover in chapter 5. You may find it helpful to jot down some notes to set aside regarding chapter 6 as you read that for context. The comparison of the two chapters may be helpful.

Once you have your notes and questions from your own study, go back through the chapter with a commentary or two. Revise your own notes and questions from what you learn from the commentaries. After you have made any revisions you see fit, go back through chapter 5 with the questions below:

• After Moses and Aaron meet with the elders of the sons of Israel (Ex 4:29-31), they go to Pharaoh. Consider the statement of Moses and Aaron in verse 1. Imagine you are Pharaoh of Egypt, and everything happens because you say so. What would you think of Moses' attitude in relaying this demand?
• Pharaoh responds, predictably, that he neither knows Yahweh, nor will he listen to Yahweh. Why do you think that Moses doesn't drop the staff, or pour out water, or stick his hand in his shirt or something to show Pharaoh he's serious?
• Moses tries again using both a different reason of why they want Pharaoh to let them go, and also a different name for the people, Hebrews. Why do you think Moses would switch around the terms this way? What do you think he gains by this approach?
• In verses 4 and 5, Pharaoh responds with, "Get back to work, you slackers!" What do you think of his response? What if it were your kids asking to go out into the wilderness to party, because "God told them so", what do you think you would say?
• Pharaoh then makes a change to the workload of the sons of Israel. Now they have to gather straw as well as make the same amount of bricks. What do you think Pharaoh is doing here? How likely do you think it will be that this will become the new "normal", a sustainable solution?
• There are two groups listed in who Pharaoh delivers this edict to. The first are the slave-drivers (Strong's H5065), and the second are the "foremen" or "officers" (Strong's H7860). The foremen are later shown to be Hebrews themselves. These "layers" of officials is consistent with evidence we see in Egyptian writings about forced labor. Why do you think, if Pharaoh gives this edict to the foremen, they, later, go to him to get it repealed?
• In response to the edict, the people scatter all over the land of Egypt seeking straw, but find only the dry stuff, which isn't good for bricks. Why do you think the king would give the workers a directive that would result in defective bricks? What do you think he is after if it's not exactly "quality"?
• The group of "slave-drivers" or "taskmasters" were insistent upon the people also completing the required amount of bricks. And the "foremen" were beaten when the bricks ran short. Now look at verse 15. Why do you think the foremen complain there if they were already aware of the edict in verses 6 through 9? Keep in mind, they are also involved in communicating this edict to the people in verses 10 and 11. 
• The complaint does not change Pharaoh, and he repeats the edict to them, supporting it with the same support, the people are lazy. The foremen return to Moses and Aaron and complain to them, but not about Yahweh. They call Yahweh to judge between the people and Moses. Why do you think they view Moses as the one in error? Notice they don't deny the name of God, nor question His existence. Why do you think they question the role and calling of Moses?
• The wording used in this chapter is interesting. The word, "cried" in verse 15 is normally used for the crying out to God (Strong's H6817). Pharaoh uses this word to describe the plea of Moses and Aaron to him (v. 8). The idea in how this word is used in this chapter has Pharaoh as the object being cried out to, not Yahweh. How do you see this as important for plot of this story? Remember that the foremen go and cry out to Pharaoh for relief, not Yahweh. Therefore, the people are not yet crying out to Yahweh (not using this word anyway).
• Another word used in this chapter that carries an ironic meaning is "serve" and "servant". In chapter 3, God uses this term to refer to the "worship" that the sons of Israel will do at the mountain of God (Ex 3:12 Strong's H5647). So, the word includes both serving and worshiping (or worshiping through service). Look at all the occurrences of "servant" in chapter 5. In verse 15 and 16, the word occurs three times in reference by the foremen to themselves. And then again in verse 21 to refer to the taskmasters. What do you think of the focus of the foremen? Whom do they "serve", and how do you think this will need to change as the people leave the land?
• Moses complains back to God. Look at his statements, that God has not delivered the people at all. Why do you think Moses would have expected God to deliver without any sort of act of power, or some other sort of proof to Pharaoh? Consider all the things that Moses has been told by God so far. How does his complaint make any sense to you?

That should keep us busy as we go through the chapter. Remember to be thinking and seeking the character of God through all your searching, notes and questions.

A Strange Beginning

This is the Bible study page for the study of Exodus 4. Be sure to start with chapter 3, and read through to chapter 4:17. That will provide the entire conversation. The remainder of chapter 4 is very strange. Read that separately, and probably a few times. Make notes and jot down questions, you may have a few questions.

Remember, as you read, you are seeking to understand the character of God better. Think about how He reveals Himself, what He reveals about Himself, and what seems to be important to Him? There are lot of questions we can ask that seem to have no importance to Him, and that may tell you something about Him as well.

Once you have your own questions and notes, go back through with a commentary or two. Revise your notes as you consider the views from commentators. After you have done both your review, and reviewed the views of commentators, go back through with the questions below:

• The protests of Moses continue unabated in chapter 4 (through verse 17). In chapter 3 he protested that he was nobody, and then that he didn't know God's name. Now, in verse 1 of chapter 4, Moses asks what happens if they don't believe him. God answers by providing 3 signs by which the sons of Israel will be convinced. What do you think of the progression/explanation of the signs? Why do you think the last one was thrown in there? And what do you think is the relationship between these signs and the plagues God will use with the Egyptians?
• Moses then complains that he is slow of speech. Literally, he is "heavy of mouth and tongue". What do you think this means? Why do you think Moses brings this up now, when it didn't seem to matter before when he tried to rescue the sons of Israel? He claims he has always been this way, how likely do you think that really is?
• God's response to Moses' problem speaking is that He will make him able to speak. It's not the answer Moses is looking for because of his next complaint. Why do you think that God making Moses able to speak isn't sufficient for Moses? God claims He will be with Moses, and will make him able to speak. What clues do you see as to Moses' deep reluctance to accept this calling from God?
• Moses tells God to send whoever else He would like. God gets angry (literally, His nose becomes hot). Why do you think God becomes angry? Why do you think Moses would say that since God is clearly choosing to send Moses?
• God then accommodates Moses and chooses Aaron to help Moses go before the sons of Israel and Pharaoh. Why do you think this partial acquiescence to Moses achieves God's purpose? What could have been the result had Moses not had the final protest?
• Moses goes to Jethro to request to return to Egypt, and Jethro tells him to "go in peace." Moses then puts his family on the donkey, and takes off. So, if Moses is already on the way, why do you think God again speaks to him about facing Pharaoh and what plague will happen? Why do you think God gives Moses the final plague right here? What purpose do you think verses 21 through 23 serve at this particular spot in the narrative?
• Verse 24 switches back to Moses traveling. He stops along the way, and God sought to kill Moses. God was seeking the death of the one He chose to lead the sons of Israel out of Egypt. And He sought it personally, not through some avenging angel or other agent. Yahweh met Moses seeking to kill him. So, why? Why do you think God, the Great IAM is seeking to kill His chosen deliverer?
• Moses' wife, Zipporah, circumcises her son (one of two?), and "touches" the foreskin to his feet. So, we're not sure who "he" is who gets the foreskin on his feet, but her comment on this business is, "You are a marriage-relation of bloods to me." Egyptians and the sons of Israel both circumcise. Midianites probably don't (it actually never says). What do you think this is for? Why do you think Zipporah circumcises her son, and why do you think she says that to Moses?
• Yahweh relents, and lets Moses live. And there is a cryptic explanation of why Zipporah calls Moses a "marriage-relation of bloods". How do these two things help you understand this short passage? What do you think is happening between Yahweh and this family?
• Yahweh tells Aaron to go out and meet Moses. And he goes out and meets Moses by the Mountain of God (Horeb). How do you think Aaron was able to just wander out of Egypt like that? What does this tell you about how thoroughly the Egyptians were able to control the movements of the sons of Israel? 
• Moses and Aaron assemble the elders of the sons of Israel. Aaron speaks to them, and Moses shows them the signs that God had given him as proof.The response of the people is to worship. Why do you think there's no other detail given here? Did they believe Moses? Did they ask the name of God? How realistic were Moses' protests? Why do you think those things aren't important now? What does that tell you about Moses' protests in the first place?

That should occupy our time in group study. Remember to be seeking what these passages reveal to us of God's character. What is Yahweh like? Does anything about Him bother you? What can you do to address that with Him?

The Calling of a Hebrew Egyptian - Part 1

This is the Bible study page for Exodus 3. Read this chapter along with 4 to get a sense of the more complete context. Reading in a few translations may help, although the language isn't as much of an issue as the structure. The account of the call of Moses is very complex.

Read through a few times, jotting down questions and noting observations. Try and place yourself in the scene, listening and watching God and Moses. Try to imagine vocal tones as you hear God speak to Moses. Consider the flow of the conversation, and attempt to trace the direction of God versus Moses direction and intent. Part of that will be answered in chapter 4.

Once you have your questions, look through a commentary or two (there are some at the church). Revise your notes and questions as you find more information. Then go back through with the questions below:

• Moses takes the flock of his father-in-law (now Jethro) somewhere else. Look at verse 1 in a few translations. Most have "west side", but many also use "far side", and one uses "out of" to translate where Moses led the flock. Literally, the word is "behind" or "after", and is a common Hebrew word. Why do you think this was so difficult to render into English for translators? Why not just put "after" or "behind"?
• Horeb is referred to throughout Exodus as the Mountain of God. Even Elijah comes to it as the Mountain of God. Considering that this word for God is plural, what do you think is the possibility that this was an ancient place of worship of many gods? It could also be that, when Moses finally writes this, everyone already refers to the place as the Mountain of God. What do you think is most likely?
• The Angel of Yahweh appears to Moses as a flame within a bush (thorn shrub). What gets Moses' attention is that the shrub isn't consumed and the fire continues to burn the shrub. Why do you think that the fire itself wasn't enough to gain Moses' attention? Or was it?
• Moses turns aside to go see the burning bush. It is written that Yahweh "saw" that Moses turns aside to look at the bush. Think about that. What does that tell you about God's methods and character in reaching out to people He intends to use?
• God calls out to Moses in much the same way He calls Samuel (1 Samuel 3:1-10). Moses responds much like Abraham, "Behold, I" (Genesis 22:1). This is pretty common in Hebrew. It's typically translated as, "here I am". How can you respond to God in this same way? What would that look like for you?
• Moses is standing on holy ground, and is required to remove his sandals. Why do you think bare feet are more appropriate to holiness than sandals?
• Look at how God speaks about who He is to Moses. He is the God of "your fathers", then lists them, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Why do you think this is how God starts? What do you think is the significance of the "fathers"?
• Look at verses 7 and 8. Now read 9 and 10. Do you spot the repetition? Why do you think God "starts" over with His reason for calling Moses?
• The second "start" continues with Moses first protest. "Who am I to go before Pharaoh?" Why do you think Moses would ask this? Who else would God send, doesn't Moses have the perfect background for this? Moses seemed so gung ho before, so why the hesitancy now? 
• God's answer is His presence with Moses, and the sign promised Moses is that the people will worship God on that mountain. Why do you think Moses' question about his qualification is answered by God's presence?
• The people wouldn't worship at the mountain until well after Moses does what God is calling him to do. So, how can that be a "sign" that God is truly with or calling Moses?
• Moses next wants to know God's name. If Moses says that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob appeared to him, why do you think the people would ask His name? Look at Exodus 6:2, 3. Why do you think that God didn't answer Moses' question with the name that would have been the name their fathers knew?
• God refers to Himself as "I AM", and then "Yahweh". The two are different in "person", so in English, it would be I AM, and HE IS. Why do you think that, when Moses asks His name, God bases His answer on "is". What does that tell you about what God wants His people to know about Him and how He wants them to refer to Him?
• After the naming question, we have another repetition. God sends Moses to Pharaoh in verse 10, but then, in verses 16 through 18, to the elders first, and then to take the elders with him to Pharaoh. How do you understand the relationship between these two sets of instructions?
• Notice the repetition of the description of where God is leading them. Yet, what are they telling Pharaoh? Why do you think God would tell Moses essentially to lie to Pharaoh? 
• God then tells Moses that they will only go out once Pharaoh has seen miracles. And when the people go, they will plunder the Egyptians. Why do you think these two details are so important for Moses' calling? 

That should be plenty to think about. Be sure to bring your notes and questions to the Bible study.

This Misadventures of a Hebrew Egyptian

This is the Bible study page for the study of Exodus 2. Read through the chapter a few times. It is a very compressed account of Moses. It seems to have the sole purpose of getting us to the burning bush without wasting any time being concerned with details of Moses' early childhood.

Read through the chapter a few times, and try to find a copy of the English Standard Version (ESV) if you can. Make notes, and jot down questions as you read. Look for items that you wish the writer had elaborated on, or provided at least some additional background. This is a compressed account, but we have to assume that the points that were included are the important ones, and whatever was left out wasn't as important.

After you have your own set of questions and notes, read through a commentary of two, even study Bible notes may help. Revise your questions and notes based on what you think about the comments and insights of others. Once you have a set of revised notes, go back through the chapter with the questions below.

• In verse 1, we're given almost no detail about Moses' parents, only that they are both from the Tribe of Levi. Why do you think a "genealogy" is missing? Look ahead at Exodus 6:14-25. There's the genealogy, why do you think, if the material was available, it's included so much later in the account?
• Moses' mother sees that he is "good". What do you think is different about her reaction to her child than any other Hebrew mother? What do you think the other Hebrew mothers were doing with their children? Why do you think Moses' mother is successful for 3 months when others probably weren't?
• Moses' mother takes steps to put Moses in a basket in the river, and set's her daughter to watch what happens. How much of what happens, Moses being found by the daughter of Pharaoh, do you think was planned, or intended, by Moses' family?
• The daughter of Pharaoh realizes that the baby is one of the Hebrews. Why do you think she didn't just toss him to the crocodiles? What does her reluctance to kill the boy tell you about the "national" perception of how the king is treating the Hebrews? 
• Moses' sister immediately shows up to offer the services of her mother to nurse the child. Pharaoh's daughter is already showing compassion for Moses, but how likely do you think it is that she also guessed that the "nurse" was the child's real mother?
• Pharaoh's daughter gives Moses' mother "wages" to nurse her son, then relinquish him to her when he's weaned. What do you think about the irony of that? What does that teach you about God's provision for His people?
• When he is delivered to the daughter of Pharaoh, she names him Moses, and he grows up as her son. What sort of understanding of his background do you think Moses had while growing up?
• Notice that in verse 11, Moses goes out to his "brothers". It seems he is aware of his Hebrew heritage, but we're never told how. How do you think this came about? What if he was always aware of it? How do you think that would have influenced his formative years?
• Moses strikes an Egyptian who had been beating a Hebrew. Why do you think he did that? He looks around to make sure that no one was looking, and he hides the body in the "mud". So, what do you think he is up to?
• The next day, Moses intervenes in a quarrel between to Hebrews. Notice he knows which one is the wrong. How do you think Moses figured that out?
• What do you think of the "bad Hebrew" response? It seems like he is using extortion against Moses to avoid being called to task for his wrong of his fellow Hebrew, or is he?
• Moses realizes that he wasn't able to hide his murder as well as he thought. Yet, notice that he doesn't run immediately. Why do you think he stayed around after he realized that the murder was known among the Hebrews?
• The king finds out that Moses murdered, and seeks to kill him. Moses flees, and is able to get away. Why do you think he was so able to escape? Why didn't the Egyptians pursue him more diligently?
• Who is this "priest of Midian"? It seems that, in Midian, there is at least knowledge of Yahweh, even if He is not worshiped "exclusively" (see the conversation between Yahweh and Balaam in Numbers 22). Here, the priest is named "Ruel", but later, "Jethro" (Ex. 3:1).  Looking at the basic information about those two names, what, if any, connection can you see?
• The daughters of Ruel show up to water their flocks at the well where Moses has sat down. "Shepherds wait for the women to draw water, then use their work to water their own flocks, and prevent the women from watering their flock. At this point, Moses not only drives off the shepherds, he waters the flock for the women. Then they leave him there, and go home. Why do you think the women left Moses at the well? What do you think Moses thought about that?
• Ruel is surprised his daughters are home "early". It seems that this process typically takes a long time. What do you think of the circumstances of this "priest" who has only daughters (that we know of), and can't get the respect of the local shepherds to have his flock watered by his daughters? What sort of situation is this guy in? What do you think of the priest's attitude toward his circumstances?
• Ruel sends his daughters after Moses, and Moses lives with them. Look at how that (verse 21) is worded in various translations. The word literally says that Moses was being polite in consenting to live there. How would you render all that into a single English word?
• Ruel gives his daughter, Zipporah, to Moses. Now, Moses is creating a life for himself in Midian. What do you think about Moses taking a non-Israelite wife for himself? What do you think God thinks about it?
• Gershom is born, and his name is related to the Hebrew word for "sojourner", or one living as a refugee, regardless of reason. We don't hear much of Zipporah nor of Gershom in the migration of the sons of Israel. Why do you think that might be? Why wouldn't Moses include his wife and son in the narrative more? Look at Exodus 18:1-4 and 27. How does this possibly influence how you understand the relationship between Moses and his wife/children?  
• The king of Egypt dies, but the situation of the sons of Israel does not improve. But God seems to change how He views their plight. Consider the progression in verses 23 through 25. The groaning of the sons of Israel ascends to God, God hears, God remembers His covenant, God saw, and God knew. What does this progression reveal to you about God's character, and how He might be dealing with His children today?

That should be plenty to think about for this chapter. Bring your notes to the study, and we'll see you there!