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?

Egypt Has An Immigration Problem

This is the Bible study page for the first chapter of the book of Exodus to be taught at Restoration House Fellowship.

Read the chapter, then continue into chapter 2. This chapter sets the stage for the Moses by explaining the background into which he was born. Make notes, and jot down questions as you read through, paying specific attention to the terms for the king of Egypt and actions he takes, the actions of the midwives, and the actions of the people, both Egyptian and the Sons of Israel.

After reading through, making your own notes and questions, go back through with a commentary or two. After you revise your questions and notes, read back through the chapter with the questions below:

• The writer is specific about the eleven sons of Israel, and that Joseph was already there. Why do you think that was an important element? Considering that Jacob had already replaced two of his sons with Joseph's sons (Genesis 48:5), so why do you think this specific detail be so important here?
• Without an inheritance for Reuben and Simeon, what do you think happens to their offspring? What part of the sons of Israel do you think they become?
• Jacob begins with seventy souls with him in Goshen, and then there's a population explosion. Read verse 7 in several translations. They were basically "fruitful" and multiplied like rabbits. This word translated as "multiplied" or "increased" in verse 7, is translated almost universally as "multiplied" in verses 12 and 20. What do you think this problem looked like from the perspective of the Egyptians? Look specifically at verse 12, and the dread the Egyptians are said to feel toward Israel. How do you think they perceived this multiplying of Israel?
• A new king arises in Egypt who did not know Joseph. There is a period of Egyptian history where they were ruled by foreign kings (Hyksos) of unknown origin. It's possible that the people of Israel first experienced their free growth during this period, and were left behind after these kings were expelled. Or, the Hebrews could have been subjugated by them, and left while still under their rule. Unfortunately, dating this period with certainty is difficult. Regardless of the dating, what do you think of a group of foreigners being used by God in Egypt to protect or subjugate His people?
• From verses 9 and 10, the reasoning behind the subjugation of the sons of Israel is fear that they would join invaders against Egypt. If the period of flourishing of the sons of Israel was started during the Hyksos, what do you think of the Egyptian reasoning?
• The remains of the cities of Pithom and Raamses have been not been found, at least not for certain. The wording in Exodus 11 could refer to building from scratch or building additional buildings there. Which means this oppression of Israel still can't be dated with certainty from ruins we can find. This has thrown the whole of the historicity of the Exodus into question for many scholars. How do you feel about the difficulties with the lack of "archaeological" evidence?
• The real point for the writer is that this subjugation failed, and only served to increase the sons of Israel even more (v.12). What do you think about this growth under subjugation? Why do you think God would permit this treatment of His people? It's not punishment, why do you think He's allowing it?
• Next, the Pharaoh tries to use the two midwives to kill the male children born to the Hebrews. How many people could there have been if there were only two midwives for the whole of the people? Keep whatever number you guess in your mind as the story progresses.
• The midwives are named with Hebrew names, and they fear God. Why do you think the Pharaoh would even think this would work if the midwives are of the sons of Israel?
• The midwives claim the Hebrew women are hardy and give birth before they can get there. This is probably a bit of an exaggeration, but notice the Pharaoh accepts it. What do you think of his acceptance of this excuse? What does that tell you about how the Egyptians view the Hebrews?
• God gives the midwives houses of their own (families?). What does that tell you about what they had before this? So, if God is involved in blessing the midwives, why isn't he involved in easing the burden on His people?
• So, once again, the tactic of the Egyptians fails, and the Hebrews multiply (v.20). Pharaoh leaves the midwives and commands "his people". To whom do you think Pharaoh gives this command to throw the children into the Nile?

This should be plenty of food for thought. Consider the character of God as He works in the life of His people. As His child, what do you think of God based on what you learn of Him here?

Faith That Travels, but Doesn't Protect?

Greetings!  On April 26 we will be out of the "Prologue" of Genesis and into the Patriarchs.  For this Thursday, read Genesis 12, and we'll discuss both halves (vs. 1-9, and 10-20).  As you read, consider the following questions:

• What are the elements of God's command to go to Canaan?
• Why does Abram build altars?
• At what point does God promise the land?  At what point does He promise Abram will be a great nation?
• How far through Canaan does Abram get?
• What do you think Abram thinks of being a great nation in that land?
• Why does Abram go to Egypt?
• Look at Genesis 11:26-32; what relationship is described between Abram and Sarai?
• What's the problem with Abram's logic as they enter Egypt?
• He seems right about his evaluation of Sarai, but what happens to the Pharaoh when he agrees?
• What does Pharaoh do once the plagues hit his household?

That should get us thinking anyway.  Be sure to note any other questions you have and bring them on Thursday.  I look forward to seeing everyone!