“exodus”€¦ · the exodus account, the interpretive history of exodus amongst both jewish and...

“Exodus”FallSeries2Lesson2

“Exodus14:22-17:16”Objective:ToexaminetheaccountoftheexodusfromEgyptandtolearnasmuchaswecanaboutthenatureofGod,HismercyandwhatHedesiresforHiscreation.WewillseektodothisbyexaminingthehistoricalbackgroundoftheExodusaccount,theinterpretivehistoryofExodusamongstbothJewishandChristianscholars,wherehelpful.WewillseektounderstandthemessageofExodusforusasChristianslivinginthe21stcenturyAmericancontext.Materials:TheBible,Ancienttranslations,Commentaries,bothancientandmodern,Books,journalarticles,dictionaries,theinternet,andotherresourcesasmaybeappropriate.Procedures1. ToexplorethemessageGodofhopethattheoriginalaudience

willhaveunderstoodfromthistext.2. Tounderstandhowthistexthasinspired,challenged,and

educatedpeopledownthroughthecenturiesguidingthemnotonlyintheirpersonallives,butthedestiniesofgovernmentsandnations.

3. WewillseektoLindouthowthesebeliefshaveplayedaroleinthehistoryofChristianityandhowtheycontinuetoimpactourexistenceandservicetoJesusChristtoday.

4. Wewillprovideasheettotakehomeasareminderofwhathasbeenexaminedandtoprovideadditionalopportunitiesforconsiderationofthesetruthsandtheirapplicationinourdailylivingoutofoureternaldestinybeginningnow.Thissheetcanbeusedasadiscussionguideforsmallgroupdiscussion.Wehaveseveralgroupsusingthiseffectively.

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS1 24

Startingat14:22wehavethelaunchingoftheIsraelitesasit

were“…intothemidstofsea….”Thisisamiracleoftrulycosmic

proportions.Thelawsofnaturearebrokenandanyofthe

explanationsthataregiventhattrytoexplainawaythismiracleas

anythingotherthanamiraclearetheresultofcorruptedand

corrodedmindsdulledbytheravagesofunbeliefandskepticism.

InthecontextofExodus,thisismeanttobeunderstoodasa

miraclewroughtbyGod,thatisthepointhere.TheGodwho

calledfortheretobeaseparationbetweenthewatersandalso

calledforthedrylandtoappearfromtheseainGenesisishere

doingagainwhatHedidthen. ThissameGodnowactsonbehalf1

oftheIsraelitesandisactiveatdoingwhatonlytheCreatorcan

do,commandingcreation.Awallofwaterformsoneithersideof

theIsraelites.Howmarvelousandhowterrifyingthismusthave

beentoseethisseeminglyimpossiblethingthatwashappening.

Now,inourtime,justasinthistimesomanyyearsago

peoplecanbeblindedtothetruthbytheirrefusaltoacceptitfor

Genesis1:6-10-Godsaid,“Lettherebeadomeinthemiddleofthewaterstoseparatethe1

watersfromeachother.”7Godmadethedomeandseparatedthewatersunderthedomefromthewatersabovethedome.Andithappenedinthatway.8GodnamedthedomeSky.Therewaseveningandtherewasmorning:thesecondday.1:9Godsaid,“Letthewatersundertheskycometogetherintooneplacesothatthedrylandcanappear.”Andthat’swhathappened.10GodnamedthedrylandEarth,andhenamedthegatheredwatersSeas.Godsawhowgooditwas.CEB.

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS2 24

whatitismeanttoconvey.TheEgyptianshadseenthepowerof

Godintenplagues,theysawthepillarofcloud,andthepillarof

Lire,andyettheystillrefusedtocomprehendwhatwashappening.

God,thecreator,theonlytrueGod,wasLightingtoredeemHis

peopleandnothingwouldstophim,notarrogance,ignorance,or

physicalmight.AlloftheseareasnothingtoGod.The

brokennessofsinblindsustothetruthandnomatterwhatGod

doesitseemsthattheblindnessofourhardheartscanreacha

pointofbeingbeyondredemption.TheEgyptianssawwhatthey

wantedtoseeandwhattheysawwasavulnerablenationofslaves

thattheywerefreetomanipulateanduseastheypleasedwithout

anyfearofhavingtoanswertoahigherauthority.Theysaw

themselvesasthehighestauthorityintheuniverse,ruledbyagod

(Pharaoh). 2

ThePsalmistdescribeswhathappensnext:16Thewaters

sawyou,God—thewaterssawyouandreeled!

Eventhedeepdepthsshook!

17 Thecloudspouredwater,

theskiescrackedthunder;

RabbiNossonSchermanandRabbiMeirZlotowitz,eds.,TheChumash,TheStoneEdition(New2

YorkNY:MesorahPublications,Ltd.,2000-2014),p.371.

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yourarrowswereUlyingallaround!

18 Thecrashofyourthunder

wasintheswirlingstorm;

lightninglitupthewholeworld;

theearthshookandquaked.

19 Yourwaywentstraightthroughthesea;

yourpathwayswentrightthroughthe

mightywaters.

Butyourfootprintsleftnotrace!

20 Youledyourpeoplelikesheep

underthecareofMosesandAaron. 3

ThearmyofEgyptwentfromsuperpowerarmytodeadinmatter

ofminutes.ThiswouldbecometheirLinalpoordecision.There

wereahostofbaddecisionsleadinguptothisone,butthisone

wouldprovefatal.Inourownlivesthingsareoftenthesame.

Therearesomedecisionsthatforeverchangeourdestiny.There

arenounlimitedchancesandnounlimitedopportunities,despite

whataremodernworldwouldlikeustobelieve.Thereisno

cheapgracetobehad,here,oranywhereelse. 4

Psalm77:16-20-CommonEnglishBible.3

DietrichBonhoeffer,TheCostofDiscipleship(NewYorkNY:MacmillanPublishingCo.,1963).4

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS4 24

At14:24-25theEgyptiansarethrownintoapanicandin

thispanictheyLinallyseemtorealizethetruth,“…becauseYHWH

isLightingforIsraelagainstEgypt.”Despitethisrealization,the

pointhaspastforthisfacttodothemanygoodatall.Godknows

whenthispointevenwhenwedonot.Mosesisthentoldby

YHWHtostretchouthishandsothatthewatermaycomeback

upontheEgyptians,theirchariotsandthechariotdrivers(14:26).

MosesdidashewastoldandtheseaswallowedtheEgyptians

(14:27-28).Weareremindedonceagainthatinthemidstofall

thisgreatcalamitytheIsraeliteswalkedthroughondryground

withthewaterformingawalloneithersideofthem(14:29).

Israelwassavedonthisdaydespitetheircomplainingandtheir

lackoftrustinMosesandinYHWH.TheysawtheEgyptianslying

deadontheseashore(14:30),andknewtheLinalityofwhatGod

wouldinLlictontheirenemies.Verse31thensays:Israelsawthe

greathandofYWHWagainsttheEgyptians.Thepeople

fearedYWHW,andtheybelievedinYWHWandinhisservant

Moses.InseeingthesamemiraclethatsavedIsraeland

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS5 24

simultaneouslypunishedEgypttheJewsrecognizedanew

dimensionofGod’sgreatness. 5

ThesplittingoftheseaisengravedupontheJewishmemory

asasignaturemomentintime.Thetellingofthiseventisrecited

dailyduringthemorningserviceinsynagoguesaroundtheglobe,

atthetransitionfromtheVersesofPraisetothebeginningof

communalprayer. Theyspeakofitagainaftertherecitationof6

theShema,justbeforetheAmida. Aswecometochapter15we7

cometoTheSongbytheSea.IntheTorah’sdeLinitiona“song”

constitutesaprofoundandunusualspiritualphenomenon.

AccordingtoMekhilta15:1,therewereonlytensongsfromthe

beginningofcreationtotheendoftheScripturalperiod.Eventhe

PsalmsofDavidandIsaiah,aswellasthesongsoftheother

prophetsarenotamongthesetensongs.WhatthenistheTorah’s

conceptionofwhatconstitutesasong?

Inthenormalcourseofevents,

wefailtoperceivethehandofGodat

RabbiMoshFeinsteininRabbiNossonSchermanandRabbiMeirZlotowitz,eds.,TheChumash,p.5

375.

RabbiJonathanSacks,Exodus:theBookofRedemption,intheCovenantandConversationseries6

(Jerusalem:MaggidBooks,2010),p.103.

TheAmidaisthecentralprayeroftheJewishliturgy.Ithasnineteenpartsandcanbelookedup7

easilyonline.

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS6 24

work,andweoftenwonderhowmost

ofthedaily,seeminglyunrelated

phenomenasurroundinguscouldbe

partofaDivine,coherentplan.Wesee

sufferingandevil,andwewonderhow

theycanbethehandiworkofa

MercifulGod.Rarely,however-very

rarely-thereisaUlashofinsightthat

makespeoplerealizehowallthe

piecesofthepuzzlefallintoplace.At

suchtimes,wecanunderstandhow

everynote,instrument,and

participantinGod’ssymphonyof

Creationplaysitsrole.Theresultis

song,fortheTorah’sconceptofsongis

theconditioninwhichallthe

apparentlyunrelatedand

contradictoryphenomenadoindeed

meldintoacoherent,merciful,

comprehensiblewhole.

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS7 24

Atthesea,MosesandtheJewish

peopleunderstoodtheirsituationas

neverbefore.Thesufferingofthe

Egyptianexile,thedeceptionthatled

Pharaohtopursuethem,the

hopelessnesstheyhadfeltwhenthey

weresurroundedbyPharaoh,thesea,

andthewilderness;thedemandsfrom

manyoftheirownnumberthatthey

returntoslavery,evenMoses’old

recriminationthathisarrivalinEgypt

tocarryoutGod’smissionhadonly

madethingsworseforIsrael-such

doubtsandfeardisappearedwhenthe

seasplitand,astheSagesteachin

Mechiltaevenasimplemaidservantat

theseaperceivedahigherdegreeof

revelationthanthatoftheprophet

EzekielinhisHeavenlyvision,

describedinEzekielchapter1.Tothe

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS8 24

Jewsatthesea,Creationbecamea

symphony,asong,becausethey

understoodhoweveryunrelatedand

incomprehensibleeventwaspartof

theharmoniousscorethatledupto

thatgreatestofallmiracles. 8

Thissonghaslittleconcernwitheventsfromthehuman

perspectiveandinsteadisfocuseduponcelebratingthemighty

actsofGodasHeintervenesinhumanaffairs.TheSongattheSea

celebratesthedirectandunmediatedactionofGod;Hispersonal

incursionintotheworldofmen. Thissongisarecountingof9

God’smightyactsintendedtopraiseHimforHissteadfastlove

canYouredemption.Hisandpower,HisandstrengthHis,(חסד)

imaginethereliefthatmusthavecomeoverthepeopleasLinally

theycouldseelightattheendofthetunnel,oratleastthelightof

freedom.MiriamsingsalongwiththewomenpraisestoGodasan

unmitigatedactofexuberantjoywithtambourines(15:20-21).

Thisgreatvictorywillhoweverbeshort-livedasMosesordersthe

RabbiNossonSchermanandRabbiMeirZlotowitz,eds.,TheChumash,p.375.8

NahumSarna,TheJPSTorahCommentaryExodus(PhiladelphiaPA:TheJewishPublicationSociety,9

1991),p.75.

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS9 24

Israelitestosetoutfromtheseaandtheytravelintothe

wildernessofShur.Theyjourneyforthreedays,probablyabout

forty-Livemiles(15:22).

TheythencometoaplacecalledMarah(15:23)andthejoy

oftheirvictoryispast;people“complainedagainst

Moses”(15:24).Already,inthreedaystheyappeartohave

forgottenthegreatvictoryattheseaandonceagaintheyresortto

theirtruenature,complaining.Thisisanaturethatcomesso

easilytohumansandisthefavoritepastimeofsomany.Some

perfectittoanartformandevenappeartohaveadoctorateinthis

endeavor.Thiscomplainingwill,intime,leadtotremendous

frustrationonthepartofMosesultimatelycausinghimtolosehis

temperwiththepeopleandwillbethecauseofhisbeingunable

himselftoenterthepromisedland.OnthisoccasionMosescries

outtoYHWHandHeshowedMosesapieceofwoodandwhen

Mosesthrowsthispieceofwoodintothewaterthewaterbecomes

sweet.Thisendsthecomplainingforabriefmoment.

ItisherethatwearetoldthatYHWHmakesforthema

“statuteandanordinance”andputthem“tothetest.”Herewe

havetheterms:15:26TheLORDsaid,“Ifyouarecarefulto

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS10 24

obeytheLORDyourGod,dowhatGodthinksisright,pay

attentiontohiscommandments,andkeepallofhis

regulations,thenIwon’tbringonyouanyofthediseasesthat

IbroughtontheEgyptians.IamtheLORDwhohealsyou.” 10

ThischapterendswithIsraelcampingatElim(15:27).Noticethat

Godcallsthemtodowhat“He”thinksisright,notwhatintheir

opinionsisright.

Chaptersixteenbeginswithanaccountingoftheirongoing

travelsandtheirarrivalatthewildernessofSin.Hereonceagain

thereis“complaining,”or“murmuring”(לון).PerhapsifIsrael

weretohaveamottosomethinglikethemottooftheMarines

SemperFidelis(AlwaysFaithful)theirswouldbeSemper

Murmurant(AlwaysMurmuring).Thistoocouldbeamottofor

mostchurchesasthereisalwaysagroup,sometimesalargegroup,

thatexcelsatthis.CertainlyIcansayitisthemostdiscouraging

partofministryformostofthosewhoareinvolvedwithchurch

ministry.Nomatterhowhardsomeonetries,somepeopleare

displeasedandfeelthatatthemostinopportune,andpainfultime

possible,theywillletyouknowabouttheircomplaints,andtheir

CommonEnglishBible.10

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS11 24

complaintsshroudedassuggestions.Churchworkisalotlike

beingacoach,everyoneisanexpertandknowshowtodoitbetter

thanthecoach.Intheirmurmuringitappearsthatthewhole

congregationappearstobesuicidalexpressingtheirwishtohave

diedinEgypt(16:3).

Godsendsbreaddownuponthemfromheaven,butHealso

teststhemtoseeiftheywouldfollowHisinstructions(16:4).God

alsorespondstotheircomplainingagainstMosesandAaronand

Himself.HespeakstoMosesoutofacloud(16:10-11)toshowthe

peoplethatMosesisindeedreceivinghisinstructionsfromYHWH.

YHWHsentwhatwouldcometobecalled“manna”inthemorning

(16:14)andhegavetheIsraelitesinstructionsabouthowmuchto

gatherandtheyweresuppliedwithwhattheyneeded(16:18).

Theyweretoldtoleavenoneofituntilmorning,butasmightbe

expected“theydidnotlisten”and“itbecameinfestedwithworms

andbecamefoulsmelling”(16:19-20).Onthesixthdaytheywere

togatherenoughfortwodaysasnonewouldfallontheSabbath,

theywerenottogooutlookingforitontheSabbath;andyetsome

did.ThemannathatwasgatheredbeforetheSabbathandkept

overnightdidnotbecomeinfestedwithwormsandbecomefoul

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS12 24

smelling(16:23-24):Thisdaythingswrkdifferentlythanall

others.Ontheseventhdaysomeofthepeoplewentouttogather

manna,butfoundnone;theywereindirectviolationofwhatGod

hadcommanded(16:27)ingoingouttolook.

Theywerefailingmiserablythetest,andYHWHbecome

upsetwiththemandquestionsMosesregardingtheir

disobedience(16:28).Thepeopleweretoldtorestontheseventh

day.Thiswasapartofthetesttoseeiftheywouldbeobedientto

YHWH(16:29-30).TheIsraelitesweretoputanomerofthe

mannaasidetoshowtothefollowinggenerationsinajar

(16:31-34),thiswastobeamonumenttoGodforfuture

generations.TheIsraeliteswouldeatMannaforfortyyearsuntil

theycameintoahabitableland(16:35).Tobecertainthismiracle

givesagreatmanyproblemstomodernskeptics.Sustainingtwo

millionpluspeopleinthewildernesswithbreadthatfellfromthe

skyandquailforfortyyearsistrulyamagniLicentfeat.Inreality,

thoughwestilltodaydonotacknowledgethefactthatitisGod

whosustainsallpeopleeverywhere,always.Wejustfailto

recognizethisbecausewehavecometoexpectthingstoworkin

certainways.IamsuretheIsraelitesquicklycametojustexpect

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS13 24

thingstoworkinthiswayandsotookitforgranted.Human

beingshaveanamazingcapacitytonormalizethings,even

extraordinaryandamazingthings,eventhingsthatshouldnever

benormalized.

At17:1,wearetoldthattheIsraelitestravelledtoRephidim

wheretherewasnowateratallforthemtodrink.Soonceagain

thepeople“argue”withMoses.Theychallengedhimtogivethem

watertodrink.Theyonceagainbroughtuptheoldcomplaints

againstMosesaskingwhyhehadbroughtthemout“tokill”them,

theirchildrenandtheirlivestock“withthirst”(17:3).Mosesthen

turnstoGod(17:4)askingwhatheistodowiththispeoplethat

are“soongoingtostone”him.YHWHinstructsMosestotake

someoftheelderswithhimandtotakethestaffthatheusedto

striketheNile(17:5)andgoandstandinfrontofthe“rock”(צור)

atHoreb.Thoughhere,inthecontextofExodus17,thereisno

indicationofGod’sangerwiththeIsraelitesthereisatPsalm

78:18-22. ThepsalmistportraysGodas“furious”attheirlackof11

TheytestedGodintheirhearts,demandedfoodfortheirstomachs.19Theyspokeagainst11

God!“CanGodsetadinnertableinthewilderness?”theyasked.20“True,GodstrucktherockandwatergushedandstreamsUlowed,butcanhegivebreadtoo?Canheprovidemeatforhispeople?”21WhentheLORDheardthis,hebecamefurious.AUirewasignitedagainstJacob;wrathalsoburnedagainstIsrael22becausetheyhadnofaithinGod,becausetheydidn’ttrusthissavingpower.CEB.

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS14 24

trust,atthedisbeliefandfaithlessnessinherentinthepeople’s

grumbling. 12

ItmaybethatitistobeseenasimplicitintheTorah’s

narrative,theBiblicalteaching,thathumanbeingshavean

obligationtoimitatedivinequalities(thedivineimage-Genesis

1:26-27).ThisJewishdoctrineisbaseduponsuchBiblical

passagesasLeviticus19:2“Saytothewholecommunityofthe

Israelites:Youmustbeholy,becauseI,theLORDyourGod,am

holy. ”ItthenfollowsfromtheBiblicalnarrativethatIsrael13

wouldbeexpectedtoemulatethequalitiesofGod,whichincludes

Hisself-restraintandHispositivequalityinthefaceoftheirbase

ingratitude;Godinherently,bynature,hasaconcernforthe

hungry,forthosewhomHehascreated. MoseswastoLindGod14

inthefrontofthisrockandhewastostriketherockinthesightof

theeldersandwhenhedidwatercameoutoftherock.Thename

ofthisplacethencametobecalled“Massah”(מסה),which

literallymeans“testing,”and“Meribah”(מריבה),whichliterally

means“strife.”

NahumSarna,TheJPSTorahCommentaryExodus,p.86.12

CEB.13

NahumSarna,TheJPSTorahCommentaryExodus,p.86.14

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS15 24

ItwasatthisplacethattheyquarreledandtestedYHWH

asking“IsYHWHreallyamongusornot.”Theaccountendshere

withthisverybriefcommentandthenat17:8wearetoldthat

AmalekcameandfoughtwithIsraelatRephidim.Thereisamore

detailedaccountofthisattackatDeuteronomy25:17-19,andin

thisaccountwearetoldthattheAmalekitesmadeasurpriserear

attackonthefamishedandexhaustedIsraelitesnotlongafter

theirescapefromEgypt.WhoweretheAmalekites?WeLirst

encounterAmalekasthethirteenthdescendentofEsau-Edomin

thelistsofGenesis36(Genesis36:16).TheAmalekitesintheir

rearattackontheIsraelitesruthlesslycutdownthestragglers,the

elderly,theweak,andtheinLirm(Deuteronomy25:17-19).Israel

wasforcedtoLightitsLirstbattleinordertosurvive. 15

MosestoldJoshuatochoosementogooutandLightwiththe

Amalekitestellingthemthathewouldstandonahillwiththestaff

ofGodinhishand(17:9).Duringthebattle,wheneverMosesheld

uphishandIsraelprevailedandwhenhelowereditthe

Amalekitesprevailed(17:11).AaronandHurtookastoneandput

itunderMosessohecouldsitdownandthentheyhelduphis

NahumSarna,TheJPSTorahCommentaryExodus,p.95.15

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS16 24

arms,oneoneachside(17:12).JoshuadefeatedtheAmalekites,

withthesword(17:13).Afterthis,YHWHinstructsMosestowrite

areminderinabookandtorecitethetextinthehearingofJoshua

thatHewouldblotouttheremembranceofAmalekfromunder

heaven.ThiswouldnotbetheendoftheAmalekitesonthisdayas

theywouldcontinuetobeathreattoIsraelformanyyearsto

come:ultimatelyDavidappearstohaveLinishedthemoffasa

nation(1Samuel30).WeencountertheAmalekitesandtheir

descendantsseveraltimesthroughthehistoryofIsrael.Saul

wouldspare“AgagkingoftheAmalekites(1Samuel15:8,20,

32-33),thoughSamuelcorrectedthiswhenhearrivedbyhacking

Agaginpieces.TheAmalekitesareultimatelynotheardofasa

nationagainafterDavidLinishedthejobexceptforperhapsthe

caseof“HamantheAgagite”inEsther3:1,whichlikelymeansthat

HamanwasofAmalekiteancestry. 16

AswereturntoournarrativeinExodus,onceagainthe

peoplearesaved,thistimeisdifferentthough;insteadofGod

bearingthemasoneagleswingsanddoingeverythingwhileIsrael

wasamerespectator(Exodus19:4)theymustlearntoLight,to

PeterEnns,Exodus,inTheNIVApplicationCommentarySeries(GrandRapidsMI:Zondervan,16

2000),pp.345-346.

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS17 24

defendthemselvesagainstforcesthatwoulddestroythem.Noone

todayknowsforsurewhatitmeansthattheywouldwinwhenthe

handsofMoseswereupliftedandlosewhentheyweredown;itis

notexplained.Whateveritwas;ithadsomethingtodowiththe

staffstandingasasignofthepowerandpresenceofGod.Moses

thenbuiltanaltarandcalledit“YHWHismyBanner”(נסייהוה).

Thereisnocertainconnectionherebetweenthealtarandthe

banner,butcertainlythepointofthenamingistobearwitnessto

YHWH’sroleinthebattle.HeisthestandardbeneathwhichIsrael

rallies.TheLinalverseofthischapter(Exodus17:16)summarizes

thewholestoryofthisincident.ThewarwithAmalekwill

continuegenerationupongenerationbecauseYHWHwilleditto

beso. 17

InthissectionweseeIsraelexperiencingthemightyhandof

YHWHrescuingtheminthemostincredibleofcircumstancesand

yetassoonasthereisanygreatdifLicultytheyturnonGodand

Mosesandbegincomplaining,andmurmuring.Godseekstoteach

theIsraelitestorelyuponHim,totrustHim,butasineventhe

GardenofEdenhumanbeingsresistthis.Wetodaystillresist

BrevardS.Childs,TheBookofExodus,inTheOldTestamentLibraryseries(PhiladelphiaPA:The17

WestminsterPress,1976),pp.315-316.

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS18 24

trustinginGod,choosinginsteadtotrustinwealth,doctors,power,

innations,andinsomanyotherthingsthatcanbecomeidolsthat

standintheplacethatonlyGodshouldoccupy.Wetooarebeing

testedinorderthatGodmightinstillinuswhatitmeanstobe

human,tohavethecharacterthatisLittingforonemadeinthe

“image”ofGod.AsN.T.Wrightsays,“Thepresenttimeisthetime

offormationoftrulyhumanbeings;thiscannotbeachievedata

stroke,preciselybecauseofwhatahumanbeingis.”Ourpresent

sojournonthisearthismeanttoproduceinus“character.” Will18

webecome“image-bearers”ofGod,orwillweallowouranimal

naturetocontinuetoreign?

N.T.Wright,PaulandtheFaithfulnessofGod,intheChristianOriginsandtheQuestionofGod18

series,Vol.4,BookII,PartsIIIandIV(MinneapolisMN:FortressPress,2013),p.1048.

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS19 24

Synopsis

Aswestartthissection,weLindIsraelpoisedinthemost

incrediblytenuouspositionwiththeseainfrontofthemandthe

Egyptianarmyinhotpursuitbehind.Thesituationlookshopeless

andyettheveryLirstverseofthissection(14:22)saysthe

Israeliteswentintotheseaon“dryground.”YHWH,thecreator

God,intervenesandtheimpossiblebecomespossibleandIsraelis

savedandtheEgyptianarmyisalldrowned.Thisaccount

highlightsthegooddecisionmadebyIsraeltofollowthe

instructionsofGodandthepoordecisionmadebytheEgyptians

thatputthemonacollisioncoursewithGod.Intheirarrogance

theyignoredthefactthatYHWHwas“Lighting”forIsraelandtoo

latetherealizedthis.

ThiseventhasbecomeengravedintheJewishpsycheasa

signaturemomentintime,whenGodredeemedahelplesspeople

fromatyrannical,andcruelcountryandfoughtontheirbehalf.In

thismomentwecanseethatGodhasaplanandHehasthepower

tofulLillthatplan.MosesandtheIsraelitessingagreatsongof

praisetoYHWHrecountedHisgloriousrescueofIsrael.Thesong

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS20 24

praisesHimforHissteadfastlove,Hisstrength,Hispower,andHis

redemption.

Thenalmostassoonasthesonghasdriftedawayonthe

windtheIsraelitesLindsomethingthattheydonotlikeandthey

begincomplaining.Thispersistsastheyarethirsty,thenhungry,

thendonotlikethefood,andintheirarroganceandintheir

immaturitytheyfailtofollowGodastheyshould,becausethey

continuallydriftbacktothehumandefaultofthinkingthatwe,as

“humans”knowhowtosomethingbettereventhanGod.Inthis

patternwereturntowhatcausedthispredicamentintheLirst

placeandweareoncemorewithouthope,withoutdirection,and

withouthonor.Wefailtohonortheimageoftheonewhocreated

us.TheAmalekitesattackIsraelandinthisattack,withJoshua,

weseeaglimpseofthegreatsalvationofYHWH.Israelsurvives

andgloriLiesGodfortheirvictory.Wecanleavethissectionat

leasthopingthatperhapsnowwewillseesomeglimmerof

characterbeginningtodevelopinthepeople.YHWHispraised

oncemoreandthepeopleseemcontentforthemoment.

PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS21 24

Questions

1. WhatdoyouthinkitwouldhavebeenliketoseeYHWHsplittheseaandmakeitstandupwithawallofwaterontheleftandontheright?

2. WhydoyouthinktheEgyptianspursuedtheIsraelitesintothesea?

3. WhydoyouthinkGodappearedtothepeopleinapillarofcloudandLire?

4. WhatdoyouthinkitmeansthatGoddestroyedtheEgyptiansinthesea?

5. WhatdoesitsayaboutGodthattheIsraeliteswalkedthroughtheseaondrylandandyettheEgyptiansareseendeadupontheshore?

6. At14:31whatconnectiondoyouseebetweenthefearoftheIsraelitesandtheirbeliefinYHWH?

7. WhydoyouthinkMosessangtoYHWH?

8. WhatconnectiondoyouseebetweenthesongthatMosessingsandHisfaith?

9. WhatcanwelearnaboutwhatMosesbelievedconcerningYHWHfromhissong?

10.Whatdoyouthinkitmeansthatthenationstrembledat15:14-16?

11.Whydoyouthinkpeoplearesoquicktocomplainwhensomethingdoesnotgothewaytheythinkitshould(15:24)?

12.WhydoyouthinkGodputsthepeopletothe“test?”

13.WhatdoyouthinktheIsraelitesaremeanttolearnfrom15:26?

14.WhydoyouthinkwearetoldthatIsraelcomplainedsomuch?Whatlessondoyouthinkwearemeanttotakeawayfromthistoday?

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15.WhatlessonsdoyouthinkIsraelwasmeanttolearnfromGodgivingthemmanna?

16.WhydoyouthinkYHWHgivesthepeoplemeattoeat16:12-13?

17.WhatlessondoyouthinkIsraelwasmeanttolearnfromnotgatheringmannaontheSabbath?

18.DoyouthinkthequarrelsomenessoftheIsraelitesisconnectedtotheattackoftheAmalekites?Why,orwhynot?

19.WhydoyouthinkGoddoesnotjustdestroytheAmalekitesinsomemiraculousfashionlikeHedidtheEgyptians?

20.Whatisthemostimportantlessonthatyoubelieveweshouldtakeawayfromthissectionfortoday?

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ToTakeHomeWhatisImportanttoknow? ItisimportanttoknowthatGodexpectsustofollowHimobedientlyandthatwhenwedowewillbeblessed.WhenwethinkweknowhowtodothingsbetterthanGodthingswillnotgowellforus,andthejourneyofcharacterbuilding,forus,willlikelybeamuchlongerjourney.Godisverypatientandmerciful,butHealsoexpectschangeinourliveswhenwearenotfollowingHim.GodalsoexpectsustopartnerwithHimandnotjuststandandwaitforHimtodoeverything.WhataresomewaysthatyouhaveseenGodbuildingcharacterinyourlifethroughchallenges?WhereisGodinthesewords? GodisinthesewordsredeemingIsraelfromdangerandleadingthemintothewildernesswhereHecanbegintoshapeandmoldtheircharacterandhelpthemtotrulybecomeapeoplethattrustsinHimandlistenstoHim.GodtellsthepeoplewhatHeexpectsandthenhelpsthemtounderstandHiswordsbythethingsHeasksthemtodo.ThecollectingofthemannawasmeanttoteachthemtotrustHimandcomplywithHiswords.Ifyoudidnotdothisyouwouldeithergohungry,orhaveastinkymassofworms.WhataresomewaysthatyouareseekingtolearnthewillofGodforyourlife?WhatdoesanyofthismeanforhowIlivemylife? SinceGodistheCreatorofallthingsandHeseekstheredemptionofthewholeofcreationwecaneitherbeapartofHisplan,ordealwiththeconsequencesofbeinginoppositiontoHim.Godseekstobegentleandmerciful,butHealsoisjustandrighteousandHeisadvancingtheagendaofbringingHiscreationintoalignmentwithHispurposes.IfwefailtorecognizethisthereisaconsequenceandifwedorecognizethistheconsequenceshouldfollowthatwewillseektobeapartofHisredemptiveplan.Howshouldsuchanunderstandingchangemyprioritiesinlife?WhatisthewordofGodcallingustodo? ThewordofGodisherecallingustorecognizethatHeisindeedthesovereign,creatoroftheuniverse,theoneandonlyGodworthyofourallegianceandtrust,theonlytrueGod.HecallsustolistentoHimandtobeobedienttoHimasourgraciousandcaringFather,theonewhoknowswhatisbestandseeksitforallofHiscreation.Wearecalledtobeobedientespeciallyinthemomentswhenwedonotunderstand.WhendoyouLindittheeasiestinyourlifetobeobedienttoGod?

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