Leaving Egypt (Exodus 1-15)

Genesis 49:28 “...He blessed them, every one with the blessing appropriate to him...”

Do we understand the power of the spoken word?

Are our words appropriate?

James 3:6 “...the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell...”

Matt.4:4 quotes Deut.8:3 “...Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God..."

Isaiah 55:11 “...My word ...which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it...”

Entered Egypt as a family (70 people). Exited Egypt as a nation (~2million).

Exodus 2:23,24,25 “...the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God...God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant ...and God took notice of them...”

Our appeals to God should center on His promises, not our selfish preferences.

Exodus 3:2 “...The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush ...the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed...”

Another way that God can interact with us?

Can God get your attention?

Ex.24:17 at Mt.Sinai, “...the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the mountain top...”

Deut.4:23,24 The people were warned not to forget “...For the Lord your God is a consuming fire...”

Heb.12:28,29 New Testament challenge to “...offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire...”

1 Cor.3:11-15 Talks about building on the one true foundation, Christ, and that “...the fire ...will test the quality of each man’s work...”

What is consumed? What is not? Only what’s done for Christ?

Exodus 3:5 “...remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground..."

Remember from Cain and Abel that God has approved ways to approach Him

Casual or Cautious, Careless or Careful,

Heb.4:16 “...let us draw near with confidence [boldly] to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need...”

Job 38:2 “...Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge?...”

Heb.7:25 “...Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them...”

His job? [intercede, save]

Our job? [draw near] Heb.10:22 “...let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water...”

Ex.3:7,9,10 “...I am aware of their sufferings ...I have seen the oppression ...I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people ... out of Egypt."

Why did God ask Moses to approach Him at the bush?

Is there suffering and oppression in the world today?

Does God still use people to free people?

Do we respond like Moses? “...who am I to go...”

Why do we approach God? For ourselves, or others?

Ex. 3:19-22 “...the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion ...I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles ...and after that he will let you go ...I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; ...you will not go empty-handed ...you will plunder the Egyptians..."

Release from the bondage of this world’s prisons comes through struggle.

We must not grow weary as we wait on the Lord for the promise. It’s worth the wait.

Ex.5:2 Pharaoh said “...Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice ...I do not know the Lord ...”

Does the world speak honestly when it says “Who is the Lord ...I do not know the Lord”?

Ex.5:21 The Israelites said "...you have made us odious in Pharaoh's sight and in the sight of his servants...”

Does God care if we are odious to the world. Do we?

Ex.6:1,2,7 “...Then the Lord said ...you shall see what I will do ...I am the Lord; ...I will be your God...”

In whose time will we see the hand and strength of God? Israel was in slavery in Egypt almost twice as long as the USA has been a country.

Is the lesson for the world only?

Ex.7:3,5 “...I will harden Pharaoh's heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt ...The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord...”

Why did God bring the plagues? [That ALL might know there is a God in heaven 9:16]

It took several plagues before the magicians we’re convinced. Ex.8:19 “...This is the finger of God...”

After 7 plagues, the servants were convinced. Ex.10:7 “...Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God..."

Ex.12:12? “...against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments ...I am the Lord...” What was God accomplishing?

Ex.11:7 “...understand how the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel...”

Does God still make a distinction between people of the world and people of the Kingdom?

Can you distinguish a difference? Wheat/Tares

Intentions - serve God not self?

Lifestyles - God’s expectations?

Relationship - Know God?

Ex.12:2,11,13,14 “...This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you ...it is the Lord's Passover ...when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you ...celebrate it as a permanent ordinance...”

The calendar was recalculated, to be based on the Passover event.

Blood not race - Firstborn Egyptians in a home with the blood were spared. Firstborn Israelites not in a home with the blood were destroyed.

When did the calendar change again? [When the spotless lamb of God shed blood to protect people from the judgement of God]

What is the distinction that God makes today? [The blood of Jesus - spared. No blood – destroyed]

Ex.13:3 “...Moses said to the people, "Remember this day in which you went out from Egypt, from the house of slavery; for by a powerful hand the Lord brought you out from this place...”

Remember what? [deliverance for purpose, by power]

Why? [tendency is to forget - the purpose and power of God]

How? [Passover feast of unleavened bread]

How now? How do we work into our lives something to remind us of the purpose and power of God? 1 Cor.11:24-25 “...This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me... "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me..."

Israelites were to celebrate Passover yearly.

How often should we take communion? Yearly? As often as we come together? As often as necessary to best remember the purpose and power of God?

Ex.13:12 Firstfruits, too, are an integral part of remembering. Giving the first and best to God.

The Red Sea crossing. Ex.14:2-4 “...Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp ... by the sea. "For Pharaoh will say ...'They are wandering aimlessly ...he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord..."

Who set it up? This wasn’t a random event where they had to beg God to intervene.

Why? [the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord]

Who else needed to know? Ex.14:31 “...When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord...”

Ex.14:14 “...The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent..." His part? Our part?

Ex.15:7 “...in the greatness of Your excellence You overthrow those who rise up against You...” Can we sing this like Moses and Israel did - with belief?

Ex.15:22,24 “...they went three days in the wilderness and found no water... So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?...” Not long from miracle to grumbling. Where’s the remembrance?

Patriarchs: Promise via Slavery (Gen.22-Ex.1)

Gen.15:18 “...On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates...”

How long does it take for God to fulfill a promise?

--- Abraham Gen.25:7 - 175

--- Isaac Gen.35:28 - 180

--- Jacob Gen 47:28 - 147

--- Joseph Gen 50:26 -110

--- Egyptian Slavery - 400yrs

Has Israel ever possesed the land from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates?

Does God ever promise more than He delivers?

Is this an ongoing situation?

Gen.22:1-2 “...Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you..."

What was the test? Why the test?

Can the blessings of God become an idol? Can we elevate a Promise above God?

Does it explain Mark 10:21? The man couldn’t give all he possessed to the poor - went away sad.

What was the result of Abraham passing the test (Gen.22:18)?

Is the world still blessed through God’s obedient people? Hear. Obey. Be a blessing.

How did God interact with people on earth?

Just talked to Abram (Gen.12:1).

Just appeared (Gen.17:1)

Appeared to Isaac (Gen.26:2)

Jacob had a dream (Gen.28:12) Heaven and earth were connected, God spoke from above.

Read Gen.31:24. How did God speak to Laban? Why? To keep the bigger plan functional?

Sometimes God interacts. Sometimes God watches.

Who decides?

What do you think of Jacob? (Israel - father of 12 tribes)

Lots to not like?

Two “God pleasing” qualities surfaced in Chapter 32 - Humility and Persistance.

Did this encounter with God change Jacob’s character?

He led his family instead of hiding among them (33:3).

Will God empower us to become who we should be, moving us from fear to faith? Rom.4:17 “...calls into being that which does not exist...”

Lesson? God can use anyone.

Gen.34 - Story of Dinah

A true hollywood story? (rape, deceit, greed, murder)

Sister is raped, then the guy wants to marry her.

They deceive the whole community into circumcision.

How could they be talked into such a thing? Greed v.22

Then all the males are murdered v.25

What do you think God thought about this? Does “...for such a thing ought not to be done...” 34:7 apply to all 4 scenes?.

Was God addressing the problem of personal revenge in the eye for an eye of Ex.21:24?

What do you think God thinks about our litiginous society?

Foreign gods. Gen.35:2 “...So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves...”

Pre-10 commandments “no other gods”

How do foreign gods become a part of families?

--- Fallen angel - deceived into embracing OTHER

--- Fallen culture - what’s the big deal, it’s normal

--- Fallen self - personal preference

We will have many opportunities to talk about idols and high places.

If we’re not convicted, we’re probably not listening.

Esau’s life. Did he get a raw deal?

In Gen.25:34 he lost his birthright. Taken or Given?

In Gen.27:36 he lost the blessing. Taken or Given?

Now Gen.36:6, he’s the one who moves. Jacob comes back and Esau gets displaced.

What do you think about this?

What do we lose when ‘preference and pleasure’ are more important to us than ‘promise’?

Gen.37 Life of Joseph, one of the 12 brothers (12 tribes)

What kind of relationship with his brothers?

What irked them?

What did they do?

Will the promise be swallowed up by preferences?

37:28 Sold for? 20 Shekels Matt.26:15 Jesus 30 Pieces

37:36 Sold by Ismaelites to Potiphar.

39:2 Why was Joseph successful?

So did he have it made?

39:20 Thrown into jail for something he didn’t do.

39:21 Why did Joseph find favor with the jailor?

So did he have it made?

41:1 Two full years before he gets out.

41:6 How old when he became 2nd to Pharaoh? 30yrs

What does this story tell you about God? Does He accomplish His purposes in spite of unfairness? Do we focus on fairness?

Gen.42 Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt.

42:8 - they didn’t recognize him (it had been a while)

42:21 - “we are guilty” (carried it for quite a few years)

How long will we carry guilt?

How can a person get free from guilt? (repentance, Christ atonement?)

42:28 What response when they found the money in their bags. “What has God done to us”. Why didn’t they say “What has the Egyptian done to us”? Did they recognize the sovereignty of God.

44:16 Again, “...God has found out the guilt...”

Had the brothers changed?

44:33 Now willing to give up self for another.

This was the core group of 12 that was to bring forth the Jewish nation, the people of God. Later there would be 12 disciples that would to bring forth the Church Age.

--- It took time for God to bring the brothers to usefulness.

--- It took time for Jesus to bring the disciples to usefulness.

--- It takes time for the Holy Spirit to bring us to usefulness.

45:5 “...God sent me before you to preserve life...”

45:8 “...it was not you who sent me here, but God...”

50:20 “...you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive...”

EGYPT - symbolic of the world.

Joseph’s godly life prevented disaster. Is this consistent with God’s intention for calling the Patriarchs? Did Joseph bless his world?

NOTE: The same world that God empowers us to live in, can also enslave us.

Exodus 1:8 “...Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph...”

What didn’t he know? That God exists, and blesses?

Why didn’t he know? Didn’t he know history? Weren’t there people living that he could see “the Lord was with them”?

What did his ignorance create?

Was he ignorant in his culture’s eyes?

Is America ignorant? Remember, the same world in which God empowers us to live, can eventually enslave us.

Exodus 1:16-17 “...if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; ...But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them...” Ex.1:20 “...God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty...”

People who don’t fear God, but fear for their own life preferences, will kill babies to further their cause.

He happened with the Pharaoh of Egypt. In happened with Herod of the Rome Empire (Matt.2:16). Is it happening in America?

Is this fulfilling God’s intentions?

Why is abortion one of the most divisive issues faced by Americans? Personal preference?

Patriarch's Call (Gen 10 - 22)

Biblical perspective vs. Secular perspective.

Intention, not Random
Expectation, not "Whatever"
Interaction (intervention), not "We're it"

Gen. 6:5 “...Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually...”

The time period from Creation to the Universal Flood was about 25% of the earth's history. God created with intentions and expectations. God intervened when man’s evil intent reached ‘continual’ status.

Failure to join the intentions of God led to destruction.

Now let’s see how the do-over went.

Gen.11:6-9 “...The Lord said, "Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech." So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.

Are we more or less advanced than the people who settled on the plain in the land of Shinar? Does superior technology equate to smarter or better?

Why didn’t God like what they were doing?

What was God’s motivation for thwarting them? Did He see them pulling away from His original purpose (relationship) to their own selfish purposes?

Does God still thwart us when His purposes aren’t the center of our lives? Marriages, Schools, Business, Politics. Do we find that we’re not speaking the same language?

When man is proud, communication breaks down.

When man submits to God, communication is restored.

Will we take (assume/serve) our place or will we try to make (presume/grab) our place?

Gen.12:2 ”...And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;...”

Gen.26:4 “...I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed;...”

Gen.28:13-14 “...And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. "Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed...”

What were God’s intentions when he called Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve tribes of Israel?

Is God still looking to accomplish this?

Does God have a people living to bless the world?

Are we striving to bless, or to be blessed?

Gen.15:12-14 “...Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. God said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. "But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions.

How much does God know about timelines? About your timeline?

Can God see the future the way we see the past?

Gen.16:2 “...So Sarai said to Abram, "Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai...”

Gen.16:11-12 “...The angel of the Lord said to her further, "Behold, you are with child, And you will bear a son; And you shall call his name Ishmael, Because the Lord has given heed to your affliction. "He will be a wild donkey of a man, His hand will be against everyone, And everyone's hand will be against him; And he will live to the east of all his brothers..."

ISAAC / ISHMAEL

PROMISE / PREFERENCE

Do we ever grow impatient with God, and try to birth the future in our own way? What happens?

Have you ever given birth to something that wars against God’s best?

How soon must you see the promise? How can we make sure we ‘wait on the Lord’ instead of taking matters into our own hands?

Gen.17:11 “...And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you...”

What’s on God’s mind here? Does he need to brand people to keep track of which people are His?

Mark of beast (Rev.16:2) Mark of God (Ez.9:4-6)?

Romans 2:29 “...But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit...”

What do you think circumcision of the heart means?

Can our flesh become forefront in our lives? Must the fleshly desires of our heart be removed for us to live by the Spirit?

What mark do you wear? What marks your life?

Gen.13:13 “...Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord...”

Gen.18:20 “...And the Lord said, "The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave...”

What was the problem in Sodom?

Ezekiel 16:49 “...Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy...”

Their sexual sin was secondary to their self indulgent, careless life in “the good land”. Fat and sassy. Arrogant and careless.

These things lead to what really grieves God - not helping the poor and needy.

Adultery (unfaithfulness in marriage), fornication (sex outside of wedlock), and homosexuality - all originate from an underlying careless way of life - caring less about God’s ways than our own preferences.

America?

Gen.19:11 “...They struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves trying to find the doorway...”

The simplest tasks become wearyingly impossible when we are moving contrary the purposes of God.

Is this similar to the communication issue of Babel - God resisting by direct intervention.

Gen.22:1-2 “...Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you..."

What was the test? Why the test?

Can the blessings of God become an idol? Can we elevate a Promise above God?

Does this help you understand Mark 10:21? The man was asked to give all he possessed for the poor, but went away sad.

What was the result of Abraham passing the test (Gen.22:18)?

Is the world still blessed through God’s obedient people? Hear. Obey. Be a blessing.

God's Creation (Gen.1-6)

We didn't approach creation with discussions about Big Bang, Hesitation Model, Oscillation Model, Inflation Model, or Gap Theories. We talked about six areas of creation, attempting to process them from God's point of view.

Why did God create Adam?

For relationship.

Not for self-sufficiency and independence.

Why did God create Eve?

Additional good. 2:20 helper

Not to walk 6 steps behind a man, fully cloaked.

Not to be a feminist pushing for authority.

Not to be a sex object.

What was this marriage to accomplish?

1:28 Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.

No mention of population control (1child/family) or abortion.

What misconceptions do people have about marriage?

What was their occupation? What shall I be when I grow up?

2:15 “...cultivate and keep...” Till the soil, tend the creation.

Not destroy the environment to create personal empires.

Why the tree of knowledge of good and evil?

Free will to choose obedience.

Why didn’t God intervene to prevent the fall?

Is this still the case?

Do we elevate our own knowledge acquisition over obedience?

What can we learn about worship from Cain and Abel?

There is a right and wrong way to approach God.

Do you believe that is still true? What does it mean?

Post-fall, it required a sacrificial lamb.

Post-resurrected Christ, is it only through the Lamb that was slain?

Does the world believe this? Do you?

4:7 Who must master sin? How did Cain do?

How do you do? Rom.6:12-14.

So, how did things go in the first 1500 years? How did people do in embracing God's intentions?

Why the flood?

Genesis 6:5 “...the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually...”

How did it affect God? 6:6 It grieved Him.

When man lives for man, without God, chaos is always created.

Conversely, the presence of God always brings order.

Do you see order or chaos in the world today - in Men, Women, Marriages, Occupation, Free will, and Worship?

General Timeline and Population Statistics

Class started today with a timeline on the board. We mentioned Recorded History, Biblical History, and Personal History. We used the following approximate dates for Biblical Events.

4000 BC - Creation
2500 BC - Noah, Flood
2000 BC - Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, 12 tribes of Israel
1500 BC - Moses (Deliverance from Egypt)
1000 BC - David (Man after God's own heart)
500 BC - Ezra (Return from Exile)
4 BC - Possible corrected date for Birth of Christ
90 AD - Approximate date of last written book of Bible

I believe that it's all HIS Story, and that our Personal Timeline is an opportunity to partner with God in His purposes. Just think for a minute about these approximate numbers.

7 Billion - Approximate population on the planet in 2011.
4.5 Billion - Approximate number of people without a relationship with Jesus.
1 Billion - Approximate number of people who have never heard the Good News of Jesus.
1 Billion - Approximate number of starving people in our world.

How's our generation doing in meeting the needs around us?

Why Go Through the Bible?

Hebrews 11:6 “...without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him...”

Romans 10:17 “...faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ...”

Isaiah 42:6,21,23 “...I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You... The Lord was pleased for His righteousness' sake To make the law great and glorious ...Who among you will give ear to this? Who will give heed and listen hereafter?...”

2 Timothy 3:16,17 “...All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work...”

John 8:31-32 “...So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free..."

It's not about learning what everyone else believes. It's about learning to hear, learning to see, and learning to obey the Lord of the Universe.

We're not trying to take possession of God's story, we're trying to be a faithful part of it.

Read the account of the disciples found in Mark 4:35-41. If you also read into chapter 5, you'll see that the trip was made so Jesus could cast a Legion of demons out of a man. Jesus was about the Father's business, bringing freedom to those who were bound.

Will we row His boat or do we want Him to row ours? He won’t force us. If we choose His boat, we’re in the middle of His purposes, laboring, sometimes confused, but with Him. If we choose our own boat, we’re trying to find meaning in things that won't bring lasting contentment. Do we really think he'll captain our cruise ship?

Now read Matthew 9:35-38. Will we work in His fields, or do we just want him to bless our fields? Or maybe we'd rather just feast at His table? We must choose.

I'd like to strongly suggest that our goals in reading through the Bible must be to find God's heart and purposes, and to join him. Choose you this day.