Through The Bible

Session #4

November 28, 2001

Past couple of weeks, looking at “Lesson 3 – The Book of Exodus”

Highlights from Lesson #3

Note how the Hebrew people have grown – from the 70 who came during Joseph’s time to now over 600,000 (see 12.37).

Remember I said last time Exodus can be divided into 2 parts:

a. Historical (Chapters 1-18).

b. Theological (Chapters 19-40)

Question raised about the significance of rod becoming a snake. What should we learn from this rod stuff?

· The ‘rod’ takes a place of front and center for God’s activity through Moses and Aaron.

· This first instance where Moses’ rod turns into a snake and then Pharaoh’s magicians replicate it only seems to compound the Egyptian’s problems. They now have more snakes! They are also able to create more frogs! (7.25-8.15).

· The swallowing of Egyptian snakes by God’s snake is a foreshadowing of what will happen at the Reed Sea.

· The word for snake here is the Hebrew word tannin. It’s much stronger than just ordinary snake – it’s a terrifying snake! Elsewhere, this word refers to the chaotic forces that God defeats in the Exodus. The word is also used to refer to Pharaoh (ezek. 29.3-5) and for Babylon as the swallower of Israel (jer. 51.34).

· God uses here a dragon to swallow up the chaos monster.

What are your thoughts as to why we have 10 plagues? Why not 1? (Perhaps shows God’s patient determination to show his power in complete way to Egyptians.)

1^st Plague (7.14-24) – Nile to blood

- could be a natural phenomenon in Egypt where the red particles of the earth are washed into the water turning it a reddish color.

- Could also be minute organisms that turned it reddish color.

- Magicians duplicate.

2^nd Plague (7.25-8.15) - Frogs

- The Nile, after seasonal overflowing, would have been a natural place for frogs to generate.

- Usually, Egypt has enough frog-eating birds that prevent this from being a reoccurring problem.

- The magicians can duplicate – compound the problem!

3^rd & 4^th Plagues (8.16-32) – Gnats & Flies

- The receding Nile would have created stagnant water where insects would have bred. Egypt known for stinging gnats and mosquitoes.

- The magicians are not able to duplicate this sign.

5^th & 6^th Plagues (9.1-12) – Cattle plague and boils

- Perhaps this was anthrax and could have been brought on from previous conditions spread by the insects.

7^th Plague (9.13-35) Hail and Thunderstorms

- In 9.15-16 it is explained that the ineffectiveness of the plagues up to this point is not God’s weakness, but God’s patient determination to demonstrate divine sovereignty.

- 9.27 Pharaoh admits he is beaten this time.

8^th Plague (10.1-20) – Locusts

- Clouds of locusts were familiar pestilence to farmers in Ancient Near East (see Joel).

9^th Plague (10.21-29) – darkness

- A condition created by a hot wind from the desert. Wind known as Khamsim which blows off desert in Spring (March-May). So much dust and dirt in air that it darkens everything and makes it hard to breathe.

10^th Plague (12.29-32) – death of first-born (Passover)

- Hebrew word for Passover is pesach.

- celebrated during month of Nisan (Jewish calendar) – March-April.

- 8 day holiday with first night (seder) the highlight.

- Idea is to relive the deliverance of Yahweh’s people.

- Symbolic foods:

Matzah – unleavened bread – night they left.

Haroset – fruit sauce of baked apples – mortar used to build cities

Marov – bitter herbs – bitterness of slavery.

Zeroah – roasted shank bone or chicken wing – stands for lamb

Karpas – green vegetable (celery, parsley, or watercress) – tears of people.

Beitzah – roasted egg – new life.

Go over 10 Commandments chart.

People break the covenant (Ex. 32) – Make golden calf.

· Symbol of fertility.

· Those who fell ill from drinking the water were presumed guilty.

· Aaron shift responsibility away from himself.

· Sons of Levi also involved in the judgment of people. Here they were ordained to the priesthood.

· The covenant is renewed in Ex. 34.

Go over Tabernacle & Tent of Meeting Drawing.

What from this lesson would you like to talk about?

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Background information on Exodus in preparation for “Lesson #4 – The Book of Leviticus.”

Book is primarily a book of Worship.

• Early rabbinic tradition it’s called “the Priest’s Manual”
• It’s a continuation of legal material at the end of Exodus.
• Key words: “Holy,” “hallow,” and “sanctify” used over 100 times.
• “Be holy” is continual admonishment – doesn’t mean be perfect but be set apart for God.

Book divided into 6 parts:

1. Laws dealing with sacrifices (chapters 1-7).
2. The consecration of the priests to the office (chapters 8-10).
3. Laws setting forth the distinction between the clean and unclean (chapters 11-15).
4. The ceremony for the annual day of atonement (chapter 16).
5. Laws to govern Israel’s life as a holy people (chapters 17-26).
6. An appendix on religious vows (chapter 27).

Atonement is Key word for Leviticus and for us. What does it mean?

· The reconciliation of two parties. When atonement occurs, the two parties become one again.

· Atonement restores covenant relationship that has been broken by sin.

· Hebrew life required sacrifice as payment for atonement.

· Sacrifices are substitutionary – a substitute for the sinner’s sin.

Power of Blood in Old Testament

• Ex. 24.5-8 – Moses took blood from oxen offerings and threw in on people. Blood covered and established a oneness.
• Blood puts a cover on sin and makes atonement possible.