Exodus Introduction and Questions for April 22nd Bible Study

Introduction: We turn here from the origins of the earth’s peoples—nations, races and clans—to the origins of the Jewish people religiously and politically.  While we have no “outside”—extra-biblical—sources to weigh historical information against, the [historically/culturally/experiential] impact of the exodus memory or story is impossible to set aside. 

The memory/narrative, which is recounted here, is not only reality-orienting for the Jewish people, it is the basis of all they were to become—their corporate sense of commitment, their sense of themselves as a people—their culture, outlook and direction.  Schocken editors point out a long list of words and ideas that find their origins in the exodus narrative:

·          Service (servitude, serving gods, serving God)

·          God’s glory and power

·          Knowing God by his actions in history and His deep knowledge of our sufferings and needs

·          Seeing

·          Being distinct and separate

·          Rebellion against rightful leadership and against God

·          Covenant

·          Modes of God’s presence—in fire, cloud, manna, law

·          Desert experience/travel as purifying

·          Purification generally

·          The journey from slavery to freedom

·          An ordered, law-oriented freedom

Moses’ childhood experiences foreshadow those of the entire people.

Questions to Ponder:

Exodus 1

·          How might the location of the Hebrew people in the Egyptian Empire have factored in to the pharaoh’s paranoia about their increasing numbers?

Exodus 2

·          Moses’ mother has a great strategy to save him. What are the details of her plan?

·          Moses has identity issues. How does Moses’ personal history make him the perfect man for God to use in the history of “His” people?

·          Where is Midian and how does Moses life become entangled with that place?

Exodus 3

·          What details of Moses’ call stand out for you?

·          What are your reflections on the “name” of God in the story?

·          What is the message Moses brings to pharaoh?

Exodus 4

·          What are the problems Moses faces in trying to do what God has called him to do? How does it help him to have Aaron as his brother? What other assets or resources does Moses find to help him?

·          Be on the look-out for little “types” and “figures” in the story – any things in the story that pop up in the story of Jesus history or birth?

·          Why does God try to “kill” Moses in 4:24?

Exodus 5

·          How does the pharaoh respond to Moses’ message? And how do the Hebrew people respond to Moses too?

·          What is Moses’ response to what happens?

Exodus 6

·          Keep track of Moses’ relative Korah. He was important in some way to George Fox. Who was Korah to Moses?

·          Why do the people have trouble fully believing in their liberator?

·          Moses gets a little into God’s “face” here – why?

Exodus 7

·          What do you make of the analogy made here between the relationships of God and Moses and Aaron and Moses?

·          What do you make of the ages given for Moses and Aaron – 80 and 83?

·          What disasters strike starting in chapter 7?

Exodus 8

·          What disasters come in this chapter, and how does the Pharaoh respond to them?

Exodus 9

·          What are the “plagues” told of here?

Exodus 10

·          How does God justify the obstinacy of the pharaoh, which he claims as His work?

·          What plagues come in this chapter, and what change do we see in our pharaoh?

Exodus 11

·          What is the last plague? It’s importance?

Exodus 12

·          What details of the Passover do you find interesting and important?

·          What reason or justification is given for the “rites” associated with Passover?

·          How long were the Jews in Egypt?

Exodus 13

·          How is the memory of the “exodus” to be maintained among the people?

·          Why do the take “the long way around” to the Promised Land?

Exodus 14

·          Why does Pharaoh decide to pursue the Hebrews and how does Moses deal with the pursuit as their leader?

·          Any more “types” and “figures”?

Exodus 15

·          This hymn is “Miriam’s song” – what is Miriam’s role in the deliverance story?

      The argument between Moses and Pharaoh can be seen as an argument for a change in how we understand “who” – what ruler or power – is “sovereign” in our lives. How does the Exodus story impact this argument?

The wilderness narratives follow – they represent the process by which spiritual maturity is to be arrived at (Schocken).  There are three desert themes: grumbling/rebellion; the hostility of the surrounding nations; and working out a scheme of government and law.  The process cannot be achieved in a single generation.  He points out that here again as in the Abraham narrative, despite the promise of much fertility there is not a single birth story recorded in the wilderness—the process here is one of preparation for entry into the promised land where child-bearing, planting and productivity will be central.

Exodus 16

·          If you have trouble following the trail the people are taking in this story, you can check out the map at this site: http://www.wall-maps.com/bible/232783-over.htm

·          The people start grumbling on their journey. What is the importance of their grumbling?

Exodus 17

·          What is the importance of the rock at Mt. Horeb?

·          What is the impact of the hardships and conflicts they run into on their journey?

Exodus 18

·          The Schocken Bible points out in a note that there are six stations or stops between Egypt and Sinai and ten six more stops from Sinai to the Promised Land. They are right at the midpoint here. What important things happen here at the halfway point?

·          What good advice does Jethro give to his son-in-law here?

Exodus 19

·          What is the importance of the mountain in this chapter? The only other important biblical event that happens on Mt. Sinai is Elijah’s encounter in 1 Kings 19.

·          Apparently the Midrash compares the events on Mt. Sinai with the concluding of a marriage ceremony. Do you see this as interesting or important?

·          The third covenant God has made with human beings is entered into in this chapter. The first was with Noah (Genesis 9) and the second with Abraham (Genesis 15 and 17). What is different here?

Exodus 20

·          Moses receives from God the Ten Commandments or “Words.” Check how the order of the commandments or words differs among Jews, Catholics and Protestants.

·          Why don’t the people seen to want a personal relationship with this God?

Getting Ready for March 25th - Genesis 37 through 50

Here are some questions that you might think about as you read through the last thirteen chapters of Genesis. The last part deals with the story of Joseph and his brothers and the movement of the clan down to Egypt during a time of famine in the region.

Genesis 37 -  What are the reasons Joseph has such poor relations with his brothers? Note the way that both Reuben and Judah are presented in the story, beginning here but continuing on. What do they finally do with Joseph?

Genesis 38 - Some interesting stuff here – what seems interesting or important to you?

Genesis 39 -  What are the key parts of Joseph’s story in Egypt?

·         Genesis 40 -  Dreams are important in Joseph’s story from the beginning – just notice.

·         Genesis 41 - What are the key parts of the story told here?

·         Genesis 42 - What brings about the reunion of Joseph with his brothers – how does he deal with his anger towards them?

·         Genesis 43 - In the Yahwist source, Judah is the key brother in bringing about reconciliation. What does he do here?

·     Genesis 44 -  Joseph manages to take one last revenge on his brothers. What does he do? Which brother plays the most important role?

·         Genesis 45 - How does Joseph see the story of what happened to him? Why does Jacob go to Egypt? Genesis 46 - Jacob has a vision at Beer-sheba. What is its importance?

·         Genesis 47 - Where do Joseph’s brothers settle in Egypt? Any significance to the location? What does Jacob make his son Joseph promise him?

·         Genesis 48 - How is God’s promise to Jacob passed on to Joseph? What similarities are there in this story and the story of Jacob and Esau as young men?   I love the blessing Jacob/Israel gives to Joseph – just notice it.

·         Genesis 49 -  Jacob prophesies over his sons at his end. Which are interesting? Who else is buried where he asks his sons to bury him?

Genesis 50 - Why do the brothers again begin to fear that Joseph might treat them harshly? How do they deal with this fear? This whole story that began with Abraham centered around a promise God made to him. Remember what that promise was – what land do they own in the “promised land”?

What I think is most important is what the story says to you and what premises it sets for the biblical narrative. It is the start of a very long story. Looking at it as literature, we need to ask about the story elements: the setting, the characters (also called "figures" or "types" by later readers), the fundamental "conflict" that makes the plot engaging as we go along. Next month, we will do Exodus.