Exodus 14 Notes: Through the Sea on Dry Land

Section 14: Exodus 14:1-15:21

Theme or topic of this section

God Parts the Waters of the Red Sea

God Said to Moses, “I Have a Plan That Will Knock Your Socks Off!”

“Watch This!”

The Staff of Moses

The Israelites Show Great Trust in the Lord

Quit Your Crying and Get Moving!

The Versatility of Pillars: The Multipurpose Cloud and Fire

Moses and The People Burst Into Song

Some interesting points

- It is interesting that 15:11 refers to “gods”.  Weren’t they monotheists?

What does Moses tell the Israelites?

- Moses tells the people “Do not be afraid.”  We hear that a lot in scripture.

He also tells them “stand where you are.  Watch and you will see.  You won’t need to lift a finger.”  (Some translations differ on this last instruction.)

- Moses is saying “Watch this!”

What does God tell them?

- “Go forward.”

- God said, “Tell the Israelites to get moving.”

What is God’s reason for action against the Egyptians?

- Pharaoh was like a god to the Egyptians, so the actions say that God is God, not Pharaoh.

- Yul Brynner – “His God is God.” (after the plague of the death of the first-born)

Note that Egypt and Israel were resting all night, but God was working all night to part the sea.  God had a time frame.  Maybe he worked all night so that the Egyptians would enter the sea (armies move by daylight).

It took a LOT of faith for the Israelites to enter the sea, with walls of water on both sides.

Did Moses part the waters or did God do it?

- Moses raised his rod, but this was a sign (a visual aid) for the people.  God is the one who parted the waters.  Also, holding up the rod signals that something awesome is going to happen.

After they go through the sea on dry land, the Israelites feared the Lord, and then celebrated.  They sing, they dance.

What we learned about the nature of God from this passage

- God is patient with his people.

- God had a plan that started back when he came to Moses as the burning bush.  In spite of the reaction of the Israelites, God continues to executs his plan, all for the purpose of getting his point across that “I AM GOD” and to rescue his people.

- Deliberate, consistent,unwavering, persistent, determine.

- God is powerful and in control of the natural elements.

- God confides in Moses.

What we learned from this passage that we can apply to our lives

- It’s easier to trust when you know the plan (Moses knows the plan but the Israelites don’t.)

- God will make a way where there seems to be no way.

- We have to be willing to take things step by step.

- We should hang in there in the face of difficulty.

- Trust in the Lord; lean not on your own understanding.

- Sometimes God makes miracles through science (by God giving scientists their ability)

- All talents are God-given.

Exodus 14: Study Questions: Through the Sea on Dry Land

Exodus Study Section 14: Exodus 14:1 -15:21

Initial observation

1. Read Exodus 14:1 to 15:1 out loud in the group..

2. Underline or highlight frequently used words (or refer to your homework).

3. What words, phrases, or ideas make an impression on you?

In-depth Observation

4.  In verse 14:13, what does Moses tell the Israelites to do, when they are trapped?

5.  In verse 14:15, what is God’s instruction to the Israelites?

6.  In verse 14:18, what is the reason for God’s action against the Egyptians?

7.  Once the Israelites are saved, what do they do?  (Verses 14:31, 15:1, and 15:20)

8. Write down the theme or topic of this section.

Interpretation and Application:

A. What do you learn about the nature of God from this passage?

B.  What do you learn about the other characters from this passage?

C.  What can we learn from this passage that applies to our own lives?

Vocabulary and notes

Verse 14:2 Pi-hahiroth:  Its location cannot be identified with certainty.

Verse 14:8 “Going out boldly”: literally ‘with upraised hand,’ an expression reflecting defiance.

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Exodus 13 Notes: Guiding the Israelites Out of Egypt

Section 13:  Exodus 13 – Guiding the Israelites out of Egypt

Theme or topic of this section

They Have A Guide

The Strong Hand of God

Getting the People Out of Egypt Safely

Teaching the People on the Way

Some interesting points

The Israelites had a guide.

They took Joseph’s bones with them.

What does redeeming the first-born child mean?

What is the significance of unleavened bread?

- is it a sacrifice?  That kind of bread doesn’t taste as good as yeast bread.

- does bread without yeast last longer?

- to commemorate the haste of leaving Egypt (previous chapter)

What is the significance of the consecration of the first-born?

- consecration means dedication for a special purpose.

- because God had to kill the first-born of the Egyptians.  Consecration of the Israelites’ first-born helps them remember the sacrifice of the Egyptian children.

- they do that so they don’t forget what God did for them.

Why does the text emphasize the strong hand of God?

- God was a strong leader.

- it brings to mind all the plagues and stuff God did.

- so they can tell each other about the events.

- so they can be motivated to leave Egypt.

Why the round-about route away from Egypt?

- to work their way to get there.

- to teach them to be self-sufficient (and yet, another lesson in Exodus is to trust in God).

- so they won’t get lazy.

- so they can use the gifts that God has given them

- to punish them.  (later  - for the golden calf incident)

What we learned about the nature of God from this passage

God means what he says.

God did what he promised.

God tells us to remember.

God doesn’t give you everything, but God gives you everything you need.

What we learned from this passage that we can apply to our lives

Use the gifts that God has given you. 

I’m glad I wasn’t living then!

Exodus 13 Study Questions

Exodus Study Section 13: Exodus 13

Initial observation

1. Read Exodus 13 out loud in the group..

2. Underline or highlight frequently used words (or refer to your homework).

3. What words, phrases, or ideas make an impression on you?

In-depth Observation

4. Read and discuss the questions that the group wrote for homework.

5.  What is the significance of unleavened bread?

6.  How does the consecration of the firstborn relate to the Israelites leaving Egypt?

7.  The text repeatedly says that God led the Israelites out of Egypt “by strength of hand” or “with a strong hand” (verse 3, 9, 14, 16).  Why does the text emphasize this?

8.  Why did God not lead the Israelites directly to the ‘land flowing with milk and honey’?

9. Write down the theme or topic of this section.

Bonus Questions.  Chapters 11 through 13 include instructions on how to commemorate the Exodus in future years. 

How many years should the Israelites commemorate this event? 

(see verses 12:14, 12:24, 12:42)

Who should be included in the commemoration? 

(see verses 12:24, 12:26, 12:44, 12:47)

Interpretation and Application:

A. What do you learn about the nature of God from this passage?

B.  What do you learn about the other characters from this passage?

C.  What can we learn from this passage that applies to our own lives?

Vocabulary and notes

Verses 13:6 & 7 “Unleavened bread”: minimally cooked, biscuit-like bread used generally in ritual offerings.  Leavening further removes the flour from its natural, created state.

Verse 13:9 “a sign on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead”: the hand and forehead were places where people would string identifying seals or ornaments; a metaphor for a reminder.

Verse 13:13 “donkey… if you do not redeem it you must break its neck.”:   The donkey is ritually unclean (see Lev. 11:3); the sheep is pure.  “You must break its neck” because no economic advantage may accrue from the animal if it was not redeemed.

Verse 13:17 Philistines:  apparently anachronistic; the Philistines would only have begun to settle the coast of Canaan at the time of the exodus, yet a Philistine presence there is taken for granted.

Verse 13:18 “led…roundabout”  The Hebrew for “the roundabout way” is “wayyasev” – a word play on “Sea of Reeds” (Yam suf).

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Homework:

Read Exodus chapters 14-15.  Underline or highlight frequently used words. Look up the meaning of any words you don’t know. Note which words, phrases, or ideas make an impression on you. 

Write down one ‘newspaper reporter’ type question or one in-depth question to discuss with the group next time.

Exodus 11:1-12:51 Notes: The First Passover

Exodus Study Section 12: Discussion notes

Exodus 11:1-12:51 –

Warning of the Tenth Plague, The First Passover Instituted, Leaving Egypt (finally)

Theme or topic of this section

The Passover

God is Very Exact in His Instructions

God Did What He Said He Was Going to Do

Finally Out!

God is Doing Some Team-Building (and they are going to need it)

Some interesting points

Q: Where did the livestock come from?  Didn’t they die in one of the previous plagues?

Q: What is a lintel? (Ans – the beam of wood that goes over the doorway)

Q: Pharaoh asks for a blessing. (v 12:31-32)  What’s up with that?

- he just lost his son (a crippling blow) maybe that cracked him.

- depends on his tone of voice

- I would like to think that Pharaoh is repentant

- But it’s been “It’s all about me” up unil now… maybe he still is only thinking of himself.

Q: Why share a lamb?

- they had to finish it because the meat could go bad.

- To remind the Israelites of what happened.  It’s not just a festive meal.

- Could be teaching them to trust in God – use it all up – no leftovers for the next day.

- it is like a burnt offering (a sacrificial offering).  The lamb died in place of the Israelite firstborn

- maybe they didn’t have many lambs – they were  hard to find, so families should share.

Q: Why is blood needed?

- the blood is a sign for the Israelites, not for God.

- It’s ‘team-building’ if you will – pulling the people together.

- They would see if their neighbors got the message – they might not have known their neighbors well  (they were too busy as slaves)

- redemption means “to buy back” or “to pay a ransom”

What we learned about the nature of God from this passage

God is faithful – he does what he says he would.

God gives exact instructions at times.

What we learned about the Israelites from this passage

- they started working together (teamwork).

- the people worshipped God.

- Where would they find all those lambs?!

What we learned from this passage that we can apply to our lives

- If we don’t obey we lose.

- None of us keeps all God’s commandments exactly?

- I would get kicked out of the community because I would want to know why we have to do these things.

- They had to have faith that the lamb’s blood would protect them.  We have to have faith that the blood of Jesus will “wash us whiter than snow”.

- Rely on God – he is faithful.