Exodus Section 2: Oppression - Notes

Section 2: Oppression - Exodus: 1: 8-22                                  4/21/13

Some notes from our discussion

Initial observations about this passage
frequent words:  numerous, many, strengthened.   Forced labor, oppressed, ruthless, hard service.

Characters in this passage:  midwives, Pharaoh, Israelite people, pregnant women.

The Hebrews didn't do anything wrong.  They were just reproducing a lot, but they ended up being oppressed.

Pharaoh is afraid, which leads to oppression, which leads to Pharaoh being more afraid, which leads to more oppression.

He tried to get the midwives to do his dirty work.

Theme or topic of this section

God will provide and provide and provide and provide….

Perseverance

God laughing at Pharaoh

God protected

Midwives Obey God

Midwives outwit Pharaoh, but oppression of the Israelites continues

Some interesting points

- Pharaoh’s problem:  fear.  He is paranoid.  He wants to contain something uncontrollable.  He didn’t trust anybody.  He asks somebody else to do his dirty work for him.  Pharaoh is gullible, not too smart, afraid.

- Israelite people’s problem:  Pharaoh!  And being oppressed.

- The midwives feared God, rather than fearing Pharaoh.   Only the midwives are mentioned by name.  Perhaps this is a way of remembering them for their bravery.  God is acting in these events, through the midwives.

- We had some discussion of the best posture for giving birth (off topic!)

What we learned about the nature of God from this passage

- God is mysterious.  We don’t know God’s timeline.

- God interjected himself directly in the situation, through the midwives.

- God doesn’t forget to thank the midwives.

- God doesn’t work all by himself, but works through people.

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

- Stand up to oppression!

- If you do what God wants, you will be rewarded, but it might take a looooooong time.

- Trust God, like the midwives did.

Exodus Section 2 Questions: Oppression

Exodus Study, Section 2: Oppression - Exodus 1: 8-22

Initial observation

1. Read Exodus 1: 8-22 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?

4. Who is mentioned frequently in this passage? 

5. Briefly describe what takes place in this passage.

6.  Where is the action taking place?

In-depth Observation

7. What is Pharaoh’s problem? 

8. What do you think of Pharaoh’s tactics in dealing with his problem?  From the Egyptian perspective, what are the plusses and minuses of his approach?

9. Who feared God?

10. What is the Israelite people’s problem?

11. Which characters are mentioned by name?

12. Is God acting in these events? 

13. 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?

- Pharaoh                                           - the midwives

- Hebrew women                              - the Israelites

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

Vocabulary and notes

Verse 8: “did not know” might also mean “did not care about” (the same Hebrew verb is translated “took notice” in 2:25).

Verse 15: “Hebrew midwives” – could mean “Hebrew midwives” (i.e. Israelite women) or “midwives to the Hebrew women” (i.e. Egyptian women serving the Israelites).

Verse 16: “birthstool” (or stone) – The brick or stone supports used during childbirth.   In ancient Israel, ethnicity was patrilineal, so that eliminating the males suffices to wipe out the people.

Homework:

Read Exodus 2 (the whole chapter).  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.   

Link to Bible text

You can use this link to Bible Gateway if you need to look up the bible text in various translations.

http://www.biblegateway.com/

Exodus Section 2: Oppression - vocab

Vocabulary for Exodus 1: 8-22

Verse 8: “did not know” might also mean “did not care about” (the same Hebrew verb is translated “took notice” in 2:25).

Verse 15: “Hebrew midwives” – could mean “Hebrew midwives” (i.e. Israelite women) or “midwives to the Hebrew women” (i.e. Egyptian women serving the Israelites).

Verse 16: “birthstool” (or stone) – The brick or stone supports used during childbirth.   In ancient Israel, ethnicity was patrilineal, so that eliminating the males suffices to wipe out the people.

Exodus Section 1: Prologue Notes

Notes from our study on Exodus 1:1-7

Theme or topic of this section
A History Lesson
Background
Family
Reproduction of the Israelites

Some interesting points
The names represent more than just individual people.  They also denote the character of the person, and the larger family.

Israel = Jacob.   "Sons of Israel" or "children of Israel" = the Israelites.

Verse 7 reminds us of God's command to creation "Be fruitful and multiply".  This is (at least) the third time this command appears.  (1st time is at creation, 2nd time is after the Flood.)

What we learned about the nature of God from this passage
God was fulfilling his promise.

God's words are powerful. When he says "be fruitful and multiply" it happens.

God has a plan for these people.

Exodus Section 1 Questions: Prologue

Exodus Study, Section 1: Prologue – Exodus 1:1-7

Initial Observation

1. Read Exodus 1:1-7 out loud in the group.

2. Underline or highlight frequently used words.

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

4. Who is mentioned frequently? 

5.  In what geographical location does the story of Exodus begin?

6.  What Bible story comes just before this one?  What was the status of the children of Israel in that story?

In-depth Observation

7.  The Hebrew name for this book of the bible is “Shemot” which means “Names.” What is the importance of names in verses 1 -5?

8.  Reread verse 7.  Where else have you heard the words “fruitful” and “multiply” together?

9. 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 other characters from this passage?

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

Vocabulary and notes

Verse 7: “they multiplied”  – the Hebrew word is related to “swarming creature” (Gen 1:20), suggesting that the Israelites proliferated like animals.

Homework:

Part I

A. Read Exodus 1: 8-22.  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. 

B. Read the handouts from the first session.

Updating and Changing

Attempting to update to cover the new Open Door Bible study.  We'll see how it goes.