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.

Exodus 11:1-12:51 Study Questions: The First Passover

Exodus Study Section 12: Exodus 11:1-12:51 –

Warning of the Tenth Plague

The First Passover Instituted

Leaving Egypt (finally)

Initial observation

1. Read the following passages from Exodus:

11:1 – 9    /    12:1-13     /    12:26-39

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.  Why do the households need to share a lamb (verse 12:4)?  (See also verse 12:10.)

6.  Why do they need to eat the meal in a hurry?

7.  Why is the blood on the Israelite doorposts needed?  After all, God was able to bring plagues before which affected the Egyptians but not the Israelites, and no outward sign was required for God to tell the difference.

8.  In verse 12:32, Pharaoh asks Moses and Aaron to “bring a blessing on me too!”  Is this request a sign of Pharaoh’s repentance, or his egotism?

9.  We’ll talk about unleavened bread next time.

10. 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 11:1 “he will drive you away”: that is, as he would divorce a bride.

Verse 11:5 “firstborn”:  means ‘firstborn male.’

Verse 11:5 “female slave”:  Egypt had other than Hebrew slaves.

Verse 12:5 “without blemish, a year-old male”: typical for sacrificial offerings.  See Lev 1:3, Num 28:3.

Verse 12:7 “some of the blood”:  The notion is that ritual blood prevents against destructive divine power, as for the circumcision in Exodus 4:25-26.

Verse 12:8 “Unleavened bread”: minimally cooked, biscuit-like bread used generally in ritual offerings.  Leavening further removes the flour from its natural, created state.

Verse 12:9 “do not eat any of it raw or boiled”: Roasting ensures that the blood, the protective element, is removed.  Blood, the symbol of life, is divine property and must be returned to the deity whenever meat is eaten.

Verse 12:10 “let none of it remain until the morning”: implies that the food will be profaned if it remains until the morning.    See Lev 7:15.