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“Exodus”FallSeries2Lesson2
“Exodus14:22-17:16”Objective:ToexaminetheaccountoftheexodusfromEgyptandtolearnasmuchaswecanaboutthenatureofGod,HismercyandwhatHedesiresforHiscreation.WewillseektodothisbyexaminingthehistoricalbackgroundoftheExodusaccount,theinterpretivehistoryofExodusamongstbothJewishandChristianscholars,wherehelpful.WewillseektounderstandthemessageofExodusforusasChristianslivinginthe21stcenturyAmericancontext.Materials:TheBible,Ancienttranslations,Commentaries,bothancientandmodern,Books,journalarticles,dictionaries,theinternet,andotherresourcesasmaybeappropriate.Procedures1. ToexplorethemessageGodofhopethattheoriginalaudience
willhaveunderstoodfromthistext.2. Tounderstandhowthistexthasinspired,challenged,and
educatedpeopledownthroughthecenturiesguidingthemnotonlyintheirpersonallives,butthedestiniesofgovernmentsandnations.
3. WewillseektoLindouthowthesebeliefshaveplayedaroleinthehistoryofChristianityandhowtheycontinuetoimpactourexistenceandservicetoJesusChristtoday.
4. Wewillprovideasheettotakehomeasareminderofwhathasbeenexaminedandtoprovideadditionalopportunitiesforconsiderationofthesetruthsandtheirapplicationinourdailylivingoutofoureternaldestinybeginningnow.Thissheetcanbeusedasadiscussionguideforsmallgroupdiscussion.Wehaveseveralgroupsusingthiseffectively.
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS1 24
Startingat14:22wehavethelaunchingoftheIsraelitesasit
were“…intothemidstofsea….”Thisisamiracleoftrulycosmic
proportions.Thelawsofnaturearebrokenandanyofthe
explanationsthataregiventhattrytoexplainawaythismiracleas
anythingotherthanamiraclearetheresultofcorruptedand
corrodedmindsdulledbytheravagesofunbeliefandskepticism.
InthecontextofExodus,thisismeanttobeunderstoodasa
miraclewroughtbyGod,thatisthepointhere.TheGodwho
calledfortheretobeaseparationbetweenthewatersandalso
calledforthedrylandtoappearfromtheseainGenesisishere
doingagainwhatHedidthen. ThissameGodnowactsonbehalf1
oftheIsraelitesandisactiveatdoingwhatonlytheCreatorcan
do,commandingcreation.Awallofwaterformsoneithersideof
theIsraelites.Howmarvelousandhowterrifyingthismusthave
beentoseethisseeminglyimpossiblethingthatwashappening.
Now,inourtime,justasinthistimesomanyyearsago
peoplecanbeblindedtothetruthbytheirrefusaltoacceptitfor
Genesis1:6-10-Godsaid,“Lettherebeadomeinthemiddleofthewaterstoseparatethe1
watersfromeachother.”7Godmadethedomeandseparatedthewatersunderthedomefromthewatersabovethedome.Andithappenedinthatway.8GodnamedthedomeSky.Therewaseveningandtherewasmorning:thesecondday.1:9Godsaid,“Letthewatersundertheskycometogetherintooneplacesothatthedrylandcanappear.”Andthat’swhathappened.10GodnamedthedrylandEarth,andhenamedthegatheredwatersSeas.Godsawhowgooditwas.CEB.
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS2 24
whatitismeanttoconvey.TheEgyptianshadseenthepowerof
Godintenplagues,theysawthepillarofcloud,andthepillarof
Lire,andyettheystillrefusedtocomprehendwhatwashappening.
God,thecreator,theonlytrueGod,wasLightingtoredeemHis
peopleandnothingwouldstophim,notarrogance,ignorance,or
physicalmight.AlloftheseareasnothingtoGod.The
brokennessofsinblindsustothetruthandnomatterwhatGod
doesitseemsthattheblindnessofourhardheartscanreacha
pointofbeingbeyondredemption.TheEgyptianssawwhatthey
wantedtoseeandwhattheysawwasavulnerablenationofslaves
thattheywerefreetomanipulateanduseastheypleasedwithout
anyfearofhavingtoanswertoahigherauthority.Theysaw
themselvesasthehighestauthorityintheuniverse,ruledbyagod
(Pharaoh). 2
ThePsalmistdescribeswhathappensnext:16Thewaters
sawyou,God—thewaterssawyouandreeled!
Eventhedeepdepthsshook!
17 Thecloudspouredwater,
theskiescrackedthunder;
RabbiNossonSchermanandRabbiMeirZlotowitz,eds.,TheChumash,TheStoneEdition(New2
YorkNY:MesorahPublications,Ltd.,2000-2014),p.371.
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS3 24
yourarrowswereUlyingallaround!
18 Thecrashofyourthunder
wasintheswirlingstorm;
lightninglitupthewholeworld;
theearthshookandquaked.
19 Yourwaywentstraightthroughthesea;
yourpathwayswentrightthroughthe
mightywaters.
Butyourfootprintsleftnotrace!
20 Youledyourpeoplelikesheep
underthecareofMosesandAaron. 3
ThearmyofEgyptwentfromsuperpowerarmytodeadinmatter
ofminutes.ThiswouldbecometheirLinalpoordecision.There
wereahostofbaddecisionsleadinguptothisone,butthisone
wouldprovefatal.Inourownlivesthingsareoftenthesame.
Therearesomedecisionsthatforeverchangeourdestiny.There
arenounlimitedchancesandnounlimitedopportunities,despite
whataremodernworldwouldlikeustobelieve.Thereisno
cheapgracetobehad,here,oranywhereelse. 4
Psalm77:16-20-CommonEnglishBible.3
DietrichBonhoeffer,TheCostofDiscipleship(NewYorkNY:MacmillanPublishingCo.,1963).4
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS4 24
At14:24-25theEgyptiansarethrownintoapanicandin
thispanictheyLinallyseemtorealizethetruth,“…becauseYHWH
isLightingforIsraelagainstEgypt.”Despitethisrealization,the
pointhaspastforthisfacttodothemanygoodatall.Godknows
whenthispointevenwhenwedonot.Mosesisthentoldby
YHWHtostretchouthishandsothatthewatermaycomeback
upontheEgyptians,theirchariotsandthechariotdrivers(14:26).
MosesdidashewastoldandtheseaswallowedtheEgyptians
(14:27-28).Weareremindedonceagainthatinthemidstofall
thisgreatcalamitytheIsraeliteswalkedthroughondryground
withthewaterformingawalloneithersideofthem(14:29).
Israelwassavedonthisdaydespitetheircomplainingandtheir
lackoftrustinMosesandinYHWH.TheysawtheEgyptianslying
deadontheseashore(14:30),andknewtheLinalityofwhatGod
wouldinLlictontheirenemies.Verse31thensays:Israelsawthe
greathandofYWHWagainsttheEgyptians.Thepeople
fearedYWHW,andtheybelievedinYWHWandinhisservant
Moses.InseeingthesamemiraclethatsavedIsraeland
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS5 24
simultaneouslypunishedEgypttheJewsrecognizedanew
dimensionofGod’sgreatness. 5
ThesplittingoftheseaisengravedupontheJewishmemory
asasignaturemomentintime.Thetellingofthiseventisrecited
dailyduringthemorningserviceinsynagoguesaroundtheglobe,
atthetransitionfromtheVersesofPraisetothebeginningof
communalprayer. Theyspeakofitagainaftertherecitationof6
theShema,justbeforetheAmida. Aswecometochapter15we7
cometoTheSongbytheSea.IntheTorah’sdeLinitiona“song”
constitutesaprofoundandunusualspiritualphenomenon.
AccordingtoMekhilta15:1,therewereonlytensongsfromthe
beginningofcreationtotheendoftheScripturalperiod.Eventhe
PsalmsofDavidandIsaiah,aswellasthesongsoftheother
prophetsarenotamongthesetensongs.WhatthenistheTorah’s
conceptionofwhatconstitutesasong?
Inthenormalcourseofevents,
wefailtoperceivethehandofGodat
RabbiMoshFeinsteininRabbiNossonSchermanandRabbiMeirZlotowitz,eds.,TheChumash,p.5
375.
RabbiJonathanSacks,Exodus:theBookofRedemption,intheCovenantandConversationseries6
(Jerusalem:MaggidBooks,2010),p.103.
TheAmidaisthecentralprayeroftheJewishliturgy.Ithasnineteenpartsandcanbelookedup7
easilyonline.
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS6 24
work,andweoftenwonderhowmost
ofthedaily,seeminglyunrelated
phenomenasurroundinguscouldbe
partofaDivine,coherentplan.Wesee
sufferingandevil,andwewonderhow
theycanbethehandiworkofa
MercifulGod.Rarely,however-very
rarely-thereisaUlashofinsightthat
makespeoplerealizehowallthe
piecesofthepuzzlefallintoplace.At
suchtimes,wecanunderstandhow
everynote,instrument,and
participantinGod’ssymphonyof
Creationplaysitsrole.Theresultis
song,fortheTorah’sconceptofsongis
theconditioninwhichallthe
apparentlyunrelatedand
contradictoryphenomenadoindeed
meldintoacoherent,merciful,
comprehensiblewhole.
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS7 24
Atthesea,MosesandtheJewish
peopleunderstoodtheirsituationas
neverbefore.Thesufferingofthe
Egyptianexile,thedeceptionthatled
Pharaohtopursuethem,the
hopelessnesstheyhadfeltwhenthey
weresurroundedbyPharaoh,thesea,
andthewilderness;thedemandsfrom
manyoftheirownnumberthatthey
returntoslavery,evenMoses’old
recriminationthathisarrivalinEgypt
tocarryoutGod’smissionhadonly
madethingsworseforIsrael-such
doubtsandfeardisappearedwhenthe
seasplitand,astheSagesteachin
Mechiltaevenasimplemaidservantat
theseaperceivedahigherdegreeof
revelationthanthatoftheprophet
EzekielinhisHeavenlyvision,
describedinEzekielchapter1.Tothe
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS8 24
Jewsatthesea,Creationbecamea
symphony,asong,becausethey
understoodhoweveryunrelatedand
incomprehensibleeventwaspartof
theharmoniousscorethatledupto
thatgreatestofallmiracles. 8
Thissonghaslittleconcernwitheventsfromthehuman
perspectiveandinsteadisfocuseduponcelebratingthemighty
actsofGodasHeintervenesinhumanaffairs.TheSongattheSea
celebratesthedirectandunmediatedactionofGod;Hispersonal
incursionintotheworldofmen. Thissongisarecountingof9
God’smightyactsintendedtopraiseHimforHissteadfastlove
canYouredemption.Hisandpower,HisandstrengthHis,(חסד)
imaginethereliefthatmusthavecomeoverthepeopleasLinally
theycouldseelightattheendofthetunnel,oratleastthelightof
freedom.MiriamsingsalongwiththewomenpraisestoGodasan
unmitigatedactofexuberantjoywithtambourines(15:20-21).
Thisgreatvictorywillhoweverbeshort-livedasMosesordersthe
RabbiNossonSchermanandRabbiMeirZlotowitz,eds.,TheChumash,p.375.8
NahumSarna,TheJPSTorahCommentaryExodus(PhiladelphiaPA:TheJewishPublicationSociety,9
1991),p.75.
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS9 24
Israelitestosetoutfromtheseaandtheytravelintothe
wildernessofShur.Theyjourneyforthreedays,probablyabout
forty-Livemiles(15:22).
TheythencometoaplacecalledMarah(15:23)andthejoy
oftheirvictoryispast;people“complainedagainst
Moses”(15:24).Already,inthreedaystheyappeartohave
forgottenthegreatvictoryattheseaandonceagaintheyresortto
theirtruenature,complaining.Thisisanaturethatcomesso
easilytohumansandisthefavoritepastimeofsomany.Some
perfectittoanartformandevenappeartohaveadoctorateinthis
endeavor.Thiscomplainingwill,intime,leadtotremendous
frustrationonthepartofMosesultimatelycausinghimtolosehis
temperwiththepeopleandwillbethecauseofhisbeingunable
himselftoenterthepromisedland.OnthisoccasionMosescries
outtoYHWHandHeshowedMosesapieceofwoodandwhen
Mosesthrowsthispieceofwoodintothewaterthewaterbecomes
sweet.Thisendsthecomplainingforabriefmoment.
ItisherethatwearetoldthatYHWHmakesforthema
“statuteandanordinance”andputthem“tothetest.”Herewe
havetheterms:15:26TheLORDsaid,“Ifyouarecarefulto
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS10 24
obeytheLORDyourGod,dowhatGodthinksisright,pay
attentiontohiscommandments,andkeepallofhis
regulations,thenIwon’tbringonyouanyofthediseasesthat
IbroughtontheEgyptians.IamtheLORDwhohealsyou.” 10
ThischapterendswithIsraelcampingatElim(15:27).Noticethat
Godcallsthemtodowhat“He”thinksisright,notwhatintheir
opinionsisright.
Chaptersixteenbeginswithanaccountingoftheirongoing
travelsandtheirarrivalatthewildernessofSin.Hereonceagain
thereis“complaining,”or“murmuring”(לון).PerhapsifIsrael
weretohaveamottosomethinglikethemottooftheMarines
SemperFidelis(AlwaysFaithful)theirswouldbeSemper
Murmurant(AlwaysMurmuring).Thistoocouldbeamottofor
mostchurchesasthereisalwaysagroup,sometimesalargegroup,
thatexcelsatthis.CertainlyIcansayitisthemostdiscouraging
partofministryformostofthosewhoareinvolvedwithchurch
ministry.Nomatterhowhardsomeonetries,somepeopleare
displeasedandfeelthatatthemostinopportune,andpainfultime
possible,theywillletyouknowabouttheircomplaints,andtheir
CommonEnglishBible.10
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS11 24
complaintsshroudedassuggestions.Churchworkisalotlike
beingacoach,everyoneisanexpertandknowshowtodoitbetter
thanthecoach.Intheirmurmuringitappearsthatthewhole
congregationappearstobesuicidalexpressingtheirwishtohave
diedinEgypt(16:3).
Godsendsbreaddownuponthemfromheaven,butHealso
teststhemtoseeiftheywouldfollowHisinstructions(16:4).God
alsorespondstotheircomplainingagainstMosesandAaronand
Himself.HespeakstoMosesoutofacloud(16:10-11)toshowthe
peoplethatMosesisindeedreceivinghisinstructionsfromYHWH.
YHWHsentwhatwouldcometobecalled“manna”inthemorning
(16:14)andhegavetheIsraelitesinstructionsabouthowmuchto
gatherandtheyweresuppliedwithwhattheyneeded(16:18).
Theyweretoldtoleavenoneofituntilmorning,butasmightbe
expected“theydidnotlisten”and“itbecameinfestedwithworms
andbecamefoulsmelling”(16:19-20).Onthesixthdaytheywere
togatherenoughfortwodaysasnonewouldfallontheSabbath,
theywerenottogooutlookingforitontheSabbath;andyetsome
did.ThemannathatwasgatheredbeforetheSabbathandkept
overnightdidnotbecomeinfestedwithwormsandbecomefoul
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS12 24
smelling(16:23-24):Thisdaythingswrkdifferentlythanall
others.Ontheseventhdaysomeofthepeoplewentouttogather
manna,butfoundnone;theywereindirectviolationofwhatGod
hadcommanded(16:27)ingoingouttolook.
Theywerefailingmiserablythetest,andYHWHbecome
upsetwiththemandquestionsMosesregardingtheir
disobedience(16:28).Thepeopleweretoldtorestontheseventh
day.Thiswasapartofthetesttoseeiftheywouldbeobedientto
YHWH(16:29-30).TheIsraelitesweretoputanomerofthe
mannaasidetoshowtothefollowinggenerationsinajar
(16:31-34),thiswastobeamonumenttoGodforfuture
generations.TheIsraeliteswouldeatMannaforfortyyearsuntil
theycameintoahabitableland(16:35).Tobecertainthismiracle
givesagreatmanyproblemstomodernskeptics.Sustainingtwo
millionpluspeopleinthewildernesswithbreadthatfellfromthe
skyandquailforfortyyearsistrulyamagniLicentfeat.Inreality,
thoughwestilltodaydonotacknowledgethefactthatitisGod
whosustainsallpeopleeverywhere,always.Wejustfailto
recognizethisbecausewehavecometoexpectthingstoworkin
certainways.IamsuretheIsraelitesquicklycametojustexpect
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS13 24
thingstoworkinthiswayandsotookitforgranted.Human
beingshaveanamazingcapacitytonormalizethings,even
extraordinaryandamazingthings,eventhingsthatshouldnever
benormalized.
At17:1,wearetoldthattheIsraelitestravelledtoRephidim
wheretherewasnowateratallforthemtodrink.Soonceagain
thepeople“argue”withMoses.Theychallengedhimtogivethem
watertodrink.Theyonceagainbroughtuptheoldcomplaints
againstMosesaskingwhyhehadbroughtthemout“tokill”them,
theirchildrenandtheirlivestock“withthirst”(17:3).Mosesthen
turnstoGod(17:4)askingwhatheistodowiththispeoplethat
are“soongoingtostone”him.YHWHinstructsMosestotake
someoftheelderswithhimandtotakethestaffthatheusedto
striketheNile(17:5)andgoandstandinfrontofthe“rock”(צור)
atHoreb.Thoughhere,inthecontextofExodus17,thereisno
indicationofGod’sangerwiththeIsraelitesthereisatPsalm
78:18-22. ThepsalmistportraysGodas“furious”attheirlackof11
TheytestedGodintheirhearts,demandedfoodfortheirstomachs.19Theyspokeagainst11
God!“CanGodsetadinnertableinthewilderness?”theyasked.20“True,GodstrucktherockandwatergushedandstreamsUlowed,butcanhegivebreadtoo?Canheprovidemeatforhispeople?”21WhentheLORDheardthis,hebecamefurious.AUirewasignitedagainstJacob;wrathalsoburnedagainstIsrael22becausetheyhadnofaithinGod,becausetheydidn’ttrusthissavingpower.CEB.
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS14 24
trust,atthedisbeliefandfaithlessnessinherentinthepeople’s
grumbling. 12
ItmaybethatitistobeseenasimplicitintheTorah’s
narrative,theBiblicalteaching,thathumanbeingshavean
obligationtoimitatedivinequalities(thedivineimage-Genesis
1:26-27).ThisJewishdoctrineisbaseduponsuchBiblical
passagesasLeviticus19:2“Saytothewholecommunityofthe
Israelites:Youmustbeholy,becauseI,theLORDyourGod,am
holy. ”ItthenfollowsfromtheBiblicalnarrativethatIsrael13
wouldbeexpectedtoemulatethequalitiesofGod,whichincludes
Hisself-restraintandHispositivequalityinthefaceoftheirbase
ingratitude;Godinherently,bynature,hasaconcernforthe
hungry,forthosewhomHehascreated. MoseswastoLindGod14
inthefrontofthisrockandhewastostriketherockinthesightof
theeldersandwhenhedidwatercameoutoftherock.Thename
ofthisplacethencametobecalled“Massah”(מסה),which
literallymeans“testing,”and“Meribah”(מריבה),whichliterally
means“strife.”
NahumSarna,TheJPSTorahCommentaryExodus,p.86.12
CEB.13
NahumSarna,TheJPSTorahCommentaryExodus,p.86.14
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS15 24
ItwasatthisplacethattheyquarreledandtestedYHWH
asking“IsYHWHreallyamongusornot.”Theaccountendshere
withthisverybriefcommentandthenat17:8wearetoldthat
AmalekcameandfoughtwithIsraelatRephidim.Thereisamore
detailedaccountofthisattackatDeuteronomy25:17-19,andin
thisaccountwearetoldthattheAmalekitesmadeasurpriserear
attackonthefamishedandexhaustedIsraelitesnotlongafter
theirescapefromEgypt.WhoweretheAmalekites?WeLirst
encounterAmalekasthethirteenthdescendentofEsau-Edomin
thelistsofGenesis36(Genesis36:16).TheAmalekitesintheir
rearattackontheIsraelitesruthlesslycutdownthestragglers,the
elderly,theweak,andtheinLirm(Deuteronomy25:17-19).Israel
wasforcedtoLightitsLirstbattleinordertosurvive. 15
MosestoldJoshuatochoosementogooutandLightwiththe
Amalekitestellingthemthathewouldstandonahillwiththestaff
ofGodinhishand(17:9).Duringthebattle,wheneverMosesheld
uphishandIsraelprevailedandwhenhelowereditthe
Amalekitesprevailed(17:11).AaronandHurtookastoneandput
itunderMosessohecouldsitdownandthentheyhelduphis
NahumSarna,TheJPSTorahCommentaryExodus,p.95.15
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS16 24
arms,oneoneachside(17:12).JoshuadefeatedtheAmalekites,
withthesword(17:13).Afterthis,YHWHinstructsMosestowrite
areminderinabookandtorecitethetextinthehearingofJoshua
thatHewouldblotouttheremembranceofAmalekfromunder
heaven.ThiswouldnotbetheendoftheAmalekitesonthisdayas
theywouldcontinuetobeathreattoIsraelformanyyearsto
come:ultimatelyDavidappearstohaveLinishedthemoffasa
nation(1Samuel30).WeencountertheAmalekitesandtheir
descendantsseveraltimesthroughthehistoryofIsrael.Saul
wouldspare“AgagkingoftheAmalekites(1Samuel15:8,20,
32-33),thoughSamuelcorrectedthiswhenhearrivedbyhacking
Agaginpieces.TheAmalekitesareultimatelynotheardofasa
nationagainafterDavidLinishedthejobexceptforperhapsthe
caseof“HamantheAgagite”inEsther3:1,whichlikelymeansthat
HamanwasofAmalekiteancestry. 16
AswereturntoournarrativeinExodus,onceagainthe
peoplearesaved,thistimeisdifferentthough;insteadofGod
bearingthemasoneagleswingsanddoingeverythingwhileIsrael
wasamerespectator(Exodus19:4)theymustlearntoLight,to
PeterEnns,Exodus,inTheNIVApplicationCommentarySeries(GrandRapidsMI:Zondervan,16
2000),pp.345-346.
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS17 24
defendthemselvesagainstforcesthatwoulddestroythem.Noone
todayknowsforsurewhatitmeansthattheywouldwinwhenthe
handsofMoseswereupliftedandlosewhentheyweredown;itis
notexplained.Whateveritwas;ithadsomethingtodowiththe
staffstandingasasignofthepowerandpresenceofGod.Moses
thenbuiltanaltarandcalledit“YHWHismyBanner”(נסייהוה).
Thereisnocertainconnectionherebetweenthealtarandthe
banner,butcertainlythepointofthenamingistobearwitnessto
YHWH’sroleinthebattle.HeisthestandardbeneathwhichIsrael
rallies.TheLinalverseofthischapter(Exodus17:16)summarizes
thewholestoryofthisincident.ThewarwithAmalekwill
continuegenerationupongenerationbecauseYHWHwilleditto
beso. 17
InthissectionweseeIsraelexperiencingthemightyhandof
YHWHrescuingtheminthemostincredibleofcircumstancesand
yetassoonasthereisanygreatdifLicultytheyturnonGodand
Mosesandbegincomplaining,andmurmuring.Godseekstoteach
theIsraelitestorelyuponHim,totrustHim,butasineventhe
GardenofEdenhumanbeingsresistthis.Wetodaystillresist
BrevardS.Childs,TheBookofExodus,inTheOldTestamentLibraryseries(PhiladelphiaPA:The17
WestminsterPress,1976),pp.315-316.
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS18 24
trustinginGod,choosinginsteadtotrustinwealth,doctors,power,
innations,andinsomanyotherthingsthatcanbecomeidolsthat
standintheplacethatonlyGodshouldoccupy.Wetooarebeing
testedinorderthatGodmightinstillinuswhatitmeanstobe
human,tohavethecharacterthatisLittingforonemadeinthe
“image”ofGod.AsN.T.Wrightsays,“Thepresenttimeisthetime
offormationoftrulyhumanbeings;thiscannotbeachievedata
stroke,preciselybecauseofwhatahumanbeingis.”Ourpresent
sojournonthisearthismeanttoproduceinus“character.” Will18
webecome“image-bearers”ofGod,orwillweallowouranimal
naturetocontinuetoreign?
N.T.Wright,PaulandtheFaithfulnessofGod,intheChristianOriginsandtheQuestionofGod18
series,Vol.4,BookII,PartsIIIandIV(MinneapolisMN:FortressPress,2013),p.1048.
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS19 24
Synopsis
Aswestartthissection,weLindIsraelpoisedinthemost
incrediblytenuouspositionwiththeseainfrontofthemandthe
Egyptianarmyinhotpursuitbehind.Thesituationlookshopeless
andyettheveryLirstverseofthissection(14:22)saysthe
Israeliteswentintotheseaon“dryground.”YHWH,thecreator
God,intervenesandtheimpossiblebecomespossibleandIsraelis
savedandtheEgyptianarmyisalldrowned.Thisaccount
highlightsthegooddecisionmadebyIsraeltofollowthe
instructionsofGodandthepoordecisionmadebytheEgyptians
thatputthemonacollisioncoursewithGod.Intheirarrogance
theyignoredthefactthatYHWHwas“Lighting”forIsraelandtoo
latetherealizedthis.
ThiseventhasbecomeengravedintheJewishpsycheasa
signaturemomentintime,whenGodredeemedahelplesspeople
fromatyrannical,andcruelcountryandfoughtontheirbehalf.In
thismomentwecanseethatGodhasaplanandHehasthepower
tofulLillthatplan.MosesandtheIsraelitessingagreatsongof
praisetoYHWHrecountedHisgloriousrescueofIsrael.Thesong
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS20 24
praisesHimforHissteadfastlove,Hisstrength,Hispower,andHis
redemption.
Thenalmostassoonasthesonghasdriftedawayonthe
windtheIsraelitesLindsomethingthattheydonotlikeandthey
begincomplaining.Thispersistsastheyarethirsty,thenhungry,
thendonotlikethefood,andintheirarroganceandintheir
immaturitytheyfailtofollowGodastheyshould,becausethey
continuallydriftbacktothehumandefaultofthinkingthatwe,as
“humans”knowhowtosomethingbettereventhanGod.Inthis
patternwereturntowhatcausedthispredicamentintheLirst
placeandweareoncemorewithouthope,withoutdirection,and
withouthonor.Wefailtohonortheimageoftheonewhocreated
us.TheAmalekitesattackIsraelandinthisattack,withJoshua,
weseeaglimpseofthegreatsalvationofYHWH.Israelsurvives
andgloriLiesGodfortheirvictory.Wecanleavethissectionat
leasthopingthatperhapsnowwewillseesomeglimmerof
characterbeginningtodevelopinthepeople.YHWHispraised
oncemoreandthepeopleseemcontentforthemoment.
PAGE OF FALL SERIES 2 - DURATION - 6 WEEKS21 24
Questions
1. WhatdoyouthinkitwouldhavebeenliketoseeYHWHsplittheseaandmakeitstandupwithawallofwaterontheleftandontheright?
2. WhydoyouthinktheEgyptianspursuedtheIsraelitesintothesea?
3. WhydoyouthinkGodappearedtothepeopleinapillarofcloudandLire?
4. WhatdoyouthinkitmeansthatGoddestroyedtheEgyptiansinthesea?
5. WhatdoesitsayaboutGodthattheIsraeliteswalkedthroughtheseaondrylandandyettheEgyptiansareseendeadupontheshore?
6. At14:31whatconnectiondoyouseebetweenthefearoftheIsraelitesandtheirbeliefinYHWH?
7. WhydoyouthinkMosessangtoYHWH?
8. WhatconnectiondoyouseebetweenthesongthatMosessingsandHisfaith?
9. WhatcanwelearnaboutwhatMosesbelievedconcerningYHWHfromhissong?
10.Whatdoyouthinkitmeansthatthenationstrembledat15:14-16?
11.Whydoyouthinkpeoplearesoquicktocomplainwhensomethingdoesnotgothewaytheythinkitshould(15:24)?
12.WhydoyouthinkGodputsthepeopletothe“test?”
13.WhatdoyouthinktheIsraelitesaremeanttolearnfrom15:26?
14.WhydoyouthinkwearetoldthatIsraelcomplainedsomuch?Whatlessondoyouthinkwearemeanttotakeawayfromthistoday?
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15.WhatlessonsdoyouthinkIsraelwasmeanttolearnfromGodgivingthemmanna?
16.WhydoyouthinkYHWHgivesthepeoplemeattoeat16:12-13?
17.WhatlessondoyouthinkIsraelwasmeanttolearnfromnotgatheringmannaontheSabbath?
18.DoyouthinkthequarrelsomenessoftheIsraelitesisconnectedtotheattackoftheAmalekites?Why,orwhynot?
19.WhydoyouthinkGoddoesnotjustdestroytheAmalekitesinsomemiraculousfashionlikeHedidtheEgyptians?
20.Whatisthemostimportantlessonthatyoubelieveweshouldtakeawayfromthissectionfortoday?
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ToTakeHomeWhatisImportanttoknow? ItisimportanttoknowthatGodexpectsustofollowHimobedientlyandthatwhenwedowewillbeblessed.WhenwethinkweknowhowtodothingsbetterthanGodthingswillnotgowellforus,andthejourneyofcharacterbuilding,forus,willlikelybeamuchlongerjourney.Godisverypatientandmerciful,butHealsoexpectschangeinourliveswhenwearenotfollowingHim.GodalsoexpectsustopartnerwithHimandnotjuststandandwaitforHimtodoeverything.WhataresomewaysthatyouhaveseenGodbuildingcharacterinyourlifethroughchallenges?WhereisGodinthesewords? GodisinthesewordsredeemingIsraelfromdangerandleadingthemintothewildernesswhereHecanbegintoshapeandmoldtheircharacterandhelpthemtotrulybecomeapeoplethattrustsinHimandlistenstoHim.GodtellsthepeoplewhatHeexpectsandthenhelpsthemtounderstandHiswordsbythethingsHeasksthemtodo.ThecollectingofthemannawasmeanttoteachthemtotrustHimandcomplywithHiswords.Ifyoudidnotdothisyouwouldeithergohungry,orhaveastinkymassofworms.WhataresomewaysthatyouareseekingtolearnthewillofGodforyourlife?WhatdoesanyofthismeanforhowIlivemylife? SinceGodistheCreatorofallthingsandHeseekstheredemptionofthewholeofcreationwecaneitherbeapartofHisplan,ordealwiththeconsequencesofbeinginoppositiontoHim.Godseekstobegentleandmerciful,butHealsoisjustandrighteousandHeisadvancingtheagendaofbringingHiscreationintoalignmentwithHispurposes.IfwefailtorecognizethisthereisaconsequenceandifwedorecognizethistheconsequenceshouldfollowthatwewillseektobeapartofHisredemptiveplan.Howshouldsuchanunderstandingchangemyprioritiesinlife?WhatisthewordofGodcallingustodo? ThewordofGodisherecallingustorecognizethatHeisindeedthesovereign,creatoroftheuniverse,theoneandonlyGodworthyofourallegianceandtrust,theonlytrueGod.HecallsustolistentoHimandtobeobedienttoHimasourgraciousandcaringFather,theonewhoknowswhatisbestandseeksitforallofHiscreation.Wearecalledtobeobedientespeciallyinthemomentswhenwedonotunderstand.WhendoyouLindittheeasiestinyourlifetobeobedienttoGod?
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