Finding God

What happens?

• The Israelites are now a mighty nation within Egypt, slaves to Pharaoh, King of the Egyptians.
• Moses’ birth and early life are recorded.
• Moses is chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land.
• After some altercations with Pharaoh the Israelites eventually leave Egypt.
• The Israelites then journey to Canaan via the wilderness.
• During the journey God provides the Israelites with the Law.

What well known events take place?

• Chapter 3 – The Burning Bush
• Chapters 7-12 – The Ten Plagues
• Chapters 12-13  – The institution of Passover
• Chapters 16-17 – God provides food and water
• Chapter 19 – Israel arrive at Mount Sinai
• Chapters 20-31 – The giving of the Law, including the Ten Commandments
• Chapter 32 – The Golden Calf
• Chapters 25-40 – The making of the Tabernacle, the tent in which God dwelt

 What are the Ten Commandments?

1. You must not have any other god but me.
2. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything.
3. You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
4. Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
5. Honor your father and mother.
6. You must not murder.
7. You must not commit adultery.
8. You must not steal.
9. You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
10. You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.

Lessons we can learn:

• The New Testament ritual of baptism is foreshadowed in Exodus: “I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses.” (1 Corinthians 10:1-3)
• The sacrifices in the Law of Moses foreshadowed a greater sacrifice: “For this reason he [Jesus] had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17)

Next time: Bitesize Book of Leviticus