Please write out your responses on a separate sheet of paper (handwritten or typed). You can then compare your answers to the answers provided at the bottom. I would encourage you to share your work with a parent or teacher to spark additional discussion.
- Why is the Exodus one of the most significant events in the Old Testament, and how do Jesus, Paul, and the prophets use it to illustrate God’s power to redeem, applying the principle of Scripture interpreting Scripture?
- How did the Israelites become oppressed in Egypt according to Exodus 1?
- What events surround the birth and calling of Moses in Exodus 2-4?
- How did Pharaoh resist Moses and Aaron, and what does the Bible say about the hardening of his heart in Exodus 5-7?
- What were the ten plagues, and how did they demonstrate God’s power over Egypt in Exodus 7-12?
- How does the Passover in Exodus 12 serve as a picture of Christ, using the principle of Scripture interpreting Scripture to connect it to New Testament references like 1 Corinthians 5:7 and John 1:29?
- In what ways does the Exodus serve as a pattern of salvation, applying the principle of Scripture interpreting Scripture with references like 1 Corinthians 10:1-2?
- How did Pharaoh pursue the Israelites, and what happened at the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus 14?
- What lessons can we learn from the Exodus about God’s faithfulness, judgment, and salvation, using the principle of Scripture interpreting Scripture to see Christ as the greater Moses?
- Why is the Exodus one of the most significant events in the Old Testament, and how do Jesus, Paul, and the prophets use it to illustrate God’s power to redeem, applying the principle of Scripture interpreting Scripture?
The Exodus stands out as a key event in the Old Testament because it shows God delivering His people from bondage in Egypt through Moses. This event appears throughout the Bible as a picture of salvation. Jesus, Paul, and the prophets refer to it to highlight God’s redeeming power and covenant relationship. For example, Paul in 1 Corinthians 10 explains that the Israelites’ experiences, like passing through the sea and eating spiritual food, serve as examples for believers today. These events symbolize baptism and spiritual sustenance from Christ. The prophets and Jesus use it to show how God saves His people from sin’s slavery, just as He freed Israel from Egypt. This pattern teaches that God’s deliverance is not just historical but points to current and future redemption.
- How did the Israelites become oppressed in Egypt according to Exodus 1?
In Exodus 1, the Israelites grew numerous in Egypt after Joseph’s time. A new Pharaoh, who did not know Joseph, feared their strength and potential to join enemies against Egypt. He enslaved them, forcing hard labor in building cities. Despite oppression, they multiplied, leading Pharaoh to order the killing of newborn Hebrew boys. Midwives defied this, saving lives, and God blessed them. Moses was born amid this persecution, hidden in a basket on the Nile, and adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter. This oppression set the stage for God’s deliverance.
- What events surround the birth and calling of Moses in Exodus 2-4?
Moses was born during intense persecution when Pharaoh ordered Hebrew boys killed. His mother hid him in a basket, where Pharaoh’s daughter found and adopted him. Raised in the court, Moses later killed an Egyptian abusing a Hebrew and fled to Midian. There, he married and lived as a shepherd. God called him from a burning bush, revealing Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He commanded Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt. Moses resisted, citing his poor speech and fears. God provided signs, like turning his staff into a snake, and sent Aaron as his spokesman. This calling marked Moses as Israel’s deliverer, despite his hesitations.
- How did Pharaoh resist Moses and Aaron, and what does the Bible say about the hardening of his heart in Exodus 5-7?
Pharaoh resisted Moses and Aaron when they demanded Israel’s release for worship. He increased workloads, forcing brick-making without straw, causing resentment toward Moses. The Bible describes Pharaoh’s heart hardening in stages. Sometimes he hardened it himself through stubborn refusal. Other times, God hardened it further as judgment, reinforcing his rebellion. This process showed God’s sovereignty, using Pharaoh’s defiance to display God’s power through the plagues. It highlighted that human sin leads to self-hardening, but God can intensify it for His purposes, ultimately leading to Israel’s freedom and Egypt’s downfall.
- What were the ten plagues, and how did they demonstrate God’s power over Egypt in Exodus 7-12?
The ten plagues began with the Nile turning to blood, followed by frogs, gnats, flies, livestock disease, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and firstborn deaths. Each targeted Egypt’s gods, proving Jehovah’s superiority. For instance, blood judged the Nile god, frogs mocked fertility deities, and darkness humbled the sun god Ra. Plagues escalated, affecting Egyptians while sparing Israelites, showing God’s control. Pharaoh’s magicians replicated early ones but failed later, admitting God’s hand. These judgments humbled Egypt, forcing Pharaoh to release Israel, and demonstrated God’s unmatched power over creation and false idols.
- How does the Passover in Exodus 12 serve as a picture of Christ, using the principle of Scripture interpreting Scripture to connect it to New Testament references like 1 Corinthians 5:7 and John 1:29?
The Passover in Exodus 12 involved sacrificing a spotless lamb, placing its blood on doorposts so the death angel passed over marked homes. Israelites ate unleavened bread and bitter herbs, commemorating deliverance. This foreshadowed Christ’s sacrifice. Using Scripture interpreting Scripture, 1 Corinthians 5:7 calls Christ our Passover Lamb, whose blood saves from death. John 1:29 identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Yeast symbolized sin, and the lamb’s blood represented atonement. Jesus died during Passover, making him the ultimate substitute, protecting believers from God’s judgment through His blood.
- In what ways does the Exodus serve as a pattern of salvation, applying the principle of Scripture interpreting Scripture with references like 1 Corinthians 10:1-2?
The Exodus patterns salvation by showing deliverance from bondage. Egyptians represent the world, Pharaoh symbolizes Satan, Israelites depict the church, and Moses foreshadows Christ as deliverer. Slavery mirrors sin’s bondage. Applying Scripture interpreting Scripture, 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 describes the Red Sea crossing as baptism into Moses, symbolizing new life in Christ. Manna and water provided sustenance, picturing spiritual food from Jesus, the rock. The journey to the Promised Land reflects the Christian walk, with God guiding through trials. The pattern teaches that salvation involves leaving sin, trusting God’s provision, and entering promised rest.
- How did Pharaoh pursue the Israelites, and what happened at the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus 14?
After releasing Israel, Pharaoh regretted it and chased them with his army. Trapped at the Red Sea, the Israelites panicked, but God instructed Moses to stretch out his staff. The sea parted, allowing dry-ground crossing. A cloud pillar protected them, separating the from the Egyptians. When Pharaoh’s forces followed, wheels stuck, and the waters soon returned, drowning them. Israelites then responded with praises, proclaiming God’s salvation. This event marked final freedom from bondage, showing God’s miraculous power to save His people from impossible threats.
- What lessons can we learn from the Exodus about God’s faithfulness, judgment, and salvation, using the principle of Scripture interpreting Scripture to see Christ as the greater Moses?
The Exodus teaches God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises, judging sin in the world, and saving the faithful. He delivered Israel from slavery through the plagues and crossing the Red Sea. Using Scripture interpreting Scripture, the New Testament portrays Christ as the greater Moses, leading the church from sin’s bondage into eternal life. Like Moses interceding, Jesus mediates between God and His people. God judges rebellion, as with Pharaoh, but offers salvation through faith, as in the Passover blood foreshadowing Christ’s sacrifice. Christ is the greater Moses because He is the greater mediator and leader.