Exodus 1:1-22 — Desperate Times in Egypt for God’s People
THE BACKDROP FOR DIVINE DELIVERANCE AND THE FULFILMENT OF COVENANT PROMISES SHOWCASES GOD’S BLESSING AND PROTECTION DESPITE SATAN’S EFFORTS TO THWART GOD’S PURPOSES
Exodus 2:1-10 — Preservation of Moses — Erasing Pharaoh’s Edict
THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD PROTECTED MOSES AFTER HIS BIRTH, PLUCKED HIM FROM THE NILE AND PREPARED HIM FOR HIS FUTURE LEADERSHIP ROLE
Exodus 2:11-25 — Training Ground for God’s Deliverer
DEVELOPING LEADERS FIRST EXPERIENCE FLESHLY FAILURE BEFORE LEARNING TO SUBMIT TO GOD’S TIMETABLE AND TRUST IN GOD’S EMPOWERMENT —
3 KEY LESSONS FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Exodus 3:1-12 — Call to Moses to Lead God’s People Out of Egypt
GOD’S DRAMATIC CALL TO MOSES DETAILS HIS COMMITMENT TO DELIVER FLOWING OUT OF HIS COMPASSION FOR ISRAEL’S BONDAGE
Exodus 3:13-22 — What Is His Name?
THE FULL WEIGHT OF GOD’S AUTHORITY STANDS BEHIND THE DIVINE CALL TO MOSES
Exodus 4:1-17 — How to Anger God
PERSISTENT HESITATION AND OBJECTIONS REGARDING OBEYING GOD’S CALL (DESPITE DIVINE ASSURANCES) END UP ANGERING GOD
Exodus 4:18-31 — 4 Keys to Fulfilling God’s Mission for Your Life
FINAL PREPARATION FOR SUCCESSFULLY FULFILLING GOD’S MISSION FOR YOUR LIFE INVOLVES:
– COMMITMENT TO OBEY
– CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S LOVE
– CONSECRATION (INCLUDING NECESSARY REPENTANCE)
– COLLABORATION (WITH OTHER LEADERS AND WITH GOD’S PEOPLE)
Exodus 5:1 – 6:1 — Responding to Setbacks in Serving the Lord
DESPITE OPPOSITION AND FRUSTRATION, THE SERVANT OF GOD MUST CONTINUE TO LOOK TO THE LORD FOR ULTIMATE SUCCESS
Exodus 6:2-27 — Renewed Commission
ADDITIONAL COVENANT ASSURANCES SUPPORT THE RENEWED COMMISSION TO FORTIFY THE LEADERSHIP OF MOSES AND AARON
Exodus 6:28 – 7:7 — Resetting the Narrative — Obedience to God’s Call
BECAUSE GOD IS SOVEREIGN AND SUFFICIENT, OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S CALL IS THE ONLY OPTION THAT MAKES SENSE
Exodus 7:8-25 — Show Time! The Beginning of the Plagues
THE SOVEREIGN GOD PROVIDES SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO CONFIRM HIS MISSION OF REDEMPTION AND TO JUSTIFY HIS JUDGMENT AGAINST STUBBORN REBELLION
Exodus 8:1 – 10:29 — Series of Plagues — Demonstration of God’s Sovereign Power and Control
THE PLAGUES DEMONSTRATE GOD’S SOVEREIGN POWER IN MAKING MAN ACCOUNTABLE TO HIM FOR OBEDIENCE TO HIS DEMANDS
Exodus 11:1-10 — Introduction of the Final Plague to Deliver Israel
HARDENED HEARTS FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE WONDERS OF GOD –
– EXPERIENCING DEFEAT AND HUMILIATION INSTEAD OF VICTORY AND JOY
– EXPERIENCING DEATH AND DEVASTATION INSTEAD OF LIFE AND PROTECTION
Exodus 12:1-13 — Instructions Regarding the Lord’s Passover
ONLY THE PERSONAL APPLICATION OF THE BLOOD OF THE PASSOVER LAMB BRINGS DELIVERANCE FROM BONDAGE AND DESTRUCTION
Exodus 12:14-36 — Observance of the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PASSOVER AND THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD SPEAKS TO US TODAY
Exodus 12:37-51 — Celebrating God’s Faithfulness — More Passover Instructions
THE CITIZENS OF GOD’S KINGDOM (WHICH IS OPEN TO ALL WHO WILL BELIEVE) MUST CELEBRATE GOD’S FAITHFULNESS ACCORDING TO HIS INSTRUCTIONS
Exodus 13:1-16 — Appreciating Our Deliverance and Redemption
SYMBOLIC ACTS OF COMMEMORATION HELP GOD’S PEOPLE APPRECIATE THEIR DELIVERANCE AND REDEMPTION
Exodus 13:17-22 — Divine Guidance
DIVINE GUIDANCE USES PERPLEXING AND CHALLENGING PATHS TO BOTH PROTECT AND PREPARE US FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD
Exodus 14:1-14 — Between a Rock and a Hard Place
DESPERATE SITUATIONS CALL FOR FAITH INSTEAD OF FEAR IN LIGHT OF GOD’S CONTROL AND HIS DESIRE TO GLORIFY HIS NAME
Exodus 14:15-31 — Are There Any Rivers that Just Seem Uncrossable?
AS WE STEP OUT IN FAITH THE POWERFUL SALVATION OF THE LORD GLORIFIES HIS NAME
Exodus 15:1-21 — Victory Hymn Celebrating God’s Triumph
THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED DELIVERANCE SHOULD CELEBRATE GOD’S
– VICTORY
– POWER
– UNIQUENESS
– DOMINION
Exodus 15:22-27 — No Water . . . Bitter Water . . . Sweet Water . . . Abundant Water
OUR CIRCUMSTANCES ALWAYS CHANGE, BUT OUR FAITH IN GOD’S PROVISION SHOULD NEVER WAVER
Exodus 16:1-8 — Why Complain Against God?
GOD DIRECTS BOTH OUR TRIALS AND HIS GRACIOUS PROVISION TO MANIFEST HIS SUPREME GLORY
Exodus 16:9-15 — Antidote to Grumbling Against the Lord
GOD PUTS A STOP TO GRUMBLING BY MANIFESTING HIS PRESENCE AND HIS PROVISION
Exodus 16:16-21 — Instructions Regarding Our Daily Bread
THE BREAD OF HEAVEN MUST BE GATHERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS AND CONSUMED THAT DAY
Exodus 16:22-36 — The Sabbath — God’s Gift of Rest and Worship
THE PATTERN OF MANNA DISTRIBUTION REFLECTS THE UNIQUENESS OF THE SABBATH AS A HOLY DAY SET ASIDE FOR REST AND WORSHIP
Exodus 17:1-7 — Testing God When God is Testing Us
TESTING GOD BY DOUBTING HIS POWERFUL PRESENCE TO PROVIDE EXPOSES OUR SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY BUT ENHANCES GOD’S PATIENCE AND GRACE
Exodus 17:8-16 — Fighting the Amalekites (Spiritual Warfare)
VICTORY IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE REQUIRES GOD’S PEOPLE ACTIVELY FIGHTING WHILE DEPENDING ON THE POWER OF THE LORD WHO DESERVES ALL THE CREDIT
Exodus 18:1-12 — God Making Himself Known to the World
GOD’S WORK OF REDEMPTION ENHANCES HIS REPUTATION AND EARNS PRAISE AND COMMITMENT
Exodus 18:13-27 — Administrative Delegation of Judging Duties
PROGRESSIVE REVELATION INTRODUCES THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARED LEADERSHIP
Exodus 19:1-25 — Preparation for the Giving of the Covenant
GOD’S PEOPLE PREPARE FOR INTIMATE COVENANT RELATIONSHIP BY A PROCESS OF CONSECRATION AND MAINTAINING BOUNDARIES THAT RESPECT GOD’S AWESOME TRANSCENDENCE
Exodus 20:1-21 — The Ten Commandments
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS DISPLAY THE CHARACTER OF GOD AND REVEAL HIS MORAL WILL FOR HIS COVENANT PEOPLE
Exodus 20:22-26 — Introduction to the Book of the Covenant
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ONE TRUE GOD REQUIRES APPROACHING HIM AND WORSHIPING HIM ON HIS TERMS
Exodus 21:1-11 — Merciful Provisions for Hebrew Slaves
FREEDOM AND PROTECTION AFFORDED TO HEBREW SLAVES (IN STARK CONTRAST TO THE CUSTOMS OF SURROUNDING PAGAN NATIONS)
Exodus 21:12-17 — Capital Punishment Offenses
CERTAIN EGREGIOUS CRIMES ARE WORTHY OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Exodus 21:18 – 22:15 — Violence to People and Animals / Property Rights
THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT LAYS DOWN GOD’S LAWS (INCLUDING PRINCIPLES OF PUNISHMENT AND RESTITUTION) DEALING WITH VIOLENCE TO PEOPLE AND ANIMALS AND WITH PROPERTY RIGHTS
Exodus 22:16 – 23:9 More Religious, Social and Judicial Obligations
THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT REVEALS HOW OUR VIEW OF GOD MUST IMPACT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS (ESPECIALLY THE VULNERABLE) AND OUR PURSUIT OF JUSTICE AND HOLINESS
Exodus 23:10-19 — Sabbath Observances and Feast Celebrations
GOD INSTRUCTED ISRAEL TO OBSERVE SABBATH LAWS AND CELEBRATE THREE ANNUAL PILGRIM FEASTS
Exodus 23:20-33 — Epilogue to the Book of the Covenant
THE DIVINE PROMISE OF GUIDANCE AND VICTORY MOTIVATES OBEDIENCE TO THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT IN LOYAL WORSHIP — DESPITE THE THREAT OF IDOLATRY
Exodus 24:1-18 — Ratification of the Covenant
THE RATIFICATION OF THE COVENANT IS ROOTED IN THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT AND IS DESIGNED TO MANIFEST THE GLORY OF GOD