The story of Israel’s escape from Egypt and journeying through the desert is foundational to the Christian faith. These events hold rich lessons for us as we journey through the wilderness of this life. The book of Exodus also tells the story of Moses receiving the Law. We explore why and how the Law of Moses is relevant for Christians today and what it reveals about the heart of God. In Exodus, we are also given the details of the tabernacle, the portable tent which was the center of Israel’s community and worship. We find hidden treasures in the details of the tabernacle, pointing us to God’s future plan for His Church and Heaven itself. Notes are provided for each lesson in this forty-one-part series for self-study, reflection, and as a resource to teach others.
We begin this new series on the Exodus journey by reviewing the reasons why this material is so important for Christians today. Jesus and the apostles drew critical lessons for Christians from these Scriptures. They include significant prophecies about the coming of Jesus, and foreshadowings of almost every element of the church and Christian life. […]
Introduction to the Series; Slaves in Egypt (Exodus 1) View Lesson
This lesson covers Moses’ life as a prince in Egypt, from his birth and famous rescue from the Nile River through fleeing Egypt at age forty after murdering an Egyptian. He then helps Midianite strangers, and gains a wife. We consider two key aspects of Moses’ character that are held up in the New Testament, […]
Birth and Early Life of Moses: the First 40 Years (Exodus 2) View Lesson
Forty years after fleeing Egypt, while tending sheep, Moses has a pivotal encounter with God. The "Angel of the Lord" speaks to him from a burning bush! From this story we gain rich insights into the character of God. He hears the cries of His people and responds to rescue them. Sometimes He waits until […]
Moses is reluctant to accept the great mission to lead his people out of Egypt, and raises several objections. The Lord provides him with three miraculous signs, which one early Christian writer saw as foreshadowing the gospel story. Moses then claims he is not a good speaker. While many today consider this an excuse, early […]
When Moses and Aaron ask Pharaoh to let God’s people go, Pharaoh increases the oppression against the Israelites, and has them flogged when they fail to meet their quotas. The exodus drama provides us with a pattern of our Christian spiritual journey, with Pharaoh a type or representation of Satan. Here we gain insights into […]
Bible scholars, even relatively conservative ones, often struggle with the ten plagues. Were these genuine supernatural miracles, or is it possible that these could be explained by naturally occurring phenomena? Does it matter? In this lesson we wrestle with these questions and look specifically at the first two plagues: blood and frogs. Why did the […]
Let the Plagues Begin: Blood and Frogs (Exodus 7:14-8:11) View Lesson
The battle between the Lord and Pharaoh intensifies as Moses brings four more plagues upon Egypt. After the third plague, a miracle the sorcerers cannot duplicate, they tell Pharaoh, "this must be the finger of God." What is the significance of that statement? Also, were the Ten Plagues specifically designed as an assault on specific […]
More Plagues: Insects and Disease (Exodus 8:12-9:12) View Lesson
The Lord sends three more devastating plagues on Egypt. In the plague of hail with fire we see God’s mercy toward the Egyptians. Those Egyptians who fear the Lord heed the advance warning, pull their people and livestock indoors, and are protected from destruction. This is followed by a plague of voracious locusts who consume […]
More Plagues: Hail, Locusts, and Darkness (Exodus 9:13-10:29) View Lesson
We have come to the final and most devastating plague of all: death of the firstborn sons. This strikes every household in Egypt: from mighty Pharaoh to the lowliest servant, and even their livestock. The Jews are given detailed instructions regarding what they must do to be spared. Each household must sacrifice an unblemished lamb, […]
The Final Plague: the Death of the Firstborn (Passover) (Exodus 11:1-13:16) View Lesson
The dramatic escape from Egypt takes the Jews by an unusual route: through the midst of the Red Sea. After the Lord divides the sea, the Israelites walk through on dry ground, with a wall of water on each side. The Egyptian army pursues and is drowned when the sea returns. In this lesson we […]