Opening Prayer: God Calling Moses (Exodus 3:4-12)

1. Opening Prayer: God Calling Moses (Exodus 3:4-12) • When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here am I." Then he said, "Do not come near; put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Then the LORD said, "I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters; I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey… And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring forth my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?" He said, "But I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God upon this mountain."

2. The Founding of Israel Part I: Exodus (Gk. “going out”)

3. The Birth & Rescue of Moses • Many years after Joseph brought his family to Egypt, a new Pharaoh in Egypt enslaved the people of Israel • The Egyptians are ordered to kill every male child at birth • As an infant, Moses’ mother helps her son escape, & Moses is brought up in Pharaoh’s court

4. Moses Rebels • Moses is raised in Pharaoh’s court with his own Hebrew mother as nurse • As a young man, Moses kills an Egyptian for abusing a Hebrew slave • Fearing for his life, Moses flees Egypt & settles in Midian

5. The Burning Bush: God Reveals His Name to Moses • Moses unexpectedly encounters the God of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob at Sinai • God orders Moses to go back to Egypt & lead Israel to freedom • God reveals his sacred Name to Moses: “I am who I am” • Moses’ brother, Aaron, was also appointed to be his spokesman

6. The Message to Pharaoh • Moses asked Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go on a 3 days journey into the desert to offer sacrifice to the Lord • Pharaoh refused to listen and made the Israelites work even harder • Because Pharaoh refused to listen, God sent 10 plagues to Egypt • Plague: a disaster that affects a large number of people. The 10 plagues were signs of God’s wrath against the Egyptians

7. The Plagues • 1. Plague of Blood (Ex 7:14-24) • 4. Plague of flies (Ex 8:20-32) • 7. Plague of hail (Ex 9:13-35) • God tells Moses, “Go to Pharaoh in the morning…” • 2. Plague of frogs (Ex 8:1-15) • 5. Plague on Egyptian cattle (Ex 9:1-7) • 8. Plague of locusts (Ex 10:1-20) • God tells Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh…” • 3. Plague of “gnats” or “lice” (Ex 8:16-19) • 6. Plague of boils (Ex 9:8-12) • 9. Plague of darkness (Ex 10:21-28) • Moses gives Pharaoh no warning.

8. The Passover • The last plague kills every first-born son in Egypt • The plague skips the houses of the Israelites, marked with the blood of the Passover lamb • The Passover lamb is a type of Christ, the Lamb of God, whose blood saves us from eternal death • The Egyptians hurry the Israelites out of Egypt

9. Escape from Egypt • Pharaoh changes his mind again and chases after the Israelites • Clearing a path through the Sea of Reeds (usually translated in English as “Red Sea”), God miraculously saves the Israelites from the Egyptian army

10. Spiritual Food in the Wilderness • Hungry and thirsty, the Israelites complain to Moses • God sends them miraculous food and water • Bread (called “manna”) & water from a dry rock • The “bread which the Lord has given” (i.e., the “manna”) is a type of the Eucharist

11. The Covenant at Sinai • After traveling for 3 months, Israel reached Mount Sinai • Moses went up the mountain and received a message for the whole nation of Israel • If they would obey God, then they would be a nation of priests—they would be the ones to bring God’s Word to all the nations of the world • The people then heard God speak the conditions of the covenant with them, which were…

12. The Decalogue (i.e., the Ten Commandments)

13. The Temple in Heaven & On Earth • Moses went up the mountain once more, leaving his brother Aaron in charge • For 40 days & 40 nights, he was alone with God • This time, God showed Moses the pattern of the Tabernacle that would house the Ark of the Covenant • Tabernacle: the tent that served as a meeting place and temple for the Israelites while they wandered in the desert; it was designed as a reflection of the temple in heaven • Ark of the Covenant: an ornate box that held the tablets of the commandments; it represented God’s throne on earth

14. The Founding of Israel Part 2: The Law

15. The Golden Calf Changes Israel’s Relationship with God • While Moses was at the top of Mt. Sinai, the people of Israel have Aaron make an idol for them to worship • The “golden calf” was a false pagan god like the ones the Egyptians worshipped • Worshipping the golden calf involves not only idolatry but also immoral behavior • Idolatry: the worship of man-made images as though they were gods

16. Moses Pleads with God • The Israelites’ rejection of God caused God to reject them, but Moses pleaded with God for Israel & convinced God to not reject them • When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, he was so mad with Israel’s idolatry that he smashed the two stone tablets—symbolizing that Israel broke God’s covenant

17. The Institution of the Levitical Priesthood • One of the 12 tribes, the tribe of Levi, saw how upset Moses was & attacked the idolaters in Israel • While it was harsh, the Levites were able to prevent the utter destruction of Israel, & the nation would survive • As a result of their actions, the Levites were ordain as the priests for the rest of Israel • Israel was meant to be a nation of priests, but because of the idolatry of the Golden Calf the tribe of Levi was chosen for the priesthood

18. After the Fall • By falling into idolatry, Israel loses some of its unique relationship with God • The Levites assume the priesthood that would have belonged to all the people • The laws given after the golden calf were meant to teach Israel humility & holiness • Moses went up the mountain once again, & God wrote 2 new stone tablets to replace the ones Moses had smashed—symbolizing that God renewed his covenant with his people

19. Heaven On Earth • Moses receives instructions for building the Tabernacle • The design of the Tabernacle is an earthly representation of the heavenly temple

20. The Law • The Book of Leviticus teaches Israel how to be a holy people • Aaron’s sons tried to ignore these laws from Leviticus that God had given, but were punished by God with death • The deaths of Aaron’s sons showed how important it was to follow the rules precisely

21. In the Wilderness • When Moses sent spies to the Promised Land, they come back from Canaan with a pessimistic report that they couldn’t conquer the land • Two of the spies, Joshua & Caleb, believed Israel could conquer the land, but the people despaired and rebelled anyways • As punishment for their lack of faith, the rebellious generation would not enter the Promised Land • Moses & Aaron lost their patience & became very angry with both the people & God • Because of this, God made Moses & Aaron share the people’s punishment & they would not enter into the Promised Land

22. The Constitution of Israel • Israel falls into idolatry again at Beth-peor • In Deuteronomy (Gk. “second law”), Moses gives the people a new constitution for the state of Israel • Many laws in Deuteronomy makes concessions to Israel’s hard hearts (i.e., laws concerning divorce) • Like the U.S. Constitution, Deuteronomy is amended as times change

23. The Founding of Israel Part 3: The Rise of the Kingdom

24. The Conquest Begins • After Moses passed away, Joshua took over as the leader of Israel • The first target in conquering Canaan was the city of Jericho • Joshua sent two spies to stay with a woman named Rahab to prepare for the attack • When the Levite priests carried the Ark of the Covenant to the Jordan River, the river dried up so the people of Israel could advance towards Jericho

25. The Fall of Jericho • The Israelites marched silently around the city walls once a day for six days while priests blew trumpets • On the 7th day, the people marched around the city 7 times, gave a mighty shout, & the walls came tumbling down • The army of Israel marched over the rubble and conquered the city, saving Rahab & her family

26. The Judges • Israel, however, kept falling away from God into idolatry—and then into anarchy & even civil war • But God raised up “judges”—soldiers-prophets who rescued the people of Israel from their enemies • Why did Israel fall away so easily? • Israel failed to drive out the Canaanites

27. Samuel, the King-Maker • Samuel, a Levite priest & the last of the Judges, had been the leader of Israel for a long time, but his sons were corrupt • The Israelites confronted Samuel and told him to appoint a king so they could be like the other nations • The people were not rejecting Samuel; they were rejecting having God as their true King • Samuel agreed to appoint a king, but he warned them against what they would get it they wanted a king • Taxes • Military Service • Oppression

28. Saul, the Anointed One • God led Samuel to a man named Saul from the tribe of Benjamin & he anointed Saul with oil, proclaiming him King • The people might have rejected God from being king over them, but God was showing them that he would still rule them through their king • At first, things went very well under the new king

29. Saul’s Big Mistakes But power went quickly to Saul’s head & he made 2 big mistakes that cost him dearly • Mistake #1 • Saul offered a sacrifice to God without listening to Samuel’s instructions • As a result, Samuel prophesied that Saul’s son would not succeed him as king after him • Mistake #2 • Saul didn’t destroy all the Amalekites when God, through Samuel, instructed him to do so • As a result, Samuel pronounced that he was no longer king; someone else would have to be anointed as king

30. The Man After God’s Own Heart: David • God told Samuel to go to the house of Jesse & anoint one of Jesse’s sons • David, the youngest son, was anointed as king • Although Saul still possessed the kingdom, his special status as the Lord’s Anointed was gone

31. Words 4 Bingo! • Moses • Aaron • Plagues • Passover • Sea of Reeds (Red Sea) • Manna • Mount Sinai • Priests • Ten Commandments • Tabernacle • Ark of the Covenant • Golden Calf • Idolatry • Levites • Leviticus • Joshua • Caleb • Deuteronomy • Jericho • Jordan • Judges • Samuel • Saul • David