Bible History Overview

1. Week Nine - The Covenant Is Made – Exodus 13-40 Bible History Overview Prepared by Kelly Boyd

2. The Book of Exodus The Egyptian (pyramids) bondage is now over (cracked chain) for the Israelites. God provided deliverance by sending the ten plagues (frog and 10 fingers in the air) upon the Egyptian people. The Israelites plundered the Egyptians and have become rich as a result (large necklace, bracelets and ring). They leave Egypt and go straight into the desert (cactus) to receive the 10 commandments (10 fingers in the air) and to build the tabernacle (tent).

3. The Red Sea – Exodus 13-15:21 • The Israelites were now on their way to the Promised Land, the deliverance from the Egyptians finally accomplished – or was it? It seems that Pharaoh wasn’t giving up yet. Along with his army, he pursued the Israelites and overtook them at the Red Sea. They were trapped, and we see the weakness of their faith as they attack Moses and blame God. (14:11,12) The bitter centuries of bondage had dwindled their faith to almost nothing, and now even slavery seemed attractive compared to their plight. Their lives had been definitely and drastically affected, and the seeds of idolatry sown which would later bear ugly fruit.

4. The Red Sea – Exodus 13-15:21 • This confrontation was not unforseen by God, and was yet another opportunity for Him to prove His power. (14:4). By miraculously opening the Red Sea, He stretched once again the faith of His people, and by closing it on Pharaoh and his army He brought about the complete deliverance of the Israelites. • This story began with a cry of distress (3:7), and ended with a song of praise (15:1-18). The people sang, “The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will praise Him”. (15:2)

5. The Desert Testing – Exodus 15:22-18:27 • When God delivered His people from Egypt, He didn’t take them by the direct route to the Promised land. Instead, He led them into the desert toward Mount Sinai. • Through these travels, God tested them to see if they would obey Him (15:25,26; 16:4). They, in turn, tested God (17:7) which is never a good idea (Matthew 4:7; Hebrews 3:7-11)

6. The Desert Testing – Exodus 15:22-18:27 • The events of these chapters seem almost to repeat themselves. It goes something like this: • God Meets the Need! There is a need! The people complain!

7. The Desert Testing – Exodus 15:22-18:27 • He made bitter (poisonous) water sweet (15:22-25) • He provided meat from heaven for them (16:1-13) • He provided bread from heaven for them (16:13-36) • He brought water forth from a rock for them (17:1-7) • He defeated the Amalekites for them (17:8-15) In each of these events, God was showing the Israelites their deep dependence on Him, and that it was only in complete trust in Him that they would be truly blessed. This is still true for us today.

8. The Lord Makes a Covenant • As you read through chapters 19, 20 and 24 of Exodus, make some notes as to the seriousness of a covenant made with God. Wow! • God’s covenant with His people was offered as an undeserved blessing and honor from their King and Redeemer. He had already redeemed them and brought them safely through the desert. Now He offered the privilege of living under His righteous rule and in loyal obedience to the laws of his realm. The result would be safety, peace, security, abundance and fruitfulness in the Promised land.

9. The Lord Makes a Covenant • The Israelites as a nation were very young. They had no government, no laws, no army, not even an organized religious practice. The first step was to establish a legal framework (20:1-17) for this new society, one which would make clear the holiness of God and the sinfulness of men. God was looking for a people who were totally committed to following Him, wherever He might lead. • The people agreed to the terms of the covenant: “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey”. (24:7)

10. The Golden Calf – Exodus 32 • Unfortunately, the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. While Moses was on the mountain for 40 days and nights receiving the Law, the people began to sin. With high priest Aaron’s help they made a golden calf and began to worship it. Their greatest sin was trying to capture the presence of God in the form of the calf, which they had been commanded not to do. • Israel had much to learn about the God they had pledged to obey; “God is spirit, and those that worship Him must do so in spirit and truth”. (John 4:24)

11. The Golden Calf – Exodus 32 • Notice the horrific results of sin – about 3,000 people died that day. Sin equals death; it did for Adam and Eve, and in Moses’ day and even today. Someone must pay the price. • Praise be to God who sent Jesus to suffer in our place! We must be covered by His blood, or we too will be blotted out of His book. (Exodus 32:33)

12. The Tabernacle –Exodus 25-40 • The remainder of the book of Exodus is devoted to the building of the Tabernacle, a portable house of worship, that took a year to make.

13. The Tabernacle • Building the Tabernacle was hard work, but more important, it was careful work. “Make this tabernacle and its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you”, 25:9. • The reason for this was that the Tabernacle was a copy, a “likeness” of heavenly things (see Hebrews 8:5). There was a symbolism and foreshadowing of the redeeming work of Christ Himself, and the New Covenant.

14. The Courtyard – 27:9-19; 38:9-20 • The Tabernacle was surrounded by an enclosed area that was 150 feet long and 75 feet wide. It was surrounded by a fence consisting of posts supporting sections of linen sheet sewn together to make a continuous curtain. • The courtyard represents the world, for whom entry into the Holy Place was forbidden because of sin.

15. The Courtyard – 27:9-19; 38:9-20 Tabernacle Replica, Lancaster, PA

16. The Altar of Burnt Offering– 27:1-8; 38:1-7 • The altar was 7.5 foot square and 4.5 foot high. This is where the Jews were to present their sacrifices. Grill of Altar

17. The Altar of Burnt Offering– 27:1-8; 38:1-7 • They were to place their hand on the head of the animal while it was slaughtered, confessing their sin. This symbolically transferred the sin to the animal, and as one felt the life draining from the lamb, they experienced the full dread of the result of sin. • Then the priest would pour out the blood at the base of the altar, and offer up the choice parts in the fire of the altar, which was to be kept burning day and night. • The altar symbolizes the penalty of sin, and the need for the atoning work of the perfect Lamb of God. It foreshadows the death of Christ.

18. The Laver – 30:17-21; 38:8 A great bronze basin to hold water for the priests, to wash their whole bodies at ordination, and for their hands and feet before the daily ministering. It symbolizes Christian baptism.

19. The Tabernacle – 26:1-37; 36:8-38 • The Tabernacle was actually a tent, 45 feet long and 15 feet wide. Its walls were made of boards covered in gold, in bases of silver, with bars through rings to hold the walls together. • The roof was of either badger skins or porpoise skins, the translation is unclear. • Inside the tent was the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.

20. The Holy Place - • Inside the tent was the Holy Place, which measured 30 feet long and 15 feet wide. It symbolizes the church, being set apart from the world. • Note that to approach the Holy Place, the worshiper only has access by way of the altar and the laver. This is the “water and the blood” that John spoke of. (1 John 5:8) Tabernacle Replica, Lancaster, PA

21. The Table of Shewbread – 25:23-30; 37:10-16 • On the North side of the Holy Place, this piece of furniture was 3 feet long, 18 in. wide and 27 in. tall, covered with gold. Twelve small loaves, one for each tribe of Israel, were placed there every week. Only the priests were allowed to eat it. This was a symbol of man’s dependence on God, and for us in the church, of the Lord’s Supper. Jesus said He is the bread of life.

22. The Lampstand – 25:31-40; 37:17-24 • Made of approximately 75 lbs of pure gold, the lampstand held 7 lamps for the light of the Holy Place. It was to never go out while the Israelites were camped, and the Tabernacle was set up. • During the great feast, Jesus proclaimed that He was the light of the world, thus identifying Himself with the symbolism of the lampstand. We also see the word of God here, which enlightens the church.

23. The Altar of Incense – 30:1-10; 37:25-28 • Located near the veil of the Most Holy Place, this altar was 3 feet high and 18 in. square, covered with gold. There were carrying poles covered in gold, inserted in gold rings at the corners. • The incense burned on this altar was a special formula reserved for the Tabernacle worship of God alone, and it was forbidden for any other use. The person who did would be cut off from Israel. It represents the prayers of God’s people and Christ as our intercessor.

24. The Most Holy Place • Also called the “Holy of Holies”, the Most Holy Place was a perfect cube, 15’ x 15’. The High Priest came here once a year on the Day of Atonement, to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice. If he approached at any other time, he would die. • Hebrews says that Jesus is our High Priest and the sacrifice, and the blood is His own. We can come into the very presence of God with boldness because of His atonement. • The Most Holy Place was an image of heaven itself.

25. The Veil – 26:31-33 • Made of the finest linen, the veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. It symbolizes our separation from God caused by sin, and is interpreted by Hebrews 10:20 as the flesh of our Lord. • When Jesus died the veil of the temple was torn in two, and a new and living way was opened into the very presence of God, by Jesus’ death.

26. The Ark of the Covenant – 25:10-22; 37:1-9 • The ark was a wooden chest covered in gold, and was regarded as the throne of God. It was 42 in. long, 27 in. wide and 27 in. high, with carrying poles placed in rings at the corners. The “mercy seat” was a solid gold lid decorated with cherubim, where the High Priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice on Yom Kippur. This symbolizes the blood of Christ, the perfect Lamb of God.

27. Seeing Christ in this Passage • Jesus regarded manna as a shadow of Himself (John 6:31-33) • Moses supplied water from a rock. Jesus gives water that springs up unto eternal life (John 4:14) • Moses sprinkled the blood of the covenant on the people. (24:8) Jesus’ blood was the blood of the New Covenant. (Luke 22:20) • Paul said that “the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ”. (Galatians 3:24) • The entire Tabernacle was a beautiful prophecy of Christ. (Colossians 1:19) • Aaron as High Priest foreshadowed the work of Christ (Hebrews 8-10)

28. What About Me? • How serious are you about your covenant with God? In this lesson we learned it is a serious thing to come into the presence of the living God. “Our God is a consuming fire”, Hebrews 12:29. He gave strict instructions for every aspect of Tabernacle worship, and the penalty for violating them was death! • Do you try to have God on your own terms, for your own convenience, as the Israelites did when they made the golden calf? • This may sound like a heavy load – and it is! Truly evaluate your “walk” with God. Many of us could honestly say that we’re not totally committed to following God. This lesson can be the first step to getting us back on the right track.