The Hebrew people
knew the stories of Joseph and Jacob and how they’d settled in Egypt four
centuries ago on Pharaoh’s dime. But
that was then and this is now – and now, they were slaves. Some might have
thought it was 430 years too late, yet God’s plan for deliverance was right on
schedule. His servant Moses was born
during the rule of a tyrannical Pharaoh whose infanticide program was aimed at
annihilating the nation of Israel.
Ironically, baby Moses was delivered from danger when Pharaoh’s daughter
rescued him from the Nile, hired his mother to nurse him, and raised him as a
royal son.
Moses grew up in
the palace but knew he’d been born a slave. Feeling sympathetic to the plight
of his people, he killed an Egyptian task master and was forced to flee. Moses
became a refugee in the far off land of Midian where he married and began
tending his father-in-law’s flocks. Moses spent the next 40 years hiding from
Pharaoh and like the Hebrew people, assumed this would be the way he’d spend
the rest of his days.
Then he met up with
a burning bush. God spoke from the bush and commissioned Moses as Israel’s
deliverer. Not a bad promotion for an 80 year old man with only “ex-prince” and
“shepherd” listed on his resume. God revealed Himself to Moses as I AM, the
covenant-keeping Redeemer of His people. Moses doubted his own qualifications
and abilities, but God responded with the guarantee of His presence.
Moses returned to
Egypt with the promise of God and the support of his brother Aaron. As expected, Moses’ demands of freeing the
Hebrews were met with Pharaoh’s stubborn refusal. So God sent a series of plagues and a cycle
of challenge began: The plague strikes; Pharaoh relents; the plague stops;
Pharaoh recants.
Then God presented
a shadow of what would be the “ultimate deliverance” with the final plague. All
the firstborn in the land would die in a single night, and there was only one
means of rescue. Every household in
Israel was to select a perfect Passover lamb, slaughter it and cover the
doorposts of their homes with its blood.
That night the angel of death would come and “pass over” the blood
stained houses, preserving the lives of all who were inside.
The Hebrews left
Egypt that same night, and later, an enraged Pharaoh took off in pursuit. Trapped between his powerful army on one side
and the Red Sea on the other, Egypt’s victory appeared certain. But God split the sea in two and the people
walked to safety on dry land. They
celebrated when Pharaoh’s army drowned in the same sea…but only for a moment.
Their jubilation quickly turned to complaint when Israel forgot what God had
done. They grumbled over the lack of
water and food, but God again proved Himself faithful by providing water, manna
and quail to sustain them, this time from their fears and inability to provide
for themselves.
The story of God’s
people had just begun. The details of the Lower Story already form an outline
of the big picture found in the Upper Story. God delivered His people from
bondage in Egypt as an early clue of the deliverance that Christ would bring.
It would be centuries before Jesus would come as God’s perfect Passover Lamb
and secure deliverance for His people. Yet the blood of Passover is a long
shadow of what was to come when the Lamb of God set foot on the stage of
history. These miracles were merely a hint of things to come; the I AM is still
our Deliverer.
- How did Moses’ life experiences prepare him for God’s call? What life experience could God use to minister to others through you?
- In the same way that God used Moses to set the Israelites free from slavery, he uses us to help people find freedom in Christ. Discuss your experiences with sharing your faith; what inhibitions keep you from doing so?
- When Moses asked for God’s “official” name, God replied: I AM WHO I AM. Why do you think God identified Himself that way? What is the significance of that name? What does this name for God tell us about him?
- When Moses tells Pharaoh to set the Israelites free, he responds by increasing their workload. Recall a time when you were obedient to God, but the situation worsened instead of improved. What life lessons can be drawn from these examples?
- Look at God’s description of himself on page 39 (note the “I will” phrases.) What is Moses focused on? What is God focused on?
- Pharaoh was “plagued” many times over, yet still refused to humble himself before God. Is there someone you know who has hardened his or her heart toward God? Can you see how God might use their decision?
- While this story has many obvious displays of God’s wrath, we also learn a lot about God’s goodness. List the ways this story shows God’s goodness.
- The Feast of Passover (p. 42) was to be perpetual reminder of how God delivered Israel. What are the parallels between Communion today, and the Passover?
- Even after being delivered, the people of Israel continue to grumble. Do you know any grumblers? Are you one? How does perpetual dissatisfaction affect those in its orbit?
- God provides food and water for the Israelites while they are wandering in the desert. Describe a time God met your need (emotionally, physically, spiritually, financially, etc.) in an unexpected way. Share how this impacted you and others.
