Exodus I
If you were to lead a discussion of the book of Exodus, what are some of the verses you would choose for special emphasis? Why would you choose these particular verses?
posted by Ancient Art at 7:17 PM
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
If you were to lead a discussion of the book of Exodus, what are some of the verses you would choose for special emphasis? Why would you choose these particular verses?
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- Name: Ancient Art
- Location: Aberdeen, South Dakota, United States
Professor of History, NSU
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One of the verses that I think would be good for discussion is Exodus 3:14 "God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM This is what you are to say to the Israelites: "I AM has sent me to you.'" I have always found this very interesting. God is calling himself "I AM" In the Bible I have, there is a note at the bottom that says this could also be translated, "I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE". I guess I would be curious to find out what others think about this verse. What does it mean? What was God trying to tell Moses? Why would the Israelites understand this?
Another couple of verses I think would lead to a good discussion are Exodus 7:2-4 "You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country. But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you. I find these verses interesting because God was telling Moses that this would not be an easy task and that Pharaoh's heart would be hardened. Why would God do this? Why make things difficult? I think this would be an interesting topic to discuss.
The line I would pay particular attention to is the repitition of God saying that he will harden Pharoh's heart so that despite the many signs Moses performs, Pharoh will not let the Hebrews go. It seems like God is taking away Pharoh's free will. He wants Pharoh to not be amazed by His power so that he can destroy the Egyptians. At least that is how appears to me. I don't get it. I don't see why God would purposely harden someone's heart, or what the writer of Exodus is trying to accomplish.
The verses that I would concentrate is Exodus 13:17-14:31 where Moses leads his people from slavery & Egypt. God uses a pillars of cloud and fire to leads his people on their journey. When the Egyptian pursue them, Moses parts the Red Sea, the Hebrews escape, and the pursuers drown. It is reassuring that no matter what happens, God helps us out of trouble and toward the promise land, saving us from our enemies.
Also, the promises that God makes will not be broken. Even the promise that God made to Joseph that his bones will be taken out of Egypt and toward the lands of his ancestors, which is in and around modern-day Israel, was made and kept by God. God made promises to Moses and the Hebrews stating that God will liberate them from their oppression.
The book of Exodus is filled with not only great verses, but with great Chapters. The book of Exodus shows the Lord's power he possesses. He also shows that he is more available. Moses and the Isrealites ask for God's help many times. They test the Lord by asking for water, food, and safety, which the Lord provides him each time they ask. It made me think of a verse in the New Testament, Matthew 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." I think this verse even though in the New Testement applies here because Moses and the Isrealites did a lot of asking and knocking.
With that I still think the power of God that was shown in Chapters 7-12 was the most memorable from the book of Exodus. In these chapters he puts ten plagues on Egypt, until He finally killed the first son of those who did not believe, including the Pharoah. These plagues demonstrated the power that God possesses. It is very frightening to think that at the wave of a hand he can cause locusts, gnats, and flies, or he could cause hail or darkness. It should instill fear in everyone.
The verses I enjoyed was Exodus 4:10-16. God says that the Israelites are a "stiff-necked" people and these verses show this. I liked these verses because Moses reminds me of my children. Moses tried his best to get out of the job God wanted him to perform.
I don't have a particular verse that i would use for discussion, but I would like to emphasize on how god prooved himself to moses with the staff, skin disease, etc. Then all the plagues that Moses told pharoh that would come his and his Egyptian's way, but yet not harm his fellow Israelites.
i would pay attetion to the verses where Moses is telling god that he can not a really leader and he thinks he couldn't lead them. All god said to his is that he is the one that created man and he will guide Moses on this path.
this is important because is shows that God is going to help us through our journey in life and all we need to do is trust him and we will suceed.
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