Background: The book of Exodus chronicles the search for Israel’s identity. One could say that Exodus is Israel’s response to and explication for the questions “Who are you?” and “To whom do you belong?” Israel is on its way to establish its covenant relationship with God at Sinai. The people have survived grumbling at God because the lacked bread, meat, and water. God’s providence has been demonstrated countless times during their journey.

Theme: Today’s scene signals the fulfillment of the promise made to Moses in his first encounter with God on Mount Sinai in Exodus 3. Moses goes up on the mountain to get the 10 Commandments (10 words in Hebrew). The Commandments are a sign of the relationship between God and the people of Israel – what God expects from Israel and what God promises in return. This covenant is typical of ancient Near East covenants.

Questions to Ponder:
* Please read Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20. Review what is “missing” in the text, vv. 5-6, 8-11, for context.
* Place this reading in context; where does it take place, who are the characters, what is the relationship between the characters, etc.?
* For what reason might God offer these commandments or directions as the outline of faith and practice for the Israelites?
* For what reason would God begin the description of orthodoxy with the self-revelation in verse 2?
* Why is God’s self-identification of importance to the Israelites? To us, especially considering we have Jesus on our side?
* What do you find troubling about these 10 commandments? How do we know how to act in the manner described in these 10 relational phrases?
* If these are commandments or laws why is there no punishment associated with each of the 10 commandments?
* Why might there be only 1 of 10 commandments, referring to verse 12, that has a consequence for upholding the commandment? Of what importance would “long days in the land” be a blessing?
* How does God’s self-revelation shape the practice of the Israelites religion? How does God (1) calling Israel to be God’s people and (2) bringing Israel safely from bondage in Egypt into the promise land shape the practice of the Israelite people? How should those facts shape our practice of faith?
* Why do you think it was important for God to point out the “obvious” in verse 2 and 3?
* To whom do the commandments apply, i.e. the First Commandment is between Israel and God, the Tenth Commandment describes the communal relationship in Israel, etc.?
* What do you think the “punishment” is for not observing God’s commandments as laid out in these 20 verses?
* In verse 16, why would bearing false witness be an issue in Israel?
* Do you think Moses “made up” the statement in verse 20 considering there is no statement by God that says these commandments are a test?
* What would the impetus be to follow these commandments, especially since we no longer live in a society where people are critically connected to their neighbors?

Background: The book of Exodus chronicles the search for Israel’s identity. One could say that Exodus is Israel’s response to and explication for the questions “Who are you?” and “To whom do you belong?” The Israelites have been delivered from Egypt through the sea. God has been with them on their journey and has provided for them as they need.

Theme: After crossing the Red Sea and seeing the utter defeat of the Egyptian army Israel has begun the journey to Mount Sinai to worship God. Israel’s journey is not one that proceeds smoothly – resources are lacking without divine intervention. Israel, with their lack of memory, forgets God’s presence beginning with their deliverance from Egypt through the Red Sea, across the wilderness being provided water, manna, and quail. God continues to hear the Israelite’s plea for assistance and even in their distrust God provides what they need. Yet Moses appears to tire from being in the bull’s eye.

Questions to Ponder:
* Please read Exodus 17:1-7.
* Place this reading in context; where does it take place, who are the characters, what is the relationship between the characters, etc.?
* Where are Rephidim, Horeb, Massah, and Meribah?
* Why might Moses and Israel camp in a place without water?
* Why might the people blame Moses for the lack of water and accuse him of leading them to their death?
* It appears the people are more upset with Moses than they are questioning God. Do you think it was right for Moses to bring God into the mix when considering the lack of drinkable water?
* Where does God direct Moses to find water in response to the people’s grumbling?
* Of what purpose might the elders be? What do you think God is trying to reinforce by making Moses have others present when he follows God’s command to locate water (remember, Moses does NOT make water – he simply finds it in the rock)?
* Why do you think God directs Moses to walk before the people to find water? Of what importance would it be for Moses to recognize the people’s condition as it actually is?
* Why do you think the Israelites were quarreling/complaining against God’s leadership? Don’t you think they remembered the miraculous actions of God in their immediate past?
* What is God’s wisdom when replying to the Israelite’s challenge for water (and food last week)?
* What is God’s wisdom in making others besides Moses and Aaron be present when the water was located?
* What is interesting about the staff used to locate clean water for Israel? Especially when considering the same staff polluted water in Egypt?
* What is God’s point to the people of Israel and to Moses by this exchange??
* How is the search for, and location of, “water” germane to our lives in Suffolk today?

Background: The book of Exodus chronicles the search for Israel’s identity. One could say that Exodus is Israel’s response to and explication for the questions “Who are you?” and “To whom do you belong?” In the first portion of Exodus the stage is set describing the subjugation of Israel in Egypt, the identification of Moses, and the connection between Moses and God.

Theme: Moses has fled from Egypt and has taken on the role of herdsman. While he is tending his father-in-law’s flock he meets God in a burning bush atop the mountain. In the process of finding God and receiving God’s task to deliver Israel from subjugation in Egypt we are given insights into the person that Moses really is.

Questions to Ponder:
* Please read Exodus 3:1-15.
* Locate the following places and people: Horeb, Midian, Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
* Do you think the writer is inconsistent when describing who is in the burning bush? In verse 2 the entity is identified as “an angel of God” and in verse 4 the source of the vision is God himself.
* What are some of the traditions about shoe wearing that you are aware of? How might a different social context for shoe wearing impact the theology in this passage?
* It appears that God has a plan in this passage. Does it seem consistent that Moses would trust that the burning bush was, in fact, God yet not believe that God, who could burn a bush without consuming it, would be able to succeed in everything he had planned?
* God had a plan to deliver Israel from bondage. Why would God need Moses to have that plan work?
* Why do you think Moses was reluctant to do God’s bidding?
* How might the sign of Moses worshiping on the mountain be a sign for Moses? Especially consider that the sign would happen in the future and after Moses had done what God had asked. What do you think would happen if Moses didn’t specifically follow God’s exact plan?
* How would God’s divine name, יהוה, be known to Israel? Especially considering that God had never disclosed the divine name to anyone before Moses.
* What do you find significant in God’s self-identification to Moses? E.g., the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob…
* How does Moses’ reaction to God mimic the reaction we have to God in our time?
* What is the promise of redemption found in this passage? For the people of Moses’ time? For the people of our time?
* What is the good news associated with God, Moses, and the burning bush?

Background: The book of Exodus chronicles the search for Israel’s identity. One could say that Exodus is Israel’s response to and explication for the questions “Who are you?” and “To whom do you belong?” In the first portion of Exodus the stage is set describing the subjugation of Israel in Egypt and the identification of Moses.

Theme: This passage highlights the prejudice and discrimination against the Hebrews by the “new” Egyptian king after Joseph’s death. This passage sets the stage for the conflict that will follow as Moses leads the Hebrews out of Egypt into the Promise land. This passage also continues the theme of “God’s plan and heroes are not the same as society’s” by introducing heroines who are the Hebrew midwives, Moses’ sister, and Pharaoh’s daughter.

Questions to Ponder:
* Please read Exodus 1:8-2:10
* What might have led to the new king over Egypt not knowing Joseph? Might that be another meaning to the claim that the king did not know Joseph?
* Why might Pharaoh want to “deal shrewdly” with the Israelites? Especially considering the Israelites were obviously productive in Egyptian society.
* What do you find ironic about the treatment of the Israelites by Pharaoh in verses 12-14? Specifically, how the Israelites thrived under extreme duress.
* Do you think Pharaoh’s claim was true, that Israel had become more numerous and powerful than Egypt? Why or why not?
* In verse 12 the term “spread” is, in Genesis, interpreted as “get rich”. Why would the riches held by Israel make the Egyptians dread Israel?
* In verse 13, the Egyptians were accused of making Israel work until they dropped. How does Israel address compulsory and excessive labor?
* Why is the midwives fear of God important to their identity? How is their recognition odd when compared to both the Israelites and Egyptians?
* In chapter 2, verse 2, the term “fine” was translated as “good” in the creation stories in Genesis. What is the author implying with recognizing Moses as divinely blessed?
* Who was Moses’ sister? How will she fit in the broader story of life for the Israelites?
* How is Moses’ sister and her behavior important to Moses’ story? Why might she position herself to see how Moses fares when he’s cast into the river?
* Do you think the papyrus basket is foreshadowing the future (the Exodus) or connecting to the past (the Ark)?
* How reasonable would it be that Pharaoh’s daughter recognized the child as a Hebrew child but Pharaoh could not recognize a “hated Hebrew”?
* What is the good news of this story in our context?

Background: This passage falls near the end of Exodus; specifically at the end of a section entitled The Breaking and Renewal of the Covenant. In this passage Moses returns from Mount Sinai with a new set of the laws of the Covenant between God and Israel. This passage sets the stage for the orthodoxy of Judaism.

Theme: Moses has led the Israelites out of bondage into the Promise land. Moses has gone up on Mount Sinai to receive the Covenant between God and Israel. On Moses’ first endeavor up the mountain Israel turned away from God and worshiped the golden calf. This account is Moses’ second attempt at obtaining the law of the covenant.

Questions to Ponder:
* Please read Exodus 34:29-35. In addition, please read Exodus 31:18-34:28 for context.
* What is the setting for this passage? What has occurred in Israel’s past that has led them to this location and situation?
* How did Moses come by the tablets in this account? How does this differ from the previous account of Moses receiving the law?
* How might you explain the differences between the account in Chapter 31 and Chapter 34?
* In the first account of Moses receiving the law there was no indication that there was a change in Moses’ appearance. In this, the second receipt of the law, Moses face shines. Why might this difference occur in the two accounts?
* What might Moses’ shining face signify? Why might Moses’ shining face cause the Israelites, especially the elders, to be in fear?
* Why would the leaders turn (or return) to Moses once he speaks to them? How does Moses speaking allay the fears of the leaders of Israel?
* What was the function of the tent of meeting?
* Why would the Israelites want Moses to cover his face?
* Why would Moses be compelled to uncover his face when he goes in before God?
* What do you think Moses’ function is between God and Israel, as demonstrated in this passage?
* What is the significance of this passage to us today?
* Do you think people’s faces shine today? Or do you think Moses’ face was the only face to shine, since he is the only person who has seen God in person?
* How does this passage fit into the life and ministry of our faith today?