Unit 1: Exodus: The Exodus

Week 1: Preparing Moses
Week 2: Calling Moses
Week 3: The first nine plagues
Week 4: The Passover
Week 5: The Flee
Week 6: God saves His people

Week 1: Preparing Moses

Preparing Moses: Exodus 1-3

Objective:

Be familiar with the transition from Genesis-Exodus
The circumstances during the birth of Moses
Moses is trying to save his people with his own power
Moses accepts God's call

Resources:

Reading:

General
- Exodus 1-3
Specific
- Exodus 1: 8-22
- Exodus 2: All
- Exodus 3: 1-20

Key verse(s):

"‘And he said, “Here I am”’ Exodus 3:4
"And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” Exodus 3:14

Comments:

Starts by mentioning only 70 persons entered Egypt with Jacob to link with the end of Genesis.
God blessed the Israelites and they multiplied. We see God's promise to Abraham being fulfilled as his seed being multiplied.
Joseph wasn't mentioned to those who entered Egypt as he was already there.
Exodus 2 starts by mentioning that Moses' father is from the tribe of Levi. Priesthood started with Aaron (Moses's brother was the first priest). Priesthood will be kept for the tribe of Levi only.
We see the transition in Moses' life from relying on his power to save his people to relying completely on God.
Exodus 3:2: "Angel of the Lord" means God (mentioned many times in the OT) Himself appeared in the bush.
- Consider mentioning that the bush symbolizes St. Mary and the fire symbolizes our Lord Jesus Christ.
Exodus 3:14: “I AM WHO I AM” - God mentioned His name for the first time. “I AM WHO I AM” also means "Jehovah".

Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions

How can you prove that God supported His people during the time of Egyptian persecution?
What was Moses's tribe?
Who found Moses at the river? What is the meaning of his name?
Where did Moses flee to?
What was Moses' wife's name?
Describe the meeting between God and Moses.
What was God's name?

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

_______ persons entered Egypt.
The names of the two Hebrew midwives were: _______ & ________
Moses was from the tribe of: ______
Who was watching Moses while he was in the basket in the river?
What's the meaning of the name "Moses"?
The first fight was between two Hebrew men. (T/F)
What was the name of Moses' wife?

Week 2: Calling Moses

Calling Moses: Exodus 4-6

Objective:

Hesitation of Moses
Moses returns to Egypt
Moses vs Pharoh

Resources:

Reading:

- Exodus 4: 1-17
- Exodus 5: 4-19
- Exodus 6: 1-13,28-30

Key verse(s):

Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh heed me?” Exodus 6:30

Comments:

Moses was advanced in age. He lost his confidence since the day he killed the Egyptian. These two reasons led to his extreme hesitation in the leadership of the Israelites.
God showed him two miracles (rod and hand) to show him that everything with God is possible. He needs to trust in God and everything will work out.
Due to Moses' self-esteem, God will let Aaron speak for Moses.
"Moses took the rod of God in his hand" Exodus 4:20. The rod is now called the "rod of God" as it will lead the people through many miracles and will symbolize God's power and presence.
Moses asked the pharaoh to let the Israelites go, but he increased the labor as a punishment. (Make sure you explain this before reading chapter 5 verses)
God renewed His promise in chapter six. He also told Moses to see what He would do as a result of Pharaoh's rejection.
Make sure to mention that:
- Moses' mother's name: Jochebed (Exodus 6:20)
- Moses' wife's name: Zipporah (Exodus 2:21)

Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions

What are the two miracles mentioned in chapter 4?
Who will join Moses in leading the people out of Egypt?
What was the result of the first meeting between Moses and Pharoh?
What did God do in chapter six to strengthen Moses? (Ans: renew His promise)

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

Moses was not able to switch the serpent into a rod. (T/F)
Pharaoh agreed to let the people go after the first meeting with Moses. (T/F)
Aaron's hand was leprous when he put it in his bosom. (T/F)
Who said: “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind?" (God - Moses - Aaron)
What is the name of Moses' mother?

Week 3: The first nine plagues

The first nine plagues - Exodus 7-10

Objective:

Moses Confronts Pharaoh Through Plagues
The first nine plagues

Resources:

Reading:

- Exodus 7: 8-25
- Exodus 8: 1-11,16-29
- Exodus 9: 1-29
- Exodus 10: 1-15,21-29

Key verse(s):

"But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said." Repeated after every plague

Comments:

General comments:
- It's good to repeat the ten plagues. The above infographic is a good visual aid.
- The verses for the first nine plagues are repeated in almost all of them. It is good to prepare before the delivery to decide which verses explain the plague. The intro and ending for each plague are repeated.
Moses never lost faith in God and did not get bored of facing Pharaoh.
Exodus 7:12: Shows that God is stronger than Satan. Shows that the miracles from God are stronger.
The magicians were able to perform some of these miracles by the power of Satan. They were not able to reverse them or end the plagues as God did not allow this. It shows that God is stronger than Satan. And what is from God will stay and will not change without His permission.
After the third plague, the magicians finally confessed that this was God.
Pharaoh asking Moses to take the people and go is not a real repentance. Pharaoh thought he can deceive God and outsmart Him.
Notice that all the plagues attacked the Egyptians, but the Israelites were safe.
Exodus 10:22: Darkness for three days then light = Death of our Lord for three days before His Resurrection.
Exodus 10:23: Darkness is a symbol of Hades. Not seeing one another means no one will be able to help or save at the end.
Moses told Pharaoh that they will not meet again (10:29) as he knew the tenth plague will be the last one (the finale)

Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions

What are the ten plagues?
When did the magicians realize the signs Moses did were from God?
Was Pharaoh's repentance real? Why not?

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

Mention the ten plagues in order.
What was the miracle that took place between Moses and Pharaoh's sorcerers?
The plagues affected the Egyptians as well as the Israelites. (T/F)
The river was turned into blood for ___ days.

Week 4: The Passover

The Passover - Exodus 11-12

Objective:

Understand Passover
The relation between the Passover and the Cross

Resources:

Reading:

- Exodus 11: 4-10
- Exodus 12: 1-30

Key verse(s):

"And when I see the blood, I will pass over you” Exodus 12:13

Comments:

The Jewish Passover was the most obvious symbol of the Cross
God gave Moses detailed information about the Passover: God likes order
Verse 5: Your lamb shall be without blemish = Our Lord was without blemish
Blood on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses:
- No blood on the floor so they respect it and not step on it
- Makes the sign of the Cross - Salvation is through the Cross
Verse 13: "And when I see the blood, I will pass over you"
- "Pass over " is why it is called Passover
- Blood= Passover= Passing over the houses with blood= Pascha= means saved from death= Salvation is through blood (Cross)
V.35: God allowed them to take gold and silver as a payback for all the years they worked as slaves. They didn't respect what God did for them and used all that gold to build the golden calf to worship.
The chapter has more details. Please prepare it according to the needs of your class.
Read verses 40-42

Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions

Review the rites of Passover.

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

What day of the month is the Passover celebrated?
What was the sign that will prevent the firstborn from dying?
Where was the blood placed?
How many years did the Israelites spend in Egypt?

Week 5: The Flee

The Flee - Exodus 13-15

Objective:

The victory of God's people
God's mighty hand is seen clearly in Chapter 14
Chapter 15 is the first canticle in the Midnight praises

Resources:

Reading:

- Exodus 13: 1-10, 17-22
- Exodus 14: All
- Exodus 15: 22-27

Key verse(s):

Exodus 14:13-14

Comments:

Consecrating the firstborn is a sign of consecration and holiness. The firstborn is the most valuable to the family. God wanted to teach them to give their most valuable to God.
Exodus 13:3-10: The Feast of the Unleavened Bread
- God wanted them to keep this feast to remember this day.
Exodus 13:20-22: These verses show God's presence among them and lead them out of the land of slavery to the land of promise. God leads the way from earth to heaven and sin to grace.
Exodus 14 is the famous story of Exodus.
Exodus 15 is the first Canticle/Hoos.
Exodus 15:22-27: God's mighty hand is seen. The people will not appreciate all these signs and miracles.

Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions

What is the rite of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread?
What happened in front of the Red Sea?
When does the church pray Exodus 15?

Conclusion prayer:
First Canticle/Hoos - Exodus 15

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

Who lead the praises after crossing the Red Sea?
What was leading the people in the wilderness?
What is the Feast of the Unleavened Bread meant to commemorate?
The Israelites never complained before crossing the Red Sea. (T/F)

Week 6: God saves His people

God saves His people - Exodus 16-18

Objective:

The Bread from Heaven
God's mighty hand is seen clearly in Chapter 14
Chapter 15 is the first canticle in the Midnight praises

Resources:

Reading:

- Exodus 16: 9-31
- Exodus 17: 1-16
- Exodus 18: 13-27

Key verse(s):

"And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed" Exodus 17:11

Comments:

People were hungry so God send them Manna and Quail
People did not know what the Manna was, so they started asking each other “What is it?”. “What is it?” in Hebrew is the same as Manna.
God told them to rise early to eat (god wants them to be proactive by getting up early). They can't keep any of it as God wants to teach them to have faith in Him. They can only keep twice on the sixth day as God asked them to keep some for the seventh day. This is for them to watch God's day.
Our Lord Jesus Christ told his people that He is the Manna that came down from Heaven for us.
- They asked for bread like Moses gave the people
- But Our Lord told them they ate the Manna and died. But who eats My Body will have eternal life. (John 6)
Exodus 17: we see Moses getting tired of the people continuously complaining. God is patient with him and the people.
Exodus 17:11: shows that the victory of people is through the sign of the Cross.
Exodus 18: Even though Moses was a great prophet and God's man, he did not hesitate to take Jethro's advice. He was a humble man and didn't hesitate to implement a good idea that came from someone else (even though Moses was the leader).
We also see Moses' humility in spending a lot of time listening to the people and in honoring his father-in-law.

Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions

What are the instructions God gave for the Manna?
What are the two miracles in chapter 17?
What was the advice given to Moses in chapter 18?

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

The Manna used to come down every day. (T/F)
God gave them ______ and _____ to eat, and ____ from a rock.
What was the sign Moses did so that the Israelites can defeat the Amalek?
____ and ____ held Moses' hands when he felt weary.