Unit 2: Exodus: In the Wilderness

• Week 1: Preparing the people
• Week 2: Instructions for the Tabernacle
• Week 3: The Priesthood
• Week 4: Instituting the Covenant
• Week 5: Moses's intercessions
• Week 6: Building the Tabernacle

Week 1: Preparing the people

Preparing the people: Exodus 19-23

Objective: 

• Preparing the people to receive the ten commandments

• The Ten Commandments

• The Law of the Altar

• Moral and Ceremonial Principles

• The Law of Sabbaths

• The three Annual Feasts

Resources:

• Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
• Catena Bible Commentary
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)

Reading:

• Exodus 19: 1-22
• Exodus 20: 1-26
• Exodus 21: NO READING
  
• Exodus 22: 16-24
• Exodus 23: 10-19 (VERY IMPORTANT TO COVER)

Key verse(s):

• "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage" Exodus 20:2

Comments:

• God was preparing the people in chapter 19 to receive the law. God asked Moses to tell the people to be prepared by the all washings so they can receive God's word.
• Only Moses and Aaron went up the mountain.
• Moses received the precious ten commandments in chapter 20. The thunderings, the lightning flashes, and the smoke were all to prove God's presence on the mountain with Moses. So when Moses goes back down to them, they all believe as they all witness God's meeting with Moses.
  
• At the time, nations used to build idols to represent their gods so they can use them for worship. The Israelites were influenced by the Egyptians. God wanted to prevent them from doing this by asking them to build an altar for sacrifice. Ironically, they built the golden calf later!
• In chapters 21-23, God is giving the people rules and laws to keep everything in order. These people were so primitive in their mindset and culture, that God wanted to improve their mindset and culture.
• Exodus 22: 16-24 talks about how a man should respect his wife. At this time, men used to treat women like objects and with no respect. God gave them rules to follow and modernize them.
• In chapter 23, God told them to keep the sabbath every week, and also every six years.
• God also told them to keep three feasts to rejoice in God's work with them which are:
  • The Feast of Unleavened Bread: linked with Passover
  • The Feast of Harvest: 50 days after Passover
  • The Feast of Ingathering: Also called the Feast of Tabernacles and they used to dwell for seven days in tents (tabernacles) to remember the days in the wilderness when God covered them (Think of covers and tents. The two words have the same meaning in Hebrew)

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

1. How do we now as Christians sanctify ourselves to meet the Lord?
2. Which is the first commandment with a promise is what does it promise?
3. "The Lord your God is jealous". Explain 
4. How do these laws expand the Ten Commandments?
5. What did the first fruits represent?

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

1. If the CHILDREN OF ISRAEL obeyed God, what would they become?
   A) A special treasure B) Holy Nation C) Kingdom of Priests D) all of the these
2. Who did God ask Moses to take with him up the mountain?
   A) The priests B) The people C) Aaron D) Joshua 
3. What was the very first commandment given to Moses?
   A) Honor thy father B) No other gods before Me C) Don’t steal D) Don’t murder
4. Who are we to “honor?”
   A) graven images B) little children C) father and mother D) sun and moon

Week 2: Instructions for the Tabernacle

Instructions for the Tabernacle: Exodus 24-27

Objective: 

• Moses in the midst of the cloud

Resources:

• Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
• Catena Bible Commentary
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)

Reading:

• Exodus 24:1-18
• Exodus 25:1-22
• Exodus 26: NO READING

Key verse(s):

• "Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them." Exodus 24:12

Comments:

• God called Moses to go up on the mountain. Nadab and Abihu are Aaron's sons. They did not please the Lord by offering profane fire before the Lord (Leviticus 10)
• Moses will meet God alone by himself. But the people that went up with him represented the congregation so they don't feel the lack of communion with God:
  • Moses receiver of the Law.
  • Aaron represents the priesthood.
  • Nadab and Abihu represent the priests and the Levites.
  • The seventy of the elders of Israel: Leaders of the congregation.
• Joshua

   

  going up with Moses shows the life of discipleship.
• The Cloud represented the presence of God.

• Chapter 25 includes the offerings for the Sanctuary and the details of the Ark of the Covenant.

  • The Ark of the Covenant represented the meeting with God (Verse 22.)

• Chapter 26 takes about the Tabernacle details.

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

1. Who were Nadab and Abih and why were they allowed to go up Mt. Sinai with Moses and Aaron?
2. What is the Book of the Covenant? 
3. The Lord told Moses to come up the mountain and He will give him the “Tablets of Stone.” What are the Tablets of Stone referring to?
4. Moses went up to the top of Mount Sinai as instructed by God and what occurred? 

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

1. How many elders could worship God at a distance upon the mountain?
   A) seven B) fifty C) seventy D) two
2. What did the twelve stone pillars Moses set up at the foot of Mount Sinai represent?
   A) the elders B) tribes of Israel C) high priests D) first born 

Week 3: The Priesthood

The Priesthood: Exodus 28-29

Objective: 

• Garments for the Priesthood

• The Ephod

• The Dedication to God

• Aaron and His Sons Consecrated

Resources:

• Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
• Catena Bible Commentary
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)

Reading:

• Exodus 28:1-8, 30-38
• Exodus 29:1-9, 28-37

Key verse(s):

• "It shall be from the children of Israel for Aaron and his sons by a statute forever." Exodus 29:28

Comments:

• God is giving Moses details regarding the priesthood. It shows that our Lord cares about details, order, and perfection.
• The priesthood garments were: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash.
• Urim and the Thummim in Exodus 28:30 were the way the priests knew God's response towards a certain matter.
• Exodus 28:36 shows that God wanted the priests to be consecrated to Him only. They added it on their foreheads as a daily reminder to them and the people. We are also consecrated to God, this reminder should be on our foreheads every day as well.

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

1. Define the “Urim and Thummin” mentioned in verse 30.
2. Describe the “Ephod.” 

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

1. Aaron’s priestly garments included ____________.
   A) breastplate and ephod B) robe and woven tunic C) turban and sash D) all of these
2. How many days did it take to ordain Aaron and his sons?
   

    

   A) seven B) forty C) two D) one
3. Who will Aaron’s sacred garments belong to upon his death?
   A) Moses B) Joshua C) his descendents D) Zipporah 

Week 4: Instituting the Covenant

Instituting the Covenant: Exodus 30-32

Objective: 

• The Altar of Incense

• The Holy Anointing Oil

• The Incense

• The Sabbath Law

• The Gold Calf

Resources:

• Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
• Catena Bible Commentary
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)

Reading:

• Exodus 30: 1-10, 22-38
• Exodus 31: 12-18
• Exodus 32: 1-35

Key verse(s):

• "You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you" Exodus 31:14

Comments:

• Chapter 30 shows that God cares about details and organization. Of course, God accepts any kind of donation/sacrifice. But this shows that our God loves order.
• The Holy Oil represented the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. Only kings, prophets, and priests were anointed. This oil mentioned in chapter 30 is equivalent to our Holy Mayroon in the NT.
• God wanted them to keep the Sabbaths for rest. God wanted them to rest from all work and worldly cares, but they took it literally and rested from all kinds of works (even the good works).
• The people show again their unappreciative nature. Once Moses took a little long on the mountain (while receiving the law for them), they built a gold calf to worship!
• We see Moses' great heart toward his people. Even though they didn’t appreciate what God has been doing with them, Moses' interceded for them in front of God (32:11)

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

1. Where was the ALTAR OF INCENSE located? 
2. The perpetual Covenant between God and Israel was what? 
3. Why were the Israelites to observe the Sabbath? 
4. Joshua, who accompanied Moses part of the way up Mount Sinai, heard the Israelites shouting and told Moses what?
5. What did Aaron use to make the molded calf? 
6. What was Moses' reaction when he approached the Israelite camp and saw the calf and the dancing? 

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

1. What must Aaron and his sons wash before approaching THE ALTAR?
   A) hands and feet B) hands and face C) hands D) face
2. The ingredients of the ANNOINTING OIL consisted of ___________.
   A) myrrh and olive oil B) cinnamon C) cane and cassia D) all of these 
3. What would happen to the Israelites who did not observe the Sabbath?
   A) Cut off from among the people B) put to death C) family punished D) couldn’t worship in Tabernacle 
4. Who made the golden idol for the Israelites to worship?
   A) Bezalel B) Moses C) Aaron D) Oholiab
5. 2. The idol was in the shape of a ____________.
   A) angel B) eagle C) dove D) calf

Week 5: Moses's intercessions

Moses's intercessions: Exodus 33-34

Objective: 

• The Command to Leave Sinai

• Moses Meets with the Lord

• The Promise of God’s Presence

• Moses Makes New Tablets

• The Shining Face of Moses

Resources:

• Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
• Catena Bible Commentary
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)

Reading:

• Exodus 33:1-23
• Exodus 34:1-35

Key verse(s):

• "The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend" Exodus 33:11

Comments:

• We see God's punishment in the form of not being in their midst, but ahead of them. God still kept His promise that he gave to their fathers.
• Taking off their ornaments in a sign of their grief.
• Verse 33:11 shows that Moses was very close to God. This explains why Moses is a great saint. God wants to be a  friend to everyone. Moses accepted and appreciated this friendship.
• Moses made new tablets after the gold calf incident.
• After meeting with God many times, Moses' face was so shiny. This shows that whoever meets with God a lot, his face will be spiritually bright and people will see God in him.

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

1. What reason did the Lord give to stop accompanying the Israelite Nation to Canaan?
2. The Israelites were ordered to “strip all their ornaments” as a sign of what?
3. Why was it important to have a new set of stone tablets?
4. Explain why Moses put a veil over his face when he spoke to the Israelites. 
5. The Lord talked to Moses as a man who speaks to a friend. Cite verses that prove this

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

1. What was the name of the tent Moses pitched outside the Israelite camp?
   A) Tent of Meeting B) Tent of Repentance C) Tent of Atonement D) Tent of Incense
2. What part of God would Moses be allowed to see?
   A) face B) back C) right hand D) eye 
3. Who broke the original 2 stone tablets?
   A) God B) Aaron C) Moses D) Aaron’s sons
4. Who was to accompany Moses on Mount Sinai to get the new Stone Tablets?
   A) Joshua B) Aaron C) no one D) Judah 

Week 6: Building the Tabernacle

Building the Tabernacle: Exodus 35-40

Objective: 

• Sabbath Regulations

• Building the Tabernacle

• Making the Altar of Burnt Offering

• Making the Garments of the Priesthood

• The Tabernacle Erected and Arranged

• The Cloud and the Glory

Resources:

• Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
• Catena Bible Commentary
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)

Reading:

• Exodus 35:1-3
• Exodus 36:1-7
• Exodus 37:1-9
• Exodus 38:NO READING
• Exodus 39:NO READING
• Exodus 40:1-38

Key verse(s):

• "The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend" Exodus 33:11

Comments:

• God reinforcing the Sabbath again.
• God chose Bezalel and Aholiab to build the Tabernacle. God chose talented people in this area to do his work. It is important to use our gifts and talents for the service and the glory of God's name.
• The Ark of the Covenant with pure gold inside and outside, the mercy seat, the two golden cherubim, and the mercy seat were built. It's good to connect this chapter with Sunday Theotokos.
• The Tabernacle was built and finalized in a beautiful manner. We see how God wants his house to be built. He wants the people to offer their best, not like Cain. 
• God's presence in the tabernacle shows His acceptance and dwelling in it until Solomon builds the Temple later on.

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

1. God reminded the Israelites on two occasions to “remember the Sabbath.” Name them
2. Explain what is meant by “the House of Israel.”
3. Why could Moses not enter the Tent of Meeting? 
4. What is the significance of Moses “doing as the Lord commanded?”
5. What purpose for the tabernacle do the cloud and the fire confirm? 

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

1. What was the HOLY DAY?
   A) first day B) Wednesday C) Friday D) Sabbath
2. What was to occur on the “Sabbath?”
   A) rest B) community meetings C) building of the Tabernacle D) cooking for family
3. Who constructed the Sanctuary?
   A) Bezalel B) Oholiab C) every skilled craftsman D) all of these 
4. When was THE TABERNACLE to be set up?
   A) Feast of Unleavened Bread B) third day of Tut C) Sabbath D) first day of month