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