January 22 - Exodus (Part 1)

This week we begin our exploration of the book of Exodus. We will spend 2 weeks examining this book that is the foundation for the biblical faith, that lays out the fundamentals of worship of the One true God and shows and tells us who He is, how He works, what He does and what that means for us. In the book of Exodus we see God moving in a powerful way to save His people, to deliver them from bondage. We also see that as God moves throughout history He makes Himself known and in each incident they point to an even greater reality. As we look at this book we will look at it with the intent of seeing Jesus clearly portrayed in its pages and in its events. Pastor digs into the dating of the events and the chronology of this book sharing many of the differing views including tackling the 200 year difference of the dating and also taking a dive into the Egyptian chronology which has been used as a standard of time. Pastor uses several examples with some interesting possible new dates based on scholarly examples, biblical evidence, archeological discoveries and the chronology of other ancient peoples. When these are placed against the traditionally accepted Egyptian chronology they may expose possible errors in the Egyptian chronology and thus the dating of the book of exodus events. Pastor believes what we will read in Exodus is true and that we need to critically examine what others are saying when we have such a real genuine and true account revealed in the book of Exodus. Moses is the main character in this book. As the book starts we see the growth of Joseph's family growing from 70 to over 2 million Israelites in a couple hundred years. The Egyptians are beginning to feel threatened by the number and their solution is to kill the Israelite boys being born. When Moses was born his family puts him in a basket (an "ark" covered in pitch) and place him in the river. Moses is found by pharaoh's own daughter and she takes him as her son. At 40 Moses flees for his life from Egypt to Midian. For the next 40 years Moses works as a shepherd in Midian. Then at Mt. Sinai the Lord, in a bush on fire, speaks to Moses and at 80 Moses is told that God has chosen him to set His people free. Thus begins the familiar story of God using Moses to set His people free. Pastor also poses the possibility of Mt. Sinai being in Median and not the place we have traditionally accepted as its location. -Pastor shares some interesting recent archeological evidence that puts the traditional location into further question. Then Pastor shares The 10 plagues: 1. Blood 2. Frogs 3. Gnats 4. Flies 5. Livestock 6. Boils 7. Hail 8. Locusts 9. Darkness 10. Firstborn (Passover event) Israelite firstborn were saved by taking the blood of a lamb and putting it on the top and sides of their doors. Pastor talks about the Passover and that it is celebrated with four cups as part of the Passover meal based on Exodus 6:6-7. Cups: 1. "I will bring you out." 2. "I will free you" 3. "I will redeem you" 4. "I will take you" Join us again next week for week 5 and part 2 of our study of Exodus. For all of our FREE resources: video, podcast, Reading Schedule, and a study guide for each book of the Bible plus any extra items, plus how to listen by radio broadcast - find it all here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/bible-in-a-year Our Bible in a Year study will walk you through the Bible book by book taking you from Genesis to Revelation, revealing Jesus throughout both the Old and the New Testaments! In Ephesians 6, the word of God is called the sword of the spirit, and a sword is best used when you take it out of the scabbard to use it! Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is alive and active! Meaning it is not dry, dusty, old stuff. It is living and active! And because it is the Living Word, it has the power to impact us still today! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com