Exodus 13:17-14:31
10/10/21
Preach
Scripture
Questions
What stood out or challenged you in the passage today?
In 13:17 God did not lead the people on the quickest route to the Promised Land? Why? How should we respond to God when things in our lives do not always work at as we want?
The Israelites left Egypt in battle array [13:18]. In the Ancient Near East an army would be led by priests carrying an image[1], or idol, of their god, or gods. What, or who, is leading the way for the army of Israel [13:21]? Who is the exact representation of God [Hebrews 1:3]?
What was the desert outside Egypt in Egyptian cosmology [understanding of the world] [14:3]? Which God had power even over this wilderness? How might we apply this truth to our lives?
Pharoah and his army approach. The Israelites are terrified [14:10] and turn on Moses [14:11-12]. Are we so fickle? What is remedy to complaining against God [14:13-14]?
YHWH separated the waters to create dry land [14:21]. The word for wind, רוּחַ (rûaḥ), also means spirit. Does this remind you of something else earlier in the bible?
Read the passage again and note anything else that stands out or challenges you. Pray that the Holy Spirit would enable you to change and be more like Jesus and demonstrate the unity we have in him.
[1] “צֶלֶם (ṣelem). n. masc. image. Refers generally to something that is a likeness or representation resembling something or someone. The word ṣelem is used to describe mankind being created in the “image of God” (Gen 1:26–27; 9:6) and to describe Adam passing on his “likeness” to his son Seth (Gen 5:3). Outside of Genesis, however, a ṣelem is generally a religious object, including idols (Num 33:52; Amos 5:26; Ezek 7:20) and animal figurines (1 Sam 6:5, 11). In Ezekiel’s depiction of Israel’s idolatry as adultery, the references to images blur the lines between sexuality and idolatry (Ezek 16:17; 23:14).” Douglas Mangum, Lexham Theological Wordbook, 2014.Read the passage again and note anything else that stands out or challenges you. Pray that the Holy Spirit would enable you to change and be more like Jesus and demonstrate the unity we have in him.
More
Bible Project’s Exodus 1-18 study notes