LSF Study #5 the Story of the Exodus Getting to Know

LSF Bible Study #5: The Story of the Exodus (SotE) Exodus 6:1-30 Getting to Know God

I. Introduction: Have you ever “talked backed” to your parents or someone in authority over you? What happened? What were the consequences? When we last left off, things were not going well for Moses’ mission. Pharaoh didn’t care about Moses or his God and just for asking to let his people go, Pharaoh punished the people even more. But Moses doesn’t understand why they experienced this setback. He himself didn’t want to do this job. God is basically forcing him and then God isn’t really doing anything. So Moses goes to God and talks back to him. He is very defiant in accusing God of doing evil. Today we will look at God’s conversation with Moses and how God addresses Moses’ concerns.

II. Study: Exodus 6:1-30 6 But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to 14 These are the heads of their fathers’ houses: the sons of Reuben, Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the hand he will drive them out of his land.” clans of Reuben. 15 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, 2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the LORD. 3 I appeared Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the clans of to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name Simeon. 16 These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their the LORD I did not make myself known to them. 4 I also established my generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which being 137 years. 17 The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their clans. they lived as sojourners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the 18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, the years of people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have the life of Kohath being 133 years. 19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and remembered my covenant. 6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their generations. the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the 20 Amram took as his wife Jochebed his father’s sister, and she bore him Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem Aaron and Moses, the years of the life of Amram being 137 years. 21 The you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7 I will sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. 22 The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know Elzaphan, and Sithri. 23 Aaron took as his wife Elisheba, the daughter of that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, burdens of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to Eleazar, and Ithamar. 24 The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a these are the clans of the Korahites. 25 Eleazar, Aaron’s son, took as his possession. I am the LORD.’ ” 9 Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, wife one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites by their clans. harsh slavery. 26 These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said: “Bring out 10 So the LORD said to Moses, 11 “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.” 27 It was they let the people of Israel go out of his land.” 12 But Moses said to the LORD, who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the people of “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Israel from Egypt, this Moses and this Aaron. Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” 13 But the LORD 28 On the day when the LORD spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of 29 the LORD said to Moses, “I am the LORD; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out that I say to you.” 30 But Moses said to the LORD, “Behold, I am of of the land of Egypt. uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?”

III. Into the Word: 1. God says the phrase, “I am the LORD” five times in this chapter. What does this mean and why is it important?

2. How did God make himself known to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? How does he make himself known to Moses? How is it different?

3. What does it mean when Moses says “I am of uncircumcised lips” in verse 12 and again in verse 30?

4. Whose genealogy was listed at the end of the chapter? Why was the genealogy inserted at this point into the story?

IV. Application: Pharaoh does not know God or God’s power. But neither do the people of Israel. Neither does Moses or Aaron really know God. The ones who knew God, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are gone and God must reintroduce himself to a new generation. He is taking Israel to be his people and the way he’s going to do that is through a demonstration of his power. He is going to reveal himself. But he’s not going to do this by explaining everything beforehand. Moses has no idea what’s going on and the only way he or Pharaoh or the Israelites will know God is through a direct experience of God.

God is inviting each and every one of us to know him for ourselves. We can rely on stories and we can rely on the experiences of others, but God is inviting us to experience him ourselves.

5. In what ways have you seen God work in the lives of your friends, family or others? What are some amazing stories that you’ve heard about God?

6. In what ways have you personally experienced God in the past? What are some of the amazing things that he has done for you personally?