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Firm Foundations

Creation to Christ

Lesson 21 - God Preserved Israel Enslaved in Egypt; God Chose, Protected and Called Moses to Deliver Moses

Questions for the LFC Firm Foundations Coordinator may be emailed to firmfoundations@lenoxchurch.org

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REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1. What happened to Joseph in Egypt? The wife of Joseph’s owner lied about him, and he was put into prison.

2. Who took care of Joseph in prison? God did.

3. Why did God take care of Joseph?

a. Because, although Joseph was a sinner, he trusted in God and His mercy.

b. Because Joseph believed God’s promises regarding the Deliverer.

c. Because God had a wonderful plan for Joseph’s life.

4. Who gave Joseph the understanding of Pharaoh’s dreams? God did.

5. What did Pharaoh’s dreams mean? God was making known to the king that there would be seven years of very good harvest which would be followed by seven years of drought.

6. Is God able to do whatever He wants to do even in places where the people do not know and worship Him? Yes, God is able to do whatever He wants to do, for He is almighty.

7. How did God fulfill the dreams which He had given to Joseph when he was a youth? The Lord gave Joseph wisdom to interpret the king’s dreams so that Joseph would be given the position next to the king.

8. Why did Jacob take all of his family down to live in Egypt?

a. Because Jacob had heard that Joseph was down in Egypt.

b. Because there was plenty of food in Egypt.

c. Because the king invited Jacob to live in Egypt.

d. Because God had planned for this to happen.

9. What were Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s descendants called? The children of Israel, Israelites, or Israel.

10. What motivated Joseph to act as he did? His faith in God.

This study begins in the second book of the Bible—Exodus.

- Exodus means “going out.”

- This book records how God took His people, the Israelites, out ofEgypt.

As we study this amazing story, let’s keep in mind these things:

- First, remember that the Bible is a true history. The events of Genesis and Exodus are mentioned many times throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. Many of the minute details of Genesis and Exodus have been confirmed by archeological discoveries.

- Second, keep your eyes on what God is doing. You will learn a great deal about God from this book. Just as our actions reveal our character, so God’s actions reveal His character.

- Third, remember that God is the same today as He was at the time this story took place. He never changes. God is still holy, all-powerful, all-knowing, faithful, and sovereign.

Joseph and all his generation died in Egypt.

- Joseph, his brothers, and their families continued to live in Egypt after their father’s death even though the drought had ended.

- They did not return to the land which God had promised to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

- The Bible says that Joseph and all that generation died in Egypt. About 350 years passed between the time that Israel came down to live in Egypt and the time that their story picks up again here in the book of Exodus. Israel had been living in Egypt all that time.

The children of Israel prospered in Egypt.

- Their numbers increased rapidly.

- They also became very rich.

They had many cows, goats, and sheep. There was plenty of grass for their animals.

- The king was very good to them. But things were soon to change.

Who do you think was guiding Pharaoh in his evil plan? Satan was; Satan hates God and man. Why would Satan want to destroy the nation of Israel? Satan knew that God had promised to send the Deliverer who would destroy Satan and deliver man from his power. He also knew that God had promised that this Savior would be born through the nation of Israel.

- Satan knew that the Deliverer would be a descendant of Abraham.

- Satan wanted to destroy the nation of Israel because they were the people God had chosen to fulfill His plan in the world.

- Satan didn’t want anyone to be delivered from his power and from the righteous punishment of God.

The parents of this child trusted in God to take care of their baby son.

God used Moses’ courageous sister and even Pharaoh’s daughter to protect Moses! Then God returned Moses to his own mother to nurse him until he was old enough to be sent back to Pharaoh’s daughter. God planned to use Moses to deliver the Israelites from slavery.

- God knew that Moses would be safer in Pharaoh’s house than anywhere else.

- He also knew that Moses would learn many things there that would be important for him to know for his future work as the leader of his people.

- Note:

Egyptian writings of this time mention that the children of Egyptian leaders were given instruction in writing and literary skills as well as domestic and military leadership training. Moses may well have been instructed in these areas as he grew up in Pharaoh’s household.

As in Joseph’s story, we see God working through an adverse situation to accomplish His purposes and to bring about the best results for His people.

God is greater than Satan; God is greater than everyone and everything.

- No one and nothing can stop Him from doing whatever He plans.

- He continues to carry out His plans even in adverse situations and works through these situations to bring about good for those who trust Him.

- God has all wisdom.

We can trust Him. He cared for His people Israel, even while they were in bondage; and He also cares for you. Each of us needs to understand God’s Word so we will know what God has done to deliver us all from the power of Satan and to bring us back to God.

The Israelites were held captive by the evil pharaoh.

- They couldn’t escape.

- Moses tried to help them, but he failed.

- No human being could release his people from the wicked ruler of Egypt.

- Only God could help them.

- Consider:

Just as the Israelites were held captive by Pharaoh, so we, our forefathers, and all our children are born captives of Satan. We cannot deliver ourselves from him. No teacher or preacher can deliver us; no other human being can deliver us. Only God can deliver us from the bondage of Satan.

This bush was an ordinary bush; the extraordinary thing was that the bush was burning and yet it was not being burned up. Because God was in the bush, the bush wasn’t consumed.

- God is almighty.

- Nobody can do the things which God can do. The burning bush was to remind Moses of the terrible conditions of his people Israel.

- They, like the burning bush, were in danger of being totally destroyed.

- But, just as God was in the bush and kept it from being consumed, so He was with Israel, the descendants of Abraham.

- Satan and Pharaoh could not destroy the Israelites while God was with them.

Moses didn’t know that God was in the bush until God spoke to him from out of the middle of the fire.

God told Moses to take his shoes off as a sign of respect to God who is perfect and is the great Creator.

- To be barefoot was a sign of humility and submission.

- Slaves went barefoot.

The Lord chooses whomever He pleases to do His will, and when the time comes for the Lord to fulfill His plans, no one can stop Him. God told Moses that He had chosen him to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and take them back to the land which God had given to Abraham.

Moses had failed when he had tried to help his people previously, so he knew that he was not able by his own strength to confront the king and deliver Israel from slavery.

God told Moses that He would be with him, and He gave Moses a sign.

- God promised Moses that He would bring him back to this mountain where he was standing before the burning bush.

- This mountain was called Mount Sinai or Mount Horeb. Refer to Map.

Moses was still not satisfied.

- His own people, the Israelites, had rejected him when he had tried to assist them previously.

- He wondered if they would believe him when he went back to them and told them that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had sent him to deliver them from slavery.

- Explanation:

During the times written about in the Bible, names had meanings. A person’s name emphasized some personal characteristic or quality. For example, Moses’ name meant “to draw out of” because he was taken out of the water when the king’s daughter found him.

- Consider:

Some of you may have read through books looking for a name for your baby. Many names have interesting meanings behind them. But how could God give Himself just one or two names? It was impossible because God is so great. He is the mighty Creator, the all-seeing one, the all-knowing one, the almighty one, the faithful and unchanging one, the mighty judge and avenger of all evil, the loving, kind, and gracious Savior who alone can provide a way to save men from Satan and sin and death. He is all of these things and many more.

What one name could God give to Himself that would tell the Israelites all the things there are to know about Him? It could not be done. Therefore, God told Moses to tell Israel that “I AM” had sent him. This name, “I AM,” includes so much that we cannot understand it completely. It means that God is the self-existent one. Do you remember the first words in the Bible, “In the beginning God....”? God was already there in the beginning. He had no beginning and can have no end. He never was and never will be dependent on anyone. He created all things and gave life to everything and everyone. All are dependent on Him for everything. He has control over all the earth, the rain, winds, rivers, the moon, stars, and sun. All things are under His control. He is the great “I AM”; He is greater than all.

Pharaoh, the Egyptians, and even Satan could not hold God’s people when the Lord, “I AM,” decided to deliver them.

God knew exactly how the king of Egypt would react. God knows our thoughts, words, and actions before we ever think, say, or do them. He knows everything about us from birth to death and even after death.

Moses had one more suggestion: He told the Lord to send someone else more suitable than himself.

The Lord was angry with Moses for continuing to argue, but He promised to send Aaron, Moses’ older brother, to assist him.

The Lord assured Moses that the king and all others who had previously planned to harm him were now dead. No doubt this encouraged Moses as he finally set out for Egypt.

The Lord kept His promise to Moses and sent Moses’ older brother, Aaron, to meet him. He was to accompany and assist Moses as he went to Pharaoh to demand the release of the Israelites. Refer to time chart and locate Aaron.

Moses and Aaron went back to Egypt. They called together their own people, the Israelites, and told them what the Lord had said to Moses.

The Israelites believed God’s Word given through Moses. They were thankful that the Lord had heard their cries for deliverance.

- Consider:

The Israelites were wise to listen to and believe in God’s message through Moses. When we don’t believe the Word of the Lord, we are calling Him a liar. The Lord is unable to help those who refuse to believe His Word.

What we have just studied is much more than a story about a man named Moses. It is the true history of Israel. It is also part of the background of God’s plan to send a Deliverer for mankind. It is God’s story. No one is greater than God. He knew exactly what was happening to Israel. And He was going to bring deliverance to them and, ultimately, through them, to you and me.

We will study more about God’s deliverance of Israel in our next lesson.

QUESTIONS:

1. Why did the king of Egypt make the Israelites slaves?

2. Who was guiding the king in his wicked plans?

3. Why would Satan wish to destroy the Israelites?

4. Why did God protect and prosper Israel?

5. Why did the Lord allow Pharaoh’s daughter to adopt Moses?

6. Can Satan, any spirit, a human being, or anything hinder God from doing what He plans?

7. Could the Israelites or Moses deliver them from Pharaoh?

8. Who is the only one who can deliver a person from Satan’s control?

9. Why did God decide to save the Israelites from slavery?

a.

b.

c.

10. Why was the bush which Moses saw not being consumed although it was burning?

11. What does the name of God, “I AM,” mean?

12. Did God think that the king of Egypt would release the Israelites immediately when Moses told him what the Lord had said?

13. Did the Israelites believe that the Lord had sent Moses?

14. Is God pleased with and will He accept those who do not believe what He says?

Suggested Daily Bible Readings:

Day 101: Joshua, Chapters 14 and 15

Day 102: Joshua, Chapters 16 and 17

Day 103: Joshua, Chapters 18 and 19

Day 104: Joshua, Chapters 20 and 21

Day 105: Joshua, Chapters 22 and 23