Focus: - [[Exodus 3]] - [[Exodus 4]] # Exodus 3-4 Study (60 minutes) - [[Yahweh]] is revealing himself and his covenant commitment, not [[Moses]]' ability. - spend more time in [[Exodus 3]], keep [[Exodus 4]] tighter. # Opening framing (5 min) Goal: Make sure the group remembers where we are in the story and what Exodus is for. - [ ] What do we hope to get out of studying [[Exodus]]? - Understanding [[God]] better - [ ] Where is [[Moses]] at the end of [[Exodus 2]]? Pretend you don't know the story already -- what seems to be the trajectory of his life? - Living quietly in [[Midian]] # Exodus 3:1-10 Burning Bush call (5 min) Goal: See YHWH's holiness, initiative, and covenant commitment. God appears to Moses, emphasising his commitment to his covenant: he has come down to deliver on his promises. - [ ] So how does [[God]] introduce himself? How is that significant? - [[God]] of [[Abraham]], [[Isaac]], [[Jacob]]; committed to convenant - [ ] v. 7-10: What does God say he has come down to do? - Rescue [[Israel]]ites and bring them to promised land # Exodus 3:11-22 Objections and Name (20 min) Goal: Discover that YHWH's presence and name anchor the mission, not Moses' adequacy. Moses raises valid concerns, but YHWH takes responsibility for solving all of them. In doing so, he reveals his name YHWH: a name that underscores his covenant commitment. He aims to bring the people not just out of [[Egypt]], but closer to him - [ ] v. 11 [[Moses]] asks "Who am I" -- what does he mean by that? - he feels that he is too insignificant for [[Pharaoh]] to take him seriously - [ ] How does [[God]] rebut him? - "I will be with you" - [ ] How exactly does that answer [[Moses]]' question? - The focus isn't on [[Moses]]' abilities but on [[God]] - [ ] Why does [[Moses]] ask for his name? I mean, do the [[Israel]]ites even know his name? - To know more about who will be with him - [ ] What's the significance of the name? - "I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE" ties in to "*I will be* with you" - Demonstrates commitment to [[God's promises]] - [ ] Given this conversation, do we have any more clarity on why and how [[Moses]] is the hero of the story? - He's really not -- [[Yahweh]] is # Exodus 4:1-17 Signs and Resistance (10 min) Goal: See Moses' resistance and YHWH's patience and power over life and death. Continue development of [[Yahweh]] being the real hero - [ ] With that framework in mind, what is [[Moses]] worried about now in v.1, and what do we think about [[God]]'s answer? What is [[God]] achieving with these answers? - Worried that he won't be believed; [[God]] demonstrates power over life and death - [ ] What's [[Moses]]' last objection in verse 10? How does [[God]] react and respond and why? - "Not eloquent" -> anger (dodging responsibility? Definitely not focusing and trusting [[God]]'s power though) # Exodus 4:18-31 Set in motion (5 min) Goal: See the plan move forward, with hints of conflict and covenant ownership. Heart hardening will be talked about in more detail later - [ ] Read v. 21-23 -- what is [[Israel]] to [[God]]? What's the significance? - firstborn son; extra committed - [ ] What's the state of the [[Israel]]ites at the end? What's significant about that? - They believed - Despite [[Moses]] doubts, and undespite [[God]]'s promises # Application and prayer (10 min) Goal: Apply the main point: YHWH is the main actor, and he calls us to trust and obey. - [ ] What does God's covenant commitment mean for how we pray about long delays or unanswered hopes? - [ ] If the main character is YHWH, how should that change the way we talk about Exodus?