YOUTHWORKS BIBLE STUDY SERIES
O L D T E S TA M E N T
Who is the Lord?
Mike Everett
Published October 2018 Anglican Youthworks PO Box A287, Sydney South NSW 1235 Ph: 612 8268 3344 Fax: 612 8268 3357 cepstore.com.au Copyright © Youthworks Press 2018 This book is copyright. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without the written permission of the Publisher. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc. National Library of Australia ISBN 978-1-925041-99-6 Author: Mike Everett Editor: Natasha Percy Theological editor: Guangyao Un Typesetting and design: Rebecca Jee
Introducing Exodus Atheists say, ‘There is no God’. Agnostics believe God can’t be known. Most people think God, if he, she, or it is real, is a pushover; a supersoft Santa or a cuddly old grandpa. What about you? Who do you say the Lord is? There is no more important question in life. This is the question that drives the book of Exodus. And God gives Pharaoh (and us) a stunning, yet at times shocking answer. The book of Exodus is designed to reveal God to us and to teach us how to relate to him. Back in Genesis, God made some massive promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Exodus carries on where Genesis left off1, telling us more about God (revelation) and how he is going to rescue his people (redemption) to fulfil his promises (relationship and residing). So you could summarise Exodus with these 4 ‘R’s: Revelation—God wants Israel and all the world to know that he is the Lord their God. Redemption—God frees Israel from slavery in Egypt, so that they can worship and serve God. Relationship—God wants Israel to know him and love him. God is going to show them how this can happen. Residing—God will dwell in the midst of his people and they will be given a great land. My prayer for these studies is that they will help you be able to confidently and correctly answer the question, ‘Who is the Lord that I should obey him?’ Mike Everett
1
The first word in the original Hebrew text of Exodus is ‘and’.
v
[Pharaoh said]
‘Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go?’ Exodus 5:2
vi
Study 3: Choices EXODUS 2:11–15
Share What is the toughest choice you have had to make this year? What were the options and what was the outcome?
Read and talk Pray and then read Exodus 2:11–15. In light of the story so far (Exodus 1–2), why is it surprising that Moses identified the Hebrews as ‘his own people’ (v 11)?
Did Moses do the right thing when he killed an Egyptian (v 12)? Why/Why not7?
7
After you have had a vigorous debate about this question, check out Acts 7:23–29.
9
How would you answer the Hebrew man’s first question in verse 14 (assuming you know something of how this whole story ends)?
Do you think the man would expect that answer?
Draw Moses’ reaction on these faces in response to the following verses:
v 11 v 14
10
Read Hebrews 11:24–26. How does this help us understand Moses’ actions in Exodus 2?
Bring it home Moses made a choice to stand with God and his people, even though it led to suffering and sacrifice. When can we be faced with a similar choice?
Why do we sometimes make the wrong choice and not stand with God and his people?
11
How can you make sure you make the right choice to stand with God and his people?
Pray Pray for each other, that you will make the right choices this week and stand with God and his people, no matter what it costs you.
12
Note for leaders If you are looking for an alternative way to start these studies, you could try using The Prince of Egypt movie (produced by DreamWorks). Watch the relevant scenes from the movie (listed below) and then read the Bible passage and talk about the similarities and differences between the two. Study
The Prince of Egypt segment
Study 1
Exodus 1
Kindness
0:00—3:06
Study 2
Exodus 2:1–10
Saviour
3:06—8:12
Study 3
Exodus 2:11–15
Choices
29:12—35:57
Study 4
Exodus 2:16–25
Rescue
35:57—42:07
Study 5
Exodus 3:1—4:17
Go
42:07—47:50
Study 6
Exodus 4:18–31
Worship
47:50—50:49
Study 7
Exodus 5:1—7:13
Listen
50:49—1:01:10
Study 8
Exodus 7:14—10:29
Known
1:01:10—1:08:02
Study 9
Exodus 11:1—12:51
Blood
1:08:02—1:16:53
Study 10
Exodus 13:1–19
Remember 1:16:53—1:22:19
Study 11
Exodus 13:20—14:31 Trust
52
1:22:19—1:29:08
Who is the Lord? There is no more important question in life, and it is one we all have to answer. But how can we know we’ve got the right response? In the breathtaking action and adventure of Exodus, through the disaster of Egypt and the miracle at the Red Sea, we see God’s answer as he reveals himself as sender of judgement, but also as the trustworthy keeper of promises and the powerful saviour of his people.
A B OU T T H E A U T H O R Mike Everett is grateful to God for his saving grace, his wife and boys and his spiritual family at St Paul’s Anglican Carlingford/North Rocks. Mike was discipled as a young Christian and has himself been involved in discipling other young Christians for more than 20 years.
A B OU T T H E YOU T H WO RK S B IBL E S T U DY S E R I E S More than ever, young people today need answers to life’s big questions. The Youthworks Bible Study Series is designed to challenge and encourage young people to be confident in their faith in Jesus in a changing world. The studies have been written by experienced youth leaders and are arranged into Old Testament, New Testament and Topical. ISBN 9781925041996
9 781925 041996