Discipleship School: Exodus 20

Review

God freed them from Egypt through Moses

10 plagues, Red Sea

healing of bitter water

manna from heaven everyday

large group of quails for meat

water from a rock

God gave them victory over the armies of Amalek through Moses lifted hands

now camped at the same mountain where Moses first met God . . . Mt. Sinai

First they agree to enter into covenant, agreement with God . . . He will be their God, and they will be His people

God is allowing them to hear him speak to moses so that they will listen to Moses

On the third day, the thunder roared, the lighting flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain, and then the loud, long blast from a rams’s horn (the signal that they could come up close to the boundary)

Whole mountain was covered with billowing smoke because God had descended on it in the fire . . . . and there was an earthquake . . . and the blast from the horn grew louder and louder and wouldn’t stop

Moses spoke to God and God would thundered his reply . . .

God calls Moses to the top of the mountain

God gave another warning to the people not to break the boundaries or they would die . . .no one , not even the priest

Proverbs 1:7 NASB95

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

before He gives his commands, God sets the stage

These are commands from someone you should listen to

God sets morality

the Creator

everyone else is left to “what I think”, “What doesn’t step on my lifestyle”, “current trends”

American slavery

Germany killing Jews

Colonialism - taking land from people

they all thought thy were right, and people look back and go wow were they wrong!

so you can’t go by “what I think”, “what’s trending”

It ends up being whichever people have the power or are in the majority decided what is right and wrong . . . .and that can easily fail

Pause to think about historical/situational context

What is happening? (go to scripture context)

Exodus 19:5–6 NASB95

5 ‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

This is the founding of a nation/kingdom . . . not a “spiritual nation” but a touchable nation

Passover is their July 4th

Exodus 20 is the beginning of their constitution, laws of our nation

We see various types of laws because a nation needs various types of laws:

Different Types of Laws: civil, ceremonial, dietary, financial, MORAL

civil laws - how to handle mold for those people at that time, your ox gores a neighbor

ceremonial laws - worship, sacrifices, holidays, temple rules

dietary laws - what we eat, what we don’t eat

financial laws - welfare program, leave food for poor and travelers; every 50 years go back to original land your family owns

all of these types (civil, dietary, financial, ceremonial) - have some wisdom we today can learn from, many point to what Jesus did for us (especially ceremonial) . . . . but we in the New Testament times are not bound by those types . . . they were only meant for these people in their new nation

But MORAL LAWS - laws dealing with right and wrong, were for them and for us because morals stay the same . . . murder, stealing, adultery is still wrong today

Example: at some houses you take your shoes off when you enter and some you don’t - that’s not a moral law, it’s just a civil law at that particular house; it’s how things are done at this house

should you take your shoes off at every house?

probably make all houses cleaner

something to consider

but it’s not right or wrong, preference

that’s how civil, ceremonial, and dietary laws are how they did things in their country,

. . . but stealing is dealing with moral law, because it is wrong to steal at everybody’s house, not just some houses (moral law)

thou shall not murder applies to all houses (moral law)

Classic but bad argument that stumps Christians, The Old Testament says homosexuality is wrong, but it also says the same thing about pork, shrimp, shellfish . . . and you Christians don’t say anything about that

Response: The Old Testament teaches that the people forming this new country couldn’t eat pork, shrimp, shellfish . . .

those are dietary laws meant for the founding of Ancient Israel, and after they lost their nation, their purpose ended

only the moral laws carry over to New Testament times, because they deal with basic right and wrong

In the New Testament, through Jesus Christ, God starts a spiritual nation, join by being born again, and the laws of a spiritual nation are all about morals, character, doing right, so the moral laws of the Old Testament DO carry over because what God says is right and wrong does not change.

look at a scripture where Jesus talks about dietary laws/ceremonial laws, handwashing in this case . . . not a OT law but a tradition from a law.

Mark 7:18–23 NASB95

18 And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.) 20 And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. 21 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 23 “All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

Now is handwashing a good idea? yea . . . does it make you righteous/evil in God’s eyes if you do it or don’t do it? No. . . . God is looking at all that other stuff

now let’s get to it

Exodus 20:1–3 NASB95

1 Then God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.

don’t make an idol

don’t worship an idol

don’t serve an idol

Exodus 20:7 NASB95

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.

think of the Divine Name, tetragrammaton

Don’t use it without serious and holy purpose

they stopped using it all together to be on the safe side

smoke, fire, lighting, thunder, trumpet blast, earthquake . . . I probably would have done the same thing

Exodus 20:8 NASB95

8 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Saturday . . . civil law/ceremonial

Jesus said the Sabbath was made for us,

it’s wise to take a break day, it’s wise to take time to focus on God, but it is not a moral law

Early Christians celebrated on the 1st Day of the week because Jesus rose on the 1st day of the week.

Are you saying, “I don’t have to go to church?” . . . Yes

But I will also say, that it is a bad sign if you don’t go to church . . . isolate yourself from the rest of the body

The first church members sold their possessions, met at the temple daily, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper (so they met much more and had a stronger bond)

Colossians 2:16–17 NLT

16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.

Jesus is our Sabbath, we rest in him . . come to me all who are weak and heavy laden, and I will give you rest

He did the work of salvation

We don’t have to strive or worry every day about are we making it

Exodus 20:12 NASB95

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.

moral law

Exodus 20:13 NASB95

13 “You shall not murder.

moral law

Exodus 20:14 NASB95

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

moral law

Exodus 20:15 NASB95

15 “You shall not steal.

moral law

Exodus 20:16 NASB95

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

moral law; more about lying in court or to authorities

false testimoney

false accusations

Exodus 20:17 NASB95

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

not just wanting something like what they have, but wanting exactly what they have . . . which leads to stealing, murder

moral

Exodus 20:18–21 NASB95

18 All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance. 19 Then they said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.” 21 So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.

It was so scary that that people said, you talk to God for us, if he talks directly to us, we will die . . . Moses gives the reason for fear . . . that the fear of Him may remain with you (you won’t forget it), so that you may not sin

Verses 22-26

mentions no other gods again

you must make sacrifices to me

gave them instructions for building altars for the sacrifices

As quiz gets long, remember that you a disciple and you are in discipleship school, so discipline yourself, you can take it

Quiz

What does the word Exodus mean?

If you want to read what happened before Exodus, which book of the Bible should you read?

What is the land of Goshen?

12 Tribes of Israel - Joseph’s tribe works a little different. How and why?

1/2 tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh

12 Tribes of Israel - Judah, Benjamin, Levi, Dan, Nephtali, Manasseh, Ephraim

Zebulun, Reuben, Simeon, Gad, Asher, Issachar

what tribe Moses, Aaron from

What tribe David from

What tribe Jesus from

Paul?

Where did the name of Israel come from?

First national holiday for Israel?

Other names for Abraham’s descendants - Jews, Hebrews, children of Israel, Israelites, Israel . . . new one (Judah)

How many plagues? 10

Name them

blood, frogs, gnats

flies, death of livestock, boils

hail, locust, darkness . . . death of first born

How many years in Egypt? 430 years

What did Pharaoh ask for when the children of Israel left Egypt?

How many people left?

What is God’s name?

What are four Hebrew consonants that make up God’s name called? Tetragrammaton

Understanding the Bible - TC3

Text - is it actually written in the scripture, if so then actually read it

Context - consider the verses around it, the book, the testament to determine meaning

Consistency - is it a consistent theme, lesson, principle taught in other parts of the Bible

Character - does it fit the character of God

(4th)Common sense - use your brain

After the Red Sea Miracle, what complaints have the people had so far?

no water

no food

no water

What does Jehova-Nissi mean?

What did Moses call the place where the Israelites complained about water (the 2nd time)?

Massah - test

Meribah - arguing

Moses Father in law’s name - Jethro

Moses wife’s name - Zipporah

Where were the children of Israel when God gave them the 10 commandments?

What are the 10 commandments

Here’s a brief version of the Ten Commandments:

1. **No other gods** – Worship only God.

2. **No idols** – Don’t make or worship idols.

3. **God’s name is holy** – Don’t misuse God's name.

4. **Keep the Sabbath** – Rest and keep the Sabbath day holy.

5. **Honor parents** – Respect your father and mother.

6. **Don’t murder** – Value human life.

7. **Don’t commit adultery** – Be faithful in marriage.

8. **Don’t steal** – Respect others’ property.

9. **Don’t lie** – Speak truthfully.

10. **Don’t covet** – Avoid envy of others’ possessions.

Announcements

I will be on vacation

9-11

reminds me of how easy it is for God to bring a country to its knees

Covid - God shut the whole world down

Prayers for

Deacon Alston rm 111

Andrew Chambers

How can you tell a moral law from other laws

Deal with God’s holy nature

a lot of moral laws we already know in our hearts . . . like stealing . . .a child will be sneaky and steal, no one has to tell child to be sneaky and steal, he automatically knows it is wrong

a lot of moral laws have to do with treating others as you would like to be treated

you would not want someone to lie to you, steal from you, murder you, take your spouse, or your spouse cheat on you . . .

2nd greatest commandment

moral laws - have to deal with natural order of creation

no other gods before me - don’t put he creation before the creator

no beastiality