Discipleship School: Exodus 33

Review Chapter 32

People got in trouble for making a false god only 40 days after promising to serve the real God.

Moses was willing to sacrifice his life in order for God to spare them

Exodus 33:1 NLT

1 The Lord said to Moses, “Get going, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt. Go up to the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I told them, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’

God is using that “the people you brought up” language . . . ya’ll get going

Exodus 33:2–3 NLT

2 And I will send an angel before you to drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 3 Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way.”

God says I will send an angel with you, but I won’t go with you because you all are so hard-headed I would be tempted to kill all of them along the way

Exodus 33:4–6 NLT

4 When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes. 5 For the Lord had told Moses to tell them, “You are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you.” 6 So from the time they left Mount Sinai, the Israelites wore no more jewelry or fine clothes.

As a sign of their repentance, God had them remove their jewelry and fine clothes.

take off the jordans, prada shoes, gold watches . . . .

Exodus 33:7–11 NLT

7 It was Moses’ practice to take the Tent of Meeting and set it up some distance from the camp. Everyone who wanted to make a request of the Lord would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp. 8 Whenever Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in the entrances of their own tents. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside. 9 As he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at its entrance while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10 When the people saw the cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, they would stand and bow down in front of their own tents. 11 Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.

This is how God wants to talk to us - as a friend, face to face

we are made in his image after all

John 15:12–15 NASB95

12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14 “You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

God wants to treat us as friends

True friends sacrifice

Jesus sacrificed himself for us

Will we sacrifice ourselves to live for him

plainly said - will we do what he commands; obedience to God is being friendly towards God

he wants us to know what he is doing

wants to treat us like a friend and not slave

more friendly (obedient) we are the more he will share with us

you determine how close your relationship with God is

draw nigh to God and he will draw night to you

Exodus 33:12 NLT

12 One day Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’

Moses said, you keep telling me to take the people to the promised land, but yo uhaven’t told me if you are going with us or not

we will see that Prayer is about knowing who you are praying too; knowing what God is like

Moses has a lot of You said, You told me, you have been telling me

Exodus 33:13 NLT

13 If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.”

Moses knows God and wants to know him better still (that’s in God’s will)

These are your people . . . another example of knowing God

Exodus 33:14 NLT

14 The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”

God said I will go with you but I won’t go with them

Exodus 33:15–16 NLT

15 Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. 16 How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”

Moses replied, If you won’t include them, then let’s just stay here and not go to the promised land

Moses keeps making it about “us” because Moses is a true shepherd that cares for the sheep

Moses says, We are not special if you don’t go with us

Moses understands that Blessings are nothing without God being with you

The promised land is nothing if God is not with them

Exodus 33:17 NLT

17 The Lord replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.”

God says, I will go with you all for YOUR sake, you have been faithful

God saves us for Jesus’ sake, he is the righteous one

Exodus 33:18–23 NLT

18 Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.” 19 The Lord replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. 20 But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.” 21 The Lord continued, “Look, stand near me on this rock. 22 As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen.”

Moses is wise enough to know despite all he has seen, he hasn’t come even close to really seeing/understanding God

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.

What is another name (popular Bible word) for contract, agreement, covenant? Testament

How did the people first break the covenant? (golden calf)

Election

God is in control

Daniel 2:21a (NLT)

21 He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.

It really is a one person vote: whether to bless the USA or to punish the USA, God wanted Trump as president

Isaiah 46:10 NASB95

10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;

He did not decide Tuesday night, this was declared a long time ago

so since God IS certainly in control and everything is going according to plan . . . .

Psalm 46:10 NASB95

10 “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Cease striving - be still in KJV: stop panicking, stop complaining, stop worrying, calm down

In the end God will be exalted

so trust in him

Psalm 20:7 NIV

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

people trust in things: including leaders and political parties

but we trust in the name of the Lord

Lesson from Election

Genesis 11:6 NLT

6 “Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them!

God created a lot of built in power in

being united

to setting our mind to do something

people at Babel had both

I am not a fan of Trump at all, but his mind was set, is always set on I can do it, be president again

only president to be impeached twice

he was defeated in 2020

and so many people were “good riddance, won’t see him again, he’s finished!”

then he was convicted of felony crimes, and people were like, “he’s done, he’s washed up, ain’t no coming back from that”

and then he was shot (let’s just say he was for those who think it was staged)

but his mind was set, didn’t give up

and now He has just won the 2024 Presidential Election . . . on the basis of “I believe in myself”

What defeats have you been through?

what crisis are you facing?

how many times have you failed?

How have you been embarassed in public

How many people have dismissed you?

is your mind set? made up?

If he can do all of that “I believe in myself” how much more can we do with, “I believe in God!”

If God called you to something, set your mind and do it!

and one thing that helps you set your mind is faith, when you really believe

and our faith is in God (some trust in chariots)

Now Trump’s faith in himself has taken him far, because there is some power in a made up mind, but having “faith in yourself” is building on sand . . . it will come crashing down

on its own

or God will intervene

but when we have a set mind, a made up mind because we believe in God and his word, we are building on a rock!

Announcements

No Communion this Sunday even though I announced it

Sermon reminder:

God is guiding me

God is helping me

God is protecting me