Adult Bible Class -- Exodus

On Sunday, October 27, we will begin a new series for Adult Bible Class.  

We will be considering the book of Exodus.  We will cover about half of the book--from slavery in Egypt to the call of Moses to the Passover and to the freedom after the crossing of the Red Sea.  The schedule is here:

Oct 27        Israel falls under oppression (Exodus 1)

Nov 3         Moses is born, raised, and escapes (Exodus 2)

Nov 10       God calls Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:1 – 4:17)

Nov 17       Moses returns to Egypt (Exodus 4:18-31)

Nov 24       Bricks without straw (Exodus 5) 

Dec 1         God promises deliverance (Exodus 6) 

Dec 8         Moses confronts Pharaoh with miracles; Plague #1 (Exodus 7)

Dec 15       The Plagues #2 - #9 (Exodus 8 – 10) 

Jan 5          Plague #10 – The Passover (Exodus 11:1 – 12:32)

Jan 12        Consecration of the first born; Unleavened bread (Ex 12:32 – 13:22)

Jan 19        Israel crosses the Red Sea (Exodus 14:1 – 15:21) 

Adult Bible Class meets on Sundays at 9:00 AM.  All are welcome to grow in God’s word.

Book Review: From Egypt to Sinai

I recently completed reading through the book, From Sinai to Egypt: A Devotional Commentary on Exodus by Rev. Paul S. Meitner ($31.99).

Rev. Meitner covers the entire book of Exodus, dividing up various sections of Exodus into 25 chapters (302 pages).  Each chapter averages 12 pages, although some of the meatier portions of Exodus get treated with longer chapters which is understandable.

While it is subtitled "a devotional commentary," the emphasis is on the word "devotional."  If someone is looking for a breakdown of Hebrew words or verse-by-verse commentary, you will need to look elsewhere.  This volume assumes that you have read or are familiar with the designated chapters of Exodus and offers up insights from there.  Most often, those insights seek to connect the portions of Exodus to their New Testament fulfillment in Jesus Christ.  This is the strongest argument for the purchase of this book.  It was a pleasure to see the connections made by Rev. Meitner, and he acknowledged that even more connections could have been made.

In each chapter, Rev. Meitner shows both sin and grace.  He also connects these to us, showing that we are no better than the stiff-necked Israelites who returned to their sins again and again.  But our Lord and Savior is also the same--forgiving sins because he paid for them with his atoning sacrifice and continuing to bestow grace upon his people.  The Lord who called us to be his also works and sustains us as his own.  While readers will grow in their understanding of the book of Exodus, the devotional aspect of this book is its best attribute.

NOTE: The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author in exchange for a free copy of this book provided by Northwestern Publishing House.

Archaeological find and the Bible: The crimson worm

Here is a neat article which speaks of an archaeological find that connects with the Scriptures.  There are numerous places where the Bible speaks about dying cloth a red or crimson color.  Most notably, we find it with God's instructions about the tabernacles cloth covering, for example: “Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them" (Exodus 26:1).

While there is no reason to doubt the Lord's instructions regarding the curtains of the tabernacle and Israel's faithfulness in dying them the appropriate colors, archaeologists have found bits of red-dyed cloth which are likened to the ones used by Israel for their tabernacle.  Testing even reveals the source of the dye, the crimson worm.

While we do not trust archaeology to prove anything in the Bible (findings are not always reliable or can be interpreted in conflicting ways), it is wonderful to see the Bible repeatedly confirmed through archaeological discoveries.

Discovery of 3,800-year-old artifact mentioned in Bible story (msn.com)

Adult Bible Class -- Fall Schedule

Our Adult Bible Class will resume on Sunday, September 8.  Classes begin promptly at 9:00 AM.  Coffee will be brewed and ready.  God's people will gather to grow in the word.  Join us!

NOTE: Odds are you show up for work or school during the week before 9:00 AM.  You can do this!!!

EXODUS

Sept 8         Israel falls under oppression (Exodus 1)

Sept 15        Moses is born, raised, and escapes (Exodus 2)

Sept 22       God calls Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:1 – 4:17)

Sept 29       Moses returns to Egypt (Exodus 4:18-31)

Oct 6           Bricks without straw (Exodus 5)

Oct 13         God promises deliverance (Exodus 6)

Oct 20         Moses confronts Pharaoh with miracles; Plague #1 (Exodus 7)

Oct 27         The Plagues #2 - #9 (Exodus 8 – 10)

Nov 3          Plague #10 – The Passover (Exodus 11:1 – 12:32)

Nov 10        Consecration of the first born; Unleavened bread (Ex 12:32 – 13:22)

Nov 17        Israel crosses the Red Sea (Exodus 14:1 – 15:21)

BIBLE BITS: Exodus 12-14

When the Lord had sent plagues against the Egyptians, he made a distinction between Egypt and Israel after the third plague.  This was to show that the plagues were not random acts of nature.  God's people were special and set apart from the rest of the world.  God was not impressed with the superpower status of Egypt.  He was disgusted that they worshiped made up gods rather than pay heed to his words.  The plagues were a judgment upon Egypt--both for their mistreatment of God's people and against their false gods.  

After the Israelites left Egypt, the Egyptians regretted letting their free labor go.  So, Pharaoh and his army chased them down.  Israel was pinned between the Red Sea and the most formidable army on the face of the earth.  Perhaps you can appreciate the panic of the Israelites when they saw their predicament.  On the other hand, how quickly they had forgotten the Lord's favor and mercy in regard to the plagues which had just taken place in the previous weeks.

The Lord's mercy upon Israel continued.  Exodus 14 records how God protected the people of Israel from the Egyptians: "Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night" (Exodus 14:19-20).

It was not a different God who stood between Israel and Egypt, a gracious God and a wrathful God.  It was the same God.  What was the difference?  The people of Israel lived under God's favor and the people of Egypt were outside the covenant.  So, Israel received the light from the Lord and Egypt remained in darkness.

So it is today.  Those who believe and are baptized are under God's favor.  Those who do not believe stand condemned.  It is not that there is a different God; God is unchanging.  God's favor comes only through Jesus Christ.  Only those who believe in Christ benefit from his saving work and receive God's favor.