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Exodus Study Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS
OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK ......................................................................................................................................... 2
PERSPECTIVE ON HORROR (1:1-22).......................................................................................................................... 5
GOD’S PROVIDENTIAL CARE (2:1-22) ....................................................................................................................... 6
GOD’S KEEPS HIS COVENANTS (2:23-4:17) ............................................................................................................... 7
DEALING WITH EXCUSES (3:11-4:17) ........................................................................................................................ 8
EVENTS ALONG THE WAY (4:18-31) ....................................................................................................................... 10
“RELIGION IS FOR LAZY PEOPLE” (5:1-6:9) ............................................................................................................. 11
COULD GOD USE YOU? (6:10-30) ........................................................................................................................... 13
PLAGUES A PLENTY (7:1-11:10) .............................................................................................................................. 15
WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD (12:1-13:16) ..................................................................................................................... 17
A BAPTISM THROUGH WATER (13:17-15:21) ......................................................................................................... 19
GRIPE, GRIPE, GRIPE (15:22-17:16) ........................................................................................................................ 20
LEADERSHIP REQUIRES LEADERS (18:1-27) ............................................................................................................ 21

[This table is hyperlinked. You can click on a lesson title and jump to that page in your study guide.]

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Exodus Study Guide

LESSON ONE

OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK

Exodus 1-40

Its Position
Exodus is a part of a pentalogy, one of five works which build upon one another. The Pentateuch,
penta- (five) + teuchos (books) was likely written for the benefit of the second generation to leave
Egypt, the one which would be receiving the land.
1. What are the five books of Moses?

2. How does the ending of Genesis contrast with the beginning of Exodus (Gen. 50:20)?

Its Application
The generation that was in the wilderness and who would conquer the land along with their
descendants would be able to apply some of Exodus directly, for example, the instructions on
observing the Passover (12:43-51).
Other parts of it are a recounting of what happened in Egypt, Midian, and Mount Sinai, or as
they journeyed along. This narrative’s applicability is therefore in the form of lessons from the
past whose principles apply to themselves and to subsequent generations of Israelites.
3. How do you think these things might apply to us?

The Broad Outline of the Book

Exodus divides into two parts of the story: chapters 1-18 and 19-40. The first tells how they
left Egypt and came to encounter God on Mt. Sinai. The second instructs them on how they
were to live with God in their midst from then on, including when they come into the land of
Canaan.

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Exodus Study Guide

Remember the “Plan” for Exodus the pastor presented Sunday?

Deliverer Sovereign Passover Journey

(Chps.1-6) (7-11) (12-13) (14-19)

Covenant Rebellion Tabernacle

(20-31) (32-34) (35-40)

4. You should skim through Exodus at least once this week and write down what general titles
you would give to the following parts of the book:
Chapter(s) GeneralTitle
The 1-2
Deliverer 3-4
Moses 5-6
Sovereign 7-11
Passover 12-13
14-15
Journey 16-17
To Sinai 18
19
20
Covenant 21-24
25-31
Rebellion 32-34
35-39
Tabernacle 40

Later on we will give you a chart to develop a more detailed breakdown of the various parts
which go into making up Exodus.

The Name and the Event

This book has gone by various titles in the course of its history. The original Hebrew title was
“These are the names …” The title “Exodus” came to us through the Vulgate (Latin translation)
following the Septuagint (Greek translation) and meant “going out” which reflects the going out of

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Exodus Study Guide

Israel from Egypt. Probably this comes from the Hebrew word yotse'ei which has a similar
meaning as exodus (3:10-11).
The further back in history we go, the less we can know for certain. Hard facts become scarce
as most records are either lost, biased, or impossible to fact check. From the Bible, we can arrive
at a possible time frame for the event known as the Exodus. 1 Kings 6:1 gives us a firm point in
chronology,
It was in midspring, in the month of Ziv, during the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, that he began to
construct the Temple of the Lord. This was 480 years after the people of Israel were rescued from
their slavery in the land of Egypt. (1 Kings 6:1 NLT)
If this chronology is correct, then that would date the exodus around 1445 BC, since we know that
Solomon began to reign in 971 BC. However, scholars tend to argue that the exodus should be
dated later, around 1290 BC.1
The earlier date would put the exodus event during the reign of Amenhotep II and the
pharaoh of the later date would have been Rameses II.
The dynasties which ruled Egypt in its ancient period are grouped into three kingdoms with
intermediate stages between them:

Date (B.C.) Name Dynasty

2686-2181 Old Kingdom 3-6
2181-2061 First Intermediate 7-11
2061-1690 Middle Kingdom 11-14
1674-1549 Second Intermediate 15-17
1550-1077 New Kingdom 18-20

Looking at the Book Thematically

Noel Osborn and Howard Hatton in the UBS Handbook on Exodus suggest that there are four
underlying relationships which appear in sequence:
• Moses and Yahweh
• Moses and Pharaoh
• Moses and the People
• the People and Yahweh.

They outline Exodus this way:

The Prologue: the people’s slavery (1:1–22)
I. The Lord’s deliverance (2:1–15:21)
A. The Lord and Moses: preparation of a leader (2:1–7:7)
B. Moses and Pharaoh: contest for freedom (7:8–15:21)
II. The people’s obligation (15:22–39:43)
A. Moses and the people: journey to Sinai (15:22–18:27)
B. The Lord and his people: a covenant established (19:1–39:43)
The Epilogue: the Lord’s presence (40:1–38)2

We want to encourage you to read through the entire book of Exodus several times during the course of our study. The
more you do so, particularly at one “sitting,” the more you will begin to see how the various parts fit together.

1 Iain D. Campbell, Opening up Exodus, (Leominster: Day One Publications, 2006), 16.
2 Noel D. Osborn and Howard A. Hatton, A Handbook on Exodus, UBS Handbook Series (NY: UBS, 1999), 3.

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Exodus Study Guide

LESSON TWO

PERSPECTIVE ON HORROR (1:1-22)

Exodus 1:1-22

A Purpose in Enlarging Us (1:1-7)

1. What does this introductory statement tell us about the descendants of Jacob?

2. What change occurs in Ex. 1:8, and how does it affect the Israelites? (1:8-11)

A Purpose in Abasing Us (1:8-14)

3. What was the Egyptian’s greatest fear because of Israel’s increased numbers? (1:9-10)

4. What was the result of the Israelites being oppressed? Why? (1:12)

A Purpose in Horrifying Us (1:15-22)

5. What further measure does Pharaoh take to control the Israelites, and why does it fail? (1:15-
17)

6. What was God’s verdict upon what the midwives did?

7. How does Pharaoh counteract the courage of the Hebrew midwives? (1:22)

8. How would you describe the character of Pharaoh?

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LESSON THREE

GOD’S PROVIDENTIAL CARE (2:1-22)

Exodus 2:1-22

He Rescues from Oppressors (2:1-10)

1. What irony and amazing coincidence do you find in Exodus 2:1-10?

2. What do we learn about Moses’ parents in Hebrews 11:23?

He Rescues from Our Sins (2:11-15)

3. What do you think was Moses motivation in striking down the Egyptian oppressor?

.
4. How does Acts 7:25 help us understand him better?

5. What were the different reactions to Moses having saved his countryman by killing the
Egyptian oppressor? (Exodus 2:13-15)

6. What does Hebrews 11:24-27 tell us about Moses and his reason for having fled Egypt?

He Rescues from Paganism (2:15b-22)

7. How does Moses’ future as “Deliverer” from Egypt show itself in his interaction with the
priest of Midian’s daughters? (Ex. 2:16-19)

8. How would you describe Moses?

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Exodus Study Guide

LESSON FOUR

GOD’S KEEPS HIS COVENANTS (2:23-4:17)

Exodus 2:23-3:12

God Hears and Acts according to His Covenant (2:23-24)

1. What four things did God do when His people cried out for help?

2. Was God ever taken by surprise or unaware of what was going on with His covenant
people? (Gen. 15:12-16)

3. What does Exodus 2:23-25, tell us about the character of God?

Moses Commissioned by YHWH (3:1-4:17)

4. What grabbed Moses’ attention while he was shepherding the flock? What was the cause of
the strange phenomena? (3:1-3)

5. How did God introduce Himself to Moses? How did Moses respond? (3:4-6)

6. What did the Lord see, hear, and know about His people? (3:7)

7. What was God intending to do for His people in light of their suffering? (3:8-9)

8. How was God going to bring His people out of bondage? (3:10)

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LESSON FIVE

DEALING WITH EXCUSES (3:11-4:17)

Exodus 3:11-4:17

1st Protest (3:11-12)

1. What was Moses’ first objection to God’s plan? And what was God’s answer? (3:11-12)

2nd Protest (3:13-22)

2. What was Moses’ second objection to God’s plan?

3. How did God answer him? (3:13-14)

4. In God’s further instructions to Moses, what does God tell Moses to communicate to the
children of Israel? (3:15-17)

5. What is God’s plan for His chosen people and their deliverance? (3:18-22)

3rd Protest (4:1-9)

6. What was Moses’ third objection to God’s plan? (4:1)

7. What three actions does God tell Moses to do to convince the people that God has sent
Moses to speak for Him to the people and Pharaoh? (4:2-9)

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Exodus Study Guide

4th Protest (4:10-12)

8. What was Moses’ fourth objection to God’s plan?

9. And what was God’s response? (4:10-11)

10. What further command does God give to Moses? (4:12)

5th Protest (4:13-17)

11. What was Moses’ fifth objection to God’s plan? (4:13)

12. What was God’s attitude toward Moses after Moses’ fifth objection to obeying God and
trusting in God’s plan for Moses and God’s plan for the children of Israel? (4:14-17)

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Exodus Study Guide

LESSON SIX

EVENTS ALONG THE WAY (4:18-31)

Exodus 4:18-31

1. What various things occur in this chapter of the story?

2. Why did Moses get permission from his father-in-law to go to Egypt? (4:18-20)

3. What further revelation does God give to Moses concerning His plans for Pharaoh? (4:21-
23)

4. What further sign of reluctance do we see from Moses concerning obeying God’s
command? (4:24-26)

5. How did God’s plan unfold for Moses and Aaron? (4:27-30)

6. What was the response of the children of Israel to God’s message given through Moses and
then Aaron? (4:31)

7. What are some ways to apply the truth of the account of God’s commissioning of Moses?

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Exodus Study Guide

LESSON SEVEN

“RELIGION IS FOR LAZY PEOPLE” (5:1-6:9)

Exodus 5:1-6:9

Moses and Aaron Speak to Pharaoh (5:1-5)

1. How did the Elders of Israel respond to God’s message given through Moses and Aaron?
(4:29-31)

2. What did Moses and Aaron say to Pharaoh? (vs. 5:1)

3. How did Pharaoh respond? (vs. 5:2)

4. What approach did Moses and Aaron next take with Pharaoh? (5:3)

5. To what conclusion did Pharaoh arrive? (5:4)

Making Bricks without Straw (5:6-23)

6. What command did Pharaoh make concerning the people of Israel? (5:6-9)

7. How did the task masters treat the Israelites? (5:10-14)

Foremen Appeal to Pharaoh

8. What did the Israelite foremen do in response to their being beat? (5:15-16)

9. How did Pharaoh handle their complaint? (Ex. 5:17-18)

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10. After the foremen’s concerns were dismissed by Pharaoh, what did they do next?
(Ex. 5:19-21)

Promises of Deliverance (5:22-6:9)

11. How did Moses handle the increased adversity? (5:22-23)

12. How does God respond to Moses? (6:1)

13. What further important information does God give to Moses? (6:2-5)

14. What does God instruct Moses to say to the people of Israel? (6:6-8)

15. How did the people respond to God’s Message? (6:9)

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Exodus Study Guide

LESSON EIGHT

COULD GOD USE YOU? (6:10-30)

Exodus 6:10-30

1. What did God instruct Moses to do in consideration of the Israelites being disheartened?
(6:10-13)

2. Why would the narrator stop in the middle of the story to tell us about the genealogy of
Moses and Aaron?

3. What is similar about 6:14 and 6:25?

4. What can you learn about the family of Moses and Aaron from these records? (6:14-20)
[Note the chart on the following page.]

5. What is the narrator’s conclusion? (6:26-27)

6. How would you describe the exchange between God and Moses? (6:28-30)

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LESSON NINE

PLAGUES A PLENTY (7:1-11:10)

Exodus 7:1-11:10

1. What words does God give to Moses to strengthen Moses’s resolve? (7:1-5)

2. Through the process of God delivering the children of Israel from bondage, what knowledge
would the Egyptians gain? (7:5)

3. What did Moses and Aaron do in response to God’s encouragement? (7:6-7)

4. At this point in the story, how would you describe each of the following’s relationship with
God?
Moses –

Pharaoh –

Israelites –

On the next page is a chart to record your answers to some questions on the plagues. I have
given you some space for three questions of your own.

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Exodus Study Guide

Consider the Plagues and the Pharaoh

As you read through the plagues of judgment upon Egypt, record your observations in the chart:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
7:14-25 8:1-15 8:16-19 8:20-32 9:1-7 9:8-12 9:13-35 10:1-20 10:21-29 11:1-12:33

What plague?
Was warning
given?
Was Pharaoh there
when it starts?
What was
the Egyptian’s
response?
What was
Pharaoh’s
response?
What did
Pharaoh say
about
the Lord?
What was
the effect
upon
Egypt?

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Exodus Study Guide

LESSON 10

WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD (12:1-13:16)

Exodus 12:1-13:16

1. Why do you think the Lord established a new calendar for Israel? (12:1-2)

2. What instructions are given about the lamb? (12:3-7)

3. What instructions are given to the Israelites on how to eat the meal? (12:8-11)

4. Why does the Lord give the Israelites those precise instructions? (12:12-13)

5. What are some of the instructions the Lord gives to Moses concerning the feast of Passover
and Unleavened Bread? (12:14-20)

6. Why is it important for the Israelites to celebrate the feasts of Passover and Unleavened
Bread every year? 12:42

7. What was the response of the people upon hearing the instruction and explanation? (12:27-
28)

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Exodus Study Guide

8. How did Pharaoh respond to the Lord keeping His word concerning the death of all
firstborn males, both people and livestock? (12:29-32)

9. What did the Egyptians do in response to God’s judgement? (12:33-36; compare 3:22)

10. What did God foretell in Genesis 15:13-14?

11. What further instruction does the Lord give to Aaron and Moses about future observances
of the “Passover”? (12:43-49)

12. What does Passover have to do with the firstborn? (13:1-16)

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Exodus Study Guide

LESSON ELEVEN

A BAPTISM THROUGH WATER (13:17-15:21)

Exodus 13:17-15:21

Israel’s Wilderness Detour (13:17-14:4)

1. Why did God not lead them by the shortest way?

2. What did the sign of His presence did God give them?

3. Why did God order them to do the one thing He didn’t want them to do?

The Egyptians Pursue Israel (14:5-14)

4. Do you think Pharaoh was already chasing after them when God ordered them to turn back?

5. What was the reaction to Pharaoh coming?

Escape through the Red Sea (14:15-31)

6. How did God save Israel and what did he do to Pharaoh’s army?

7. What was Israel’s reaction to this deliverance?

A Song of Deliverance (15:1-21)

8. What differences are there in the two songs that Israel sang?

9. How is Miriam’s song a prophecy?

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Exodus Study Guide

LESSON TWELVE

GRIPE, GRIPE, GRIPE (15:22-17:16)

Exodus 15:22-17:16

Bitter Water at Marah (15:22-27)

1. How does the word Marah have a double-edged meaning?

2. What is the standard God set before them?

Manna and Quail from Heaven (16:1-36)

3. What was their view of slavery at this point?

4. What were they forgetting?

5. How did God provide for them and how did they mess up?

Water from the Rock (17:1-7)

6. How was their situation different from Marah?

7. What did Moses do? (see also 1 Corinthians 10:4)

Israel Defeats the Amalekites (17:8-16)

8. How did Israel win the victory over Amalek that day?

9. What was Amalek’s problem and how did Israel share in it?

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Exodus Study Guide

LESSON THIRTEEN

LEADERSHIP REQUIRES LEADERS (18:1-27)

Exodus 18:1-27

Jethro’s Visit to Moses (18:1-12)

1. What was Jethro’s response to what the Lord had done in Egypt?

2. What does Jethro’s sacrifice say about Aaron and God?

Jethro’s Wise Advice (18:13-27)

3. What was Moses doing about the people’s disputes?

4. What was Jethro’s advice?

5. Are there principles in this advice we could use ourselves?

6. How did this work out?

7. Why did Jethro not stay with them?

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