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Bondage, Passover,
and Exodus
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| Exodus 1; The children of Israel multiply—They are placed in bondage by Egyptians—Pharaoh seeks to destroy sons born to Hebrew women.
Exodus 2; Moses is
born to Levite parents; raised by Pharaoh’s daughter; in defense of an Israelite he slays an Egyptian; flees to Midian; and marries Zipporah—Israel in bondage cries to the Lord.
Exodus 3; The Lord appears to Moses at the burning bush—Moses called to deliver Israel from bondage—The Lord identifies himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and as the Great I AM—He
promises to smite Egypt and bring his people out with great wealth.
Exodus 5; Moses and Aaron ask Pharaoh to free Israel—Pharaoh responds: Who is the Lord?—He places greater burdens upon the children of Israel.
Exodus 6; The Lord identifies himself as Jehovah—Genealogy of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi set forth.
Exodus 11; Departing Israel authorized to ask for jewels and gold from their neighbours—The Lord promises to slay the firstborn in every Egyptian home—He puts a difference between the Egyptians
and Israel.
Exodus 12; The Lord institutes the Passover, and the feast of unleavened bread—Lambs slain are without blemish—Israel saved by their blood—Firstborn of all Egyptians slain—Israel thrust out of
Egypt after 430 years—No bones of paschal lambs shall be broken.
Exodus 13; Firstborn of man and of beasts to be sanctified unto the Lord—Feast of unleavened bread to be kept in land of Canaan—Moses takes Joseph’s bones out of Egypt—The Lord attends Israel
in a pillar of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
Exodus 14; Israel goes out of Egypt—They pass through the Red Sea on dry ground—The Lord overthrows the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. |
Supplemental
Holy Land
and Jewish
insights:
Extermination Order–Deliverer: The account of baby Moses being saved during an extermination order by the Pharaoh parallels the account of the baby Jesus being saved
during an extermination order by King Herod. Moses becomes a "type" of the deliverer. He was raised to deliver Israel from bondage. Jesus of Nazareth raised all people from the bondage of physical and
spiritual death. He is the real deliverer. |
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Israel Complained–not Enough Water: Moses provided them with a miracle source of water as he struck the rock. The greatest lesson he learned - so
that he could teach the Israelites - was that he, Moses, was not their "deliverer." The deliverance always comes from "The Rock of Salvation," "The Fountain of Living Waters." ". . . the Torah
describes the sacrifices . . . at the dedication of the sanctuary, and the kindling of the candelabrum . . . (in memory) special haftarot are prescribed for the Sabbaths of Hanukkah. In
the Ashkenazi rite, a hymn called Ma'oz Zur (O Fortress, Rock of my salvation) is sung." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
"Bread of Life" Makes us Rise: The expression "Bread of Life" is about the leaven which makes the dough "rise" or come to life. During Passover, the Israelites were to have
nothing in their presence that had leaven or could rise. That was done to concentrate on how the Lord had them rise out of bondage and to look forward to a future "rising" that would be greater
than deliverance from Egypt.
Wine and Bread in a Jewish Home: In a religious Jewish home, every Sabbath Eve begins with an old ritual of a blessing and pouring of a little pure wine (or living
[spring] water if wine is not available). It is followed by a blessing, breaking, and eating of a little piece of the "Hallah" bread. This procedure is called "Kiddush." The father or
grandfather in the home always partakes first, and then others receive the Kiddush.
Ancient Leadership Compared to Present: Consider the leadership of the children of Israel, a council of three, with Moses, Aaron & Hur, a Council of Twelve Elders and a
Council of Seventy. It is comparable to the leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The latter-day Israelites led now by the tribe of Ephraim (Joseph) are also organized
with a "First Presidency of three, a Quorum of Twelve and a Council of Seventy.
Dead Sea Scrolls Describe Organization: The Manual of Discipline is a sort of doctrines and covenants Essenes. It describes their organization that included a Teacher of
Righteousness and two assistants. There was also a council of twelve overseers. Their priestly system included two castes: One of a higher authority that connected with an order of the Melech
Zedek (righteous king), and another of lesser authority that connected with the Levitical, or order of Aaron. They were bound by a strict order of unity. Some people suggest that this
governing system was copied by Jesus, and that he may have studied with this sect. It seems highly unlikely that this is the case. However, Jesus did use the same system of government that was
given to Moses, a system that partially continued to exist in other Jewish traditions up to and at the time of Jesus. (Luke 6:13, 10:1)
The Qumran community did not follow the Mosaic governmental pattern completely. Jesus did. For example, Moses had a governing leadership of three persons, Moses and his two assistants, Aaron and
Hur.
Moses Had a Governing Body of Twelve Elders: There was a representative from each tribe. "These are those that were numbered . . . and the princes of Israel, being twelve
men: each one was for the house of his fathers." (Numbers 1:44) This order was continued after Moses as well.
"Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man." (Joshua 3:12)
Modern Judaism vs. Biblical: A previous Gospel Doctrine discussion in this series compares the modern Jewish concept that the Law of Moses is for the Jews and the Law of Noah
(Noachide Laws) are for the Gentiles. The Apostle Paul explains the proper perception of the same law for everyone as he spoke to King Agrippa at Caesarea. "Having therefore obtained help
of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he
should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles." (Acts 26:22-23)
Gold and the Golden Calf: "According to the midrash, God created gold specifically for use in the Temple . . . On account of the idolatrous worship of the Golden Calf, gold
became a symbol of sin and was not to be used to sheath the shofar mouthpiece. On the Day of Atonement there was no gold on the vestments of the high priest; he officiated in robes of
pure white linen. International treaties were inscribed on bronze tablets. Corinthian bronze, famous for its luster and quality, was used for the Nicanor Gates of the Herodian Temple in
Jerusalem." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
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