Exodus: Creation of the covenant community

EXODUS: CREATION OF THE COVENANT

COMMUNITYIsrael is in Egypt (Goshen)The Blessing At Work(1:7)A new king who does not “know” Joseph (1:8)Ruthless Oppression Continued Blessing (1:11-14)


COMMUNITYThe First HeroinesShiprah and PuahKing’s New Policy: Ethnic Cleansing (1:16, 22)The midwives feared God – disobeyed the king (1:17)


COMMUNITYOur Next Hero - MosesBirth and RescueMosheh (drawn out) raised in the palace of PharaohIdentification with his people – a failed Rescuer


COMMUNITYThe Family at Risk AgainThe Cry – HELP! (2:23-25)The Call – burning bush Hineni – Here am I! (3:1-6)The Commission (3:7-10) God Enters Into The Chaos

MOSES’ DIALOGUE WITH GOD

• Who am I?

ANSWER: I AM WITH YOU

• Who are you? (what is your name?)

ANSWER: I WILL BE WITH YOU HOWEVER I DECIDE TO BE WITH YOU

‘‘ehye asher ehye asher ‘ehye‘ehye““I will be whoever I will I will be whoever I will

be”be”““I will be”—I am with you I will be”—I am with you

(presence)(presence)““whoever…”—I will whoever…”—I will

determine how determine how (transcendence)(transcendence)

““I Will Be” I Will Be” “He will “He will be”be”

Yahweh (the personal name of God)Yahweh (the personal name of God) In 1520 A.D. Petrus Galatinus In 1520 A.D. Petrus Galatinus

created an artificial form of the created an artificial form of the name - Jehovahname - Jehovah

In most contemporary English In most contemporary English translations, the name is translated translations, the name is translated as LORDas LORD

MOSES’ DIALOGUE WITH GOD

• What if they don’t believe me?ANSWER: ROD INTO A SERPENT AND LEPROUS HAND (I’LL BE WITH YOU TO DO WHAT YOU CANNOT DO BY YOURSELF)

• But I can’t speak!ANSWER: YOUR BROTHER AARON WILL BE YOUR MOUTH (“PROPHET”)—I WILL BE WITH YOUR MOUTH

YAHWEHYAHWEHSo what’s in a name????So what’s in a name????

What is this What is this YahwehYahweh like???like???

Three key incidents…Three key incidents…

A GOD WHO RESCUESA GOD WHO RESCUESPower Struggle – Yahweh vs. PharaohPower Struggle – Yahweh vs. Pharaoh

Let my people go so they may worship me!Let my people go so they may worship me!Who is the LORD, that I should let Israel Who is the LORD, that I should let Israel

go? I do not know the LORD!go? I do not know the LORD!The Plagues – judgment against a heart The Plagues – judgment against a heart

that is hardened (says no to God)that is hardened (says no to God)Deliverance by the Sea (yam suph)Deliverance by the Sea (yam suph)PASSOVER AND UNLEAVENED BREAD – PASSOVER AND UNLEAVENED BREAD –

an annual festival lasting 8 daysan annual festival lasting 8 days

A GOD WHO PROVIDESA GOD WHO PROVIDESTHE WILDERNESS WHININGSTHE WILDERNESS WHININGS

Food—Manna (What is this?) and Quail Food—Manna (What is this?) and Quail Water—from springs and rocksWater—from springs and rocks

Protection—against raiding “desert Protection—against raiding “desert pirates”—Amalekitespirates”—Amalekites

Guidance by being present with the Guidance by being present with the people – Tabernacle – pillar of cloud/firepeople – Tabernacle – pillar of cloud/fire

This event is celebrated annually in the This event is celebrated annually in the week-long festival of TABERNACLESweek-long festival of TABERNACLES

A GOD WHO SHARES A GOD WHO SHARES RELATIONSHIPRELATIONSHIP

COVENANT AT MOUNT SINAICOVENANT AT MOUNT SINAI““I will be your God and you will be my I will be your God and you will be my

people”people”CovenantCovenant: based upon ancient relationships in : based upon ancient relationships in

which a stronger person would which a stronger person would rescue rescue a a weaker person from a dangerous situation and weaker person from a dangerous situation and then would then would provideprovide basic necessities; in basic necessities; in return, the “client” commits his/her return, the “client” commits his/her loyalty/faithfulnessloyalty/faithfulness to the patron to the patron

This event is celebrated annually in the This event is celebrated annually in the festival of WEEKS or PENTECOSTfestival of WEEKS or PENTECOST

LAW and COVENANTLAW and COVENANT

Exodus 19:3-8Exodus 19:3-8

God’s gracious workGod’s gracious work

Invitation to shared lifeInvitation to shared life

People’s grateful responsePeople’s grateful response

LAW is God’s gift to LAW is God’s gift to us!!!us!!!

How does LAW relate to How does LAW relate to COVENANT?COVENANT?

LAW IS THE WAY OF “LIVING OUT” LAW IS THE WAY OF “LIVING OUT” THE COVENANT RELATIONSHIP— IT THE COVENANT RELATIONSHIP— IT IS THE LIFESTYLE OR EMBODIMENT IS THE LIFESTYLE OR EMBODIMENT OF LOYALTY/FAITHFULNESS TO THE OF LOYALTY/FAITHFULNESS TO THE

GOD WHO RESCUES, PROVIDES, GOD WHO RESCUES, PROVIDES, AND INVITES INTO RELATIONSHIPAND INVITES INTO RELATIONSHIP

How does LAW relate to How does LAW relate to COVENANT?COVENANT?

Law is not a set of rules Law is not a set of rules to limit life, but a set to limit life, but a set

boundaries to insure the boundaries to insure the good life, protecting and good life, protecting and guiding us into the way guiding us into the way life was created to be!life was created to be!

The Ten CommandmentsThe Ten Commandments

Decalogue – 10 Decalogue – 10 WordsWords

•Faithfulness / Loyalty Faithfulness / Loyalty means proper means proper relationship to God – relationship to God – Commandments 1-4Commandments 1-4•Faithfulness / Loyalty Faithfulness / Loyalty means proper means proper relationship to others – relationship to others – Commandments 5-10 Commandments 5-10


Decalogue – 10 Decalogue – 10 WordsWords

Our relationship with Our relationship with God:God:

1. One God1. One God

2. No Images2. No Images

3. Revere God’s name3. Revere God’s name

4. Keep Sabbath4. Keep Sabbath


Decalogue – 10 WordsDecalogue – 10 WordsOur relationship with othersOur relationship with others

5. Honor Parents5. Honor Parents

6. Truly Pro-Life6. Truly Pro-Life

7. Sexual Purity7. Sexual Purity

8. Don’t Steal8. Don’t Steal

9. Tell the 9. Tell the TruthTruth10. Avoid10. Avoid Greed &Greed & EnvyEnvy

Broken Law…Broken Law…Renewed CovenantRenewed Covenant

What happens when the What happens when the Law is broken? Exodus Law is broken? Exodus 32-3432-34

God’s just judgment God’s just judgment Moses’ intercessionMoses’ intercessionGod’s renewed fidelityGod’s renewed fidelity

Theological Themes - ExodusTheological Themes - Exodus

1. God – Yahweh – I AMI will be whoever I will be (both presence and transcendence)The God who RescuesThe God who ProvidesThe God who Abides (lives with – enters into relationship)


2. LiberationGod is in the business of setting the oppressed free. This is a God who sees, hears, and feels the suffering of His people, and He comes down to deliver them.


3. LawTorah is a gracious gift from a holy, all-sovereign God. Torah announces God’s good will for all of Israel’s personal and public life, providing guidance and boundaries of protection.


4. CovenantGod is bound to God’s people in loyalty and absolute fidelity. Even when the people are not faithful to the covenant, God refuses to give up on them (us)!


5. PresenceGod’s name (YHWH) reflects both absolute sovereignty (I will be whoever I will be) and abiding presence (I AM with you). The tabernacle is a sign of God’s abiding presence with these people.

Assignment for ThursdayAssignment for Thursday

Review Chapter Five (79-88)

Read Chapter Six (89-101)

Quiz Thursday – Chapter 5

Portfolio Assignment is Due by October 8

Unit Exam – October 8

Exodus: Creation of the covenant community

Documents

Transcript of Exodus: Creation of the covenant community