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Conversations With God: Genesis and Exodus
by Greg Clements Started June 1, 2021 Last edit August 29, 2021
1. This document is first draft
2. Later I hope to add more comments and remarks from commentators on some passages.
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© 2021 by Greg Clements Permission is granted to copy and distribute this document as long as no fee of any kind is charged and this copyright notice is included in the document.
Resources: I used http://www.biblegateway.com/ Bible Gateway to search various translations of the Bible, Nave’s Topical Bible, etc.
NET (NET) Bible. THE NET BIBLE, NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION, COPYRIGHT © 1996 BY BIBLICAL STUDIES PRESS, L.L.C. This Bible is a free download from www.bible.org. The First edition without notes is free from https://netbible.com/download. The second edition with notes is $4.95 download as of 2018. The NET 2nd edition can be read online for no cost at https://netbible.org/bible/Romans+1 (starts at Romans Chapter 1).
(VINE) Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary 1996 Thomas Nelson Publishers
(NBC) The New Bible Commentary Revised 1970 Eerdmans Publishing Co.
(glc) Thoughts from Greg Clements … I put this (glc) in this document sometimes to emphasize that the following are my thoughts. I tried to reference the material I pulled from other sources (Morris, NBC, Vine, etc).
Some of the Bible studies I create are posted on www.gpclements.com .
1. Conversations started by God
The Bible starts by describing how God spoke to Adam and Eve. Genesis describes how God established personal connections to people.
Genesis 1:28-30 “28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.” 29 Then God said, “I now give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the entire earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the animals of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has living breath in it—I give every green plant for food.” It was so.” (NET)
(glc) God speaks to Adam and Eve ...be fruitful and multiply … subdue the Earth …
Rule...seeds and fruit for food.
Genesis 2:16-17 “16 Then the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat fruit from every tree of the orchard, 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will surely die.”” (NET)
(glc) God speaks to Adam ...eat fruit from every tree...but don’t eat from the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil
Genesis 2:23 “ 23 Then the man said, “This one at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” “ (NET)
(glc) Adam is speaking to God
Satan speaks to Eve
Genesis 3:1-5 “... He said to the woman, “Is it really true that God said, ‘You must not eat from any tree of the orchard’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit from the trees of the orchard; 3 but concerning the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the orchard God said, ‘You must not eat from it, and you must not touch it, or else you will die.’” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “Surely you will not die, 5 for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (NET)
(glc) Satan twists God’s words, lies to Eve
God seeks Adam and Eve
Genesis 3:8-13 “8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God moving about in the orchard at the breezy time of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the orchard. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 The man replied, “I heard you moving about in the orchard, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” 11 And the Lord God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave me, she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it.” 13 So the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman replied, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.”” (NET)
(glc) ...after disobeying God, Adam and Eve hide from God. God seeks them out. The conversation starts with a question...Where are you? They have a conversation about the current situation. Adam blames Eve. Eve blames the serpent.
Genesis 3:16-19 “16 To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your labor pains;
with pain you will give birth to children. You will want to control your husband,
but he will dominate you.” 17 But to Adam he said, “Because you obeyed your wife
and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
the ground is cursed because of you; in painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, but you will eat the grain of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat food until you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you will return.” “ (NET)
(glc) God tells Adam and Eve of the consequences of their sin. Eve...labor pain, husband will dominate you; Adam ...since you obeyed your wife and not me, painful toil to get food from the ground
Genesis 4:6,7 “6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why is your expression downcast? 7 Is it not true that if you do what is right, you will be fine? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it.” ” (NET)
(glc) God is pleased with Abel’s offering but is not pleased with Cain’s offering.
God starts with a question...why are you angry and downcast?
Do what is right and you will be fine. If you don’t do what is right, sin is near you and seeks to dominate you. You must subdue sin.
Genesis 4:9-16 “9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” And he replied, “I don’t know! Am I my brother’s guardian?” 10 But the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! 11 So now you are banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you try to cultivate the ground it will no longer yield its best for you. You will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.” 13 Then Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great to endure! 14 Look, you are driving me off the land today, and I must hide from your presence. I will be a homeless wanderer on the earth; whoever finds me will kill me!” 15 But the Lord said to him, “All right then, if anyone kills Cain, Cain will be avenged seven times as much.” Then the Lord put a special mark on Cain so that no one who found him would strike him down. 16 So Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. “(NET)
(glc) Cain kills Abel and then is confronted by God. God starts the conversation with a question...Where is Abel?
(glc) Note….v16 “Cain went out from the presence of the Lord.” Cain lost fellowship with God. This could be the start of another Bible study….losing fellowship with God. That study would be about sin, and would include how to restore fellowship with God...by accepting Jesus sacrifice for your sin.
Noah
Genesis 6:8 “8 But Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord.” (NET)
Genesis 6:9 “9 This is the account of Noah.
Noah was a godly man; he was blameless among his contemporaries. He walked with God. “ (NET)
(glc) Noah...godly..had proper relationships with others...Walked with God
Genesis 6:13-21 “13 So God said to Noah, “I have decided that all living creatures must die, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. Now I am about to destroy them and the earth. 14 Make for yourself an ark of cypress wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and out. 15 This is how you should make it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 16 Make a roof for the ark and finish it, leaving 18 inches from the top. Put a door in the side of the ark, and make lower, middle, and upper decks. 17 I am about to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy from under the sky all the living creatures that have the breath of life in them. Everything that is on the earth will die, 18 but I will confirm my covenant with you. You will enter the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 You must bring into the ark two of every kind of living creature from all flesh, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 20 Of the birds after their kinds, and of the cattle after their kinds, and of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you so you can keep them alive. 21 And you must take for yourself every kind of food that is eaten, and gather it together. It will be food for you and for them.”” (NET)
(glc) God tells Noah his plans to destroy all living creators except for Noah’s family and the animals taken into the ark.
Genesis 6:22 Noah did all God commanded.
Genesis 7:1-4 “The Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, for I consider you godly among this generation. 2 You must take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, the male and its mate, two of every kind of unclean animal, the male and its mate, 3 and also seven pairs of every kind of bird in the sky, male and female, to preserve their offspring on the face of the entire earth. 4 For in seven days I will cause it to rain on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights, and I will wipe from the face of the ground every living thing that I have made.”” (NET)
(glc)God tells Noah to get into the ark.
Genesis 7:5 Noah did all God commanded.
Genesis 8:15-17 “15 Then God spoke to Noah and said, 16 “Come out of the ark, you, your wife, your sons, and your sons’ wives with you. 17 Bring out with you all the living creatures that are with you. Bring out every living thing, including the birds, animals, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. Let them increase and be fruitful and multiply on the earth!”” (NET)
(glc) God provided an ark of safety for Noah. Jesus is our current ark of safety.
Genesis 9:1-7 “Then God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 2 Every living creature of the earth and every bird of the sky will be terrified of you. Everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea are under your authority. 3 You may eat any moving thing that lives. As I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. 4 “But you must not eat meat with its life (that is, its blood) in it. 5 For your lifeblood I will surely exact punishment, from every living creature I will exact punishment. From each person I will exact punishment for the life of the individual since the man was his relative.
6 “Whoever sheds human blood, by other humans must his blood be shed; for in God’s image
God has made humankind. 7 “But as for you, be fruitful and multiply; increase abundantly on the earth and multiply on it.” “ (NET)
(glc) Mankind is rebooted by God.
Genesis 9:8-17 “8 God said to Noah and his sons, 9 “Look. I now confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that is with you, including the birds, the domestic animals, and every living creature of the earth with you, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature of the earth. 11 I confirm my covenant with you: Never again will all living things be wiped out by the waters of a flood; never again will a flood destroy the earth.” 12 And God said, “This is the guarantee of the covenant I am making with you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all subsequent generations: 13 I will place my rainbow in the clouds, and it will become a guarantee of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 then I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures of all kinds. Never again will the waters become a flood and destroy all living things. 16 When the rainbow is in the clouds, I will notice it and remember the perpetual covenant between God and all living creatures of all kinds that are on the earth.” 17 So God said to Noah, “This is the guarantee of the covenant that I am confirming between me and all living things that are on the earth.” “ (NET)
(glc) God makes a promise to humankind and the world that there will not be another global flood. The rainbow is the sign of the promise. I think it is very likely that the atmosphere was different before and after the rain that made the flood. People did not live as long after the flood. The lifespans recorded in Genesis 11 decrease with each generation. The rainbow became a new feature in the atmosphere. The rainbow is for people’s confidence in God, not for a reminder to God.
The cross is the new confidence builder, or giver, for people today.
Genesis 12:1-3 “ Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father’s household to the land that I will show you. 2 Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, but the one who treats you lightly I must curse,
so that all the families of the earth may receive blessing through you.” “ (NET)
(glc) Genesis 11:31 records that Abram’s father, Terah, set out from Ur to go to Canaan, but when they came to Haran they stopped their journey and settled there. Abram obeys God and travels to Caanan (Genesis 12:5) as God directs him.
Genesis 12:7,8 “The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So Abram built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 Then he moved from there to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and worshiped the Lord. “ (NET)
(glc) Abram worshipped God. Abram acknowledged God and gave God the worship God deserves.
Genesis 13:14-18 “After Lot had departed, the Lord said to Abram, “Look from the place where you stand to the north, south, east, and west. 15 I will give all the land that you see to you and your descendants forever. 16 And I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone is able to count the dust of the earth, then your descendants also can be counted. 17 Get up and walk throughout the land, for I will give it to you.”
18 So Abram moved his tents and went to live by the oaks of Mamre in Hebron, and he built an altar to the Lord there. “ (NET)
(glc) God keeps on communicating with Abram.
Genesis 15:1-9 “After these things the Lord’s message came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance.”
2 But Abram said, “O Sovereign Lord, what will you give me since I continue to be childless, and my heir is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram added, “Since you have not given me a descendant, then look, one born in my house will be my heir!” 4 But look, the Lord’s message came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but instead a son who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5 The Lord took him outside and said, “Gaze into the sky and count the stars—if you are able to count them!” Then he said to him, “So will your descendants be.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord credited it as righteousness to him. 7 The Lord said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” 8 But Abram said, “O Sovereign Lord, by what can I know that I am to possess it?” 9 The Lord said to him, “Take for me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” “ (NET)
(glc) Here it is recorded how Abram talked to God. abram acknowledges God’s authority and asks about his future legacy of children. God said Abram’s descendants would be beyond counting. Abram believed God and showed God he was righteous (had right thinking). God takes action to sooth Abram’s doubts about possessing the land.
Genesis 15:12-16 “12 When the sun went down, Abram fell sound asleep, and great terror overwhelmed him. 13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign country. They will be enslaved and oppressed for 400 years. 14 But I will execute judgment on the nation that they will serve. Afterward they will come out with many possessions. 15 But as for you, you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its limit.”” (NET)
(glc) God lays out the future for Abram’s descendants and for Abram.
Genesis 15:18-21 “18 That day the Lord made a covenant with Abram: “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River— 19 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”” (NET)
(glc) God makes a promise to Abram about his descendants.
Genesis 16:7 -13 “The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring of water in the wilderness—the spring that is along the road to Shur. 8 He said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She replied, “I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai.” 9 Then the angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority. 10 I will greatly multiply your descendants,” the angel of the Lord added, “so that they will be too numerous to count.” 11 Then the angel of the Lord said to her, “You are now pregnant and are about to give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard your painful groans. 12 He will be a wild donkey of a man. He will be hostile to everyone, and everyone will be hostile to him. He will live away from his brothers.” 13 So Hagar named the Lord who spoke to her, “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “Here I have seen one who sees me!”
“ (NET)
(glc) God’s angel gives Hagar guidance, and gives her a promise for her soon to be born son. God had a part in this situation. Abram and Sarai were expecting a son. They rushed the timing which resulted in Hagar’s situation. God watches out for those who are not directly in the genealogical line of his people. Jesus came to Earth for the benefit of all people.
Genesis 17:1- 22 “ When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the Sovereign God. Walk before me and be blameless. 2 Then I will confirm my covenant between me and you, and I will give you a multitude of descendants.” 3 Abram bowed down with his face to the ground, and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer will your name be Abram. Instead, your name will be Abraham because I will make you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you extremely fruitful. I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you. 7 I will confirm my covenant as a perpetual covenant between me and you. It will extend to your descendants after you throughout their generations. I will be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 I will give the whole land of Canaan—the land where you are now residing—to you and your descendants after you as a permanent possession. I will be their God.”
9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep the covenantal requirement I am imposing on you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my requirement that you and your descendants after you must keep: Every male among you must be circumcised. 11 You must circumcise the flesh of your foreskins. This will be a reminder of the covenant between me and you. 12 Throughout your generations every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, whether born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not one of your descendants. 13 They must indeed be circumcised, whether born in your house or bought with money. The sign of my covenant will be visible in your flesh as a permanent reminder. 14 Any uncircumcised male who has not been circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin will be cut off from his people—he has failed to carry out my requirement.”
15 Then God said to Abraham, “As for your wife, you must no longer call her Sarai; Sarah will be her name. 16 I will bless her and will give you a son through her. I will bless her and she will become a mother of nations. Kings of countries will come from her!”
17 Then Abraham bowed down with his face to the ground and laughed as he said to himself, “Can a son be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” 18 Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 God said, “No, Sarah your wife is going to bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm my covenant with him as a perpetual covenant for his descendants after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will indeed bless him, make him fruitful, and give him a multitude of descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes; I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.” 22 When he finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him. “ (NET)
(glc) Years later this conversation took place. God renews the promise of descendants. Abram is told to be blameless. God’s promise extends to descendants. Circumcision of males is required, and is to be a reminder of the covenant to the descendants. Ishmael will be blessed by God but the covenant applies to Isaac and his descendants.
Genesis 18 Three visitors come to Abraham. Abraham shows them respect and provides water for foot washing and prepares food. The visitors prophesy that Sarah will have a son next year. v14 Nothing is impossible for God.
Genesis 18 Abraham intercedes for Sodom. He knows Lot is there. God agrees to not destroy Sodom if 10 godly people are found there. Abraham makes his request reverently. That is a good example for us.
Genesis 19 describes two angels talking to Lot.
Genesis 20:3-7 “3 But God appeared to Abimelech in a dream at night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is someone else’s wife.”
4 Now Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, “Lord, would you really slaughter an innocent nation? 5 Did Abraham not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this with a clear conscience and with innocent hands!” 6 Then in the dream God replied to him, “Yes, I know that you have done this with a clear conscience. That is why I have kept you from sinning against me and why I did not allow you to touch her. 7 But now give back the man’s wife. Indeed he is a prophet and he will pray for you; thus you will live. But if you don’t give her back, know that you will surely die along with all who belong to you.”
“ (NET)
(glc) God also communicates through dreams.
(glc) Genesis 20:11 Abraham and misjudged Abimelech by thinking he did not fear God.
Genesis 21:11-13 “Sarah’s demand displeased Abraham greatly because Ishmael was his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be upset about the boy or your slave wife. Do all that Sarah is telling you because through Isaac your descendants will be counted. 13 But I will also make the son of the slave wife into a great nation, for he is your descendant too.”” (NET)
(glc) It seems that Abraham checked with God about this decision of sending Ishmael away.
Genesis 21:17-21 “ But God heard the boy’s voice. The angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and asked her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Don’t be afraid, for God has heard the boy’s voice right where he is crying. 18 Get up! Help the boy up and hold him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 19 Then God enabled Hagar to see a well of water. She went over and filled the skin with water, and then gave the boy a drink.
20 God was with the boy as he grew. He lived in the wilderness and became an archer. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother found a wife for him from the land of Egypt. “ (NET)
(glc) God listens to those in need. Abraham likely talked to Ishmael about God as he was growing up. But the descendants of Ishmael lost their connection to God, just as many in Israel did.
Genesis 22:1-2 “ Some time after these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am!” Abraham replied. 2 God said, “Take your son—your only son, whom you love, Isaac—and go to the land of Moriah! Offer him up there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will indicate to you.”” (NET)
(glc) God speaks a command to Abraham to test him.
(glc) Abraham passes the test by obeying, and obeying soon.
Genesis 22:11,12 “But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am!” he answered. 12 “Do not harm the boy!” the angel said. “Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me.”” (NET)
(glc) God communicates to Abraham through an angel, carrying God’s message.
Genesis 22:15-18 “15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “I solemnly swear by my own name, decrees the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be as countless as the stars in the sky or the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the strongholds of their enemies. 18 Because you have obeyed me, all the nations of the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using the name of your descendants.”” (NET)
(glc) Again, the angel carries God’s message. God rewards those who are faithful to him. Our faithfulness to God carries blessings to our descendants.
Genesis 25:1-6 “There was a famine in the land, subsequent to the earlier famine that occurred in the days of Abraham. Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar. 2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; settle down in the land that I will point out to you. 3 Stay in this land. Then I will be with you and will bless you, for I will give all these lands to you and to your descendants, and I will fulfill the solemn promise I made to your father Abraham. 4 I will multiply your descendants so they will be as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands. All the nations of the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using the name of your descendants. 5 All this will come to pass because Abraham obeyed me and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”” (NET)
(glc) God directs Isaac where to live.
Genesis 26:23-25 “From there Isaac went up to Beer Sheba. 24 The Lord appeared to him that night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.” 25 Then Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the Lord. He pitched his tent there, and his servants dug a well.” (NET)
(glc) God communicates to Isaac, perhaps in a dream, to calm his fears about his future. Isaac responds by worshipping God.
Genesis 28:12-15 “and had a dream. He saw a stairway erected on the earth with its top reaching to the heavens. The angels of God were going up and coming down it 13 and the Lord stood at its top. He said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of your father Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the ground you are lying on. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west, east, north, and south. And so all the families of the earth may receive blessings through you and through your descendants. 15 I am with you! I will protect you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you!”” (NET)
(glc) God communicates to Jacob in a dream. Jacob was on the run away from Esau. God’s message would give him hope for his future. In the Bible, God has also promised good things for us. Especially, you should receive the promise of eternal life in heaven by accepting Jesus’ sacrifice for your sins.
Genesis 30:1-3 “ Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were complaining, “Jacob has taken everything that belonged to our father! He has gotten rich at our father’s expense!” 2 When Jacob saw the look on Laban’s face, he could tell his attitude toward him had changed. 3 The Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives. I will be with you.” “ (NET)
(glc) God tells Jacob it is time to go.
Genesis 31:22-24 “Three days later Laban discovered Jacob had left. 23 So he took his relatives with him and pursued Jacob for seven days. He caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead. 24 But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and warned him, “Be careful that you neither bless nor curse Jacob.”” (NET)
(glc) God protects Jacob by giving Laban a message in a dream. Perhaps Laban did not have authority to bless Jacob. And, God makes it clear to Laban that he should not curse Jacob.
Genesis 35:1-3 “ Then God said to Jacob, “Go up at once to Bethel and live there. Make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have among you. Purify yourselves and change your clothes. 3 Let us go up at once to Bethel. Then I will make an altar there to God, who responded to me in my time of distress and has been with me wherever I went.”” (NET)
(glc) God gives direction to Jacob as Jacob settles back into the land. Part of this resettling involved purifying the group from idols they had brought back from their time in Laban’s territory.
Genesis 35:9-15 “God appeared to Jacob again after he returned from Paddan Aram and blessed him. 10 God said to him, “Your name is Jacob, but your name will no longer be called Jacob; Israel will be your name.” So God named him Israel. 11 Then God said to him, “I am the Sovereign God. Be fruitful and multiply! A nation—even a company of nations—will descend from you; kings will be among your descendants! 12 The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you. To your descendants I will also give this land.” 13 Then God went up from the place where he spoke with him. 14 So Jacob set up a sacred stone pillar in the place where God spoke with him. He poured out a drink offering on it, and then he poured oil on it. 15 Jacob named the place where God spoke with him Bethel.” (NET)
(glc) God continues to gives confidence to Jacob. The NET notes state that “Israel” means “God Fights.” As other groups would hear of Jacob’s new name they would be reluctant to attack him because Jacob would have the reputation of being close to God and protected by God. God repeats the promise of giving descendants and land to Jacob. Jacob responds by worshipping God. We also should return thanks and worship to God when he blesses us.
Genesis 41 God communicated through dreams. Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream with the help of God.
Genesis 45:1-4 “ So Israel began his journey, taking with him all that he had. When he came to Beer Sheba he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 God spoke to Israel in a vision during the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” He replied, “Here I am!” 3 He said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down with you to Egypt and I myself will certainly bring you back from there. Joseph will close your eyes.”” (NET)
(glc) God communicated to Israel (Jacob) in a dream.
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Exodus 3:4-6 “When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to look, God called to him from within the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” 5 God said, “Do not approach any closer! Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 He added, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.” (NET)
(glc) God got Moses' attention with the burning bush. What could God use to get your attention? What has God used to get your attention? I can only recall one time when I felt I heard God’s voice. I was on the pastor search committee that was interviewing Nathan Ennis around 1990 to become pastor at Calvary Temple (now Full Life) church in Fremont. During the phone conversation I sensed a clear voice in my mind that said “This is the man.” Nathan did become pastor at the church and was a good pastor.
Moses responds to God’s voice. He does not run away.
Moses is an Israelite who was raised in Pharaoh's house. Moses chose to protect the Israelites from Egyptian oppressors and had to flee from Pharaoh. He is now living in Midian and tending sheep. He investigates the fire in a bush on Mt Horeb. God speaks to Moses and reveals that he is the God of the patriarchs (the God of the Israelites). Moses had a proper fear (respect) for God and hid his face.
Exodus 3:7-10 “The Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt. I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8 I have come down to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a land that is both good and spacious, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the region of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 9 And now indeed the cry of the Israelites has come to me, and I have also seen how severely the Egyptians oppress them. 10 So now go, and I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”” (NET)
(glc) God identifies the Israelites as his people; tells of his plan to deliver them and move them to a good land now occupied by various peoples; tells that he has heard the Israelites plea and has verified it is accurate; tells Moses he is to go to Pharaoh to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses had tried to give relief to the Israelites when he killed an Egyptian. But, his action did not help. We should seek God’s help for situations instead of taking rash actions like Moses did. God’s solution to problems is the best solution. God has a long term plan for the benefit of his people. God will use Moses’ abilities that were prepared in him when he was raised in Pharaoh’s court.
(glc) Exodus 3:11-22 Moses has a series of questions and concerns that he voices to God.
1. Who am I? God replies that he will be with Moses.
2. Moses imagines that the Israelites would want some proof that Moses was God’s messenger. God identifies himself as “I AM,” and the God of the patriarchs. Moses is to tell them that God will lead them to the land they will live in, a land flowing with milk and honey. God acknowledges that Pharaoh will not easily let the Israelites go. But God will use his power against Egypt and then the Israelites will go and go with plunder from Egypt.
glc Exodus 4:1-9 Moses continues to have reservations about this task.
Moses imagines the Israelites will not trust him.
1. God enables Moses’ staff to become a snake and then go back into the form of a staff. 2. Then, God enables Moses to change his hand from having leprosy to being healthy.
3. God will also enable Moses to pour water from the Nile onto the ground and it will become blood.
glc Exodus 4:10-12 Moses now makes an excuse involving himself, not others. He complains that he doesn’t speak well. God recounts his creative ability for senses and tells Moses he will help his speech and teach him what to say.
glc Exodus 4:13-17 Moses asks to be relieved of the assigned task. God becomes angry with Moses. Who are we to refuse to do a task God wants us to do??? But God is patient and gives a solution of using Aaron. It is easy for us to judge Moses for his timidity but perhaps we should take a little more time to think about Moses’ situation. We should imagine we were in Moses’ situation. Today, we should hesitate to judge others when we think they are failing to follow God. Instead, seek to help them the way Aaron provided help to Moses. Aaron would have been aware of the obstacles in getting Israel and Pharaoh to bend to God’s will. There is no record of the conversation with Aaron but Aaron did do the task he was given and became the mouth of Moses.
(glc) Exodus 4:19 God gives Moses reassurance that those who sought to kill Moses are themselves dead.
(glc) Exodus 4:21 God reviews the plan he has to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. God predicts Pharaoh’s reaction and tells Moses how to answer Pharaoh.
(glc) Exodus 4:27 God directs Aaron to go to Moses and Aaron follows through.
(glc) Exodus 4:28 Moses tells Aaron what God told him. It is good to share with others what God has revealed to us as we form a team that is seeking to do what God desires.
(glc) Exodus 4:30,31 Aaron brings God’s message to the Israelites and the signs (staff-snake; leprous arm-healed; Nile water-blood on ground) and the people believe Aaron and Moses. The people worship God when they realize God has concern for them.
(glc) Exodus 5:22-6:8 Moses questions God and complains that God has made the conditions for the Israelites worse and has not rescued them from Pharaoh. Moses sees the short term conditions, not the long term benefits that God has planned for the Israelites. God is patient with us, we need to be patient with God and trust him.
Chp 6 V1 seems to indicate that the extra troubles put on the Israelites were preparation for God to do his rescue of the people.
V2,3 God reminds Moses of who he is, everlasting, everpresent. God has allowed Moses to be the first to know him as Yahweh, Lord, Creator, I Am.
V4,5 God reminds Moses of the covenant he established with the Israelites and that he hears their suffering.
V6-8 God gives Moses a message for the Israelites that he will rescue them and give them the promised land.
v9-13 The Israelites don’t believe Moses. God tells Moses to tell Pharaoh (not ask) that the Israelites must be released. Moses gives an excuse of poor speaking ability. God speaks to Moses and Aaron to give them a duty to speak to the Israelites and Pharaoh.
(glc) Exodus 7:1-5 God tells Moses to speak as he commands to Pharaoh. God tells Moses his plan to harden Pharaoh’s heart even as God does many signs and wonders. All the Egyptians will come to know God is acting, and the Israelites will be brought out of Egypt.
V8,9 God tells Moses and Aaron to toss the staff before Pharaoh and it will become a snake.
V10 Moses and Aaron obey God.
V14-19 God tells Moses to meet Pharaoh at the river and to give Pharaoh a message from the God of the Hebrews...to release his people...God will turn the Nile into blood, fish will die, water will be undrinkable. God tells Moses to tell Aaron to hold the staff and hands over the rivers and canals of Egypt. Even water in containers in Egypt turned to blood.
v20 Moses and Aaron obeyed.
(glc) Exodus 8:1-4 God gives Moses a message for Pharaoh about upcoming plague of frogs.
(glc) v5-6 God gives Moses a message for Aaron...extend hand and staff over the waters of Egypt to bring to frogs. Aaron obeys.
(glc) v7-11 Pharaoh’s magicians can also produce frogs but Pharaoh asks Moses to pray to God to get rid of the frogs.
(glc) Exodus 8:16-17 God gives Moses a message for Aaron. Aaron strikes the ground with the staff to produce a plague of gnats. Pharaoh’s magicians can’t produce gnats and they witness that God is at work. But Pharaoh does not give in.
(glc) Exodus 8:20-23 God tells Moses to go to Pharaoh with the message “Release my people that they may serve me.” Moses is to warn Pharaoh of the coming plague of flies that will not affect the land where the Israelites live.
(glc) Application … we need to be released from bondage to sin by accepting the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins. Then we can be in a position to serve God, to worship God, to take part in activities that glorify God.
(glc) v25-27 Pharaoh tries to limit the movement of the Israelites. This would interfere with the people worshipping God and Moses refuses. Pharaoh says they may go a little way into the wilderness. Pharaoh asks Moses to pray for him.
(glc) Exodus 9:1-5 God gives Moses a message for Pharaoh about disease coming to the livestock of Egypt if he doesn’t release Israel, while the livestock of Israel will be spared. God set a definite time, tomorrow, for this to happen. This was not some general prediction that might come true at some time in some way. The plague came dtrue in a dramatic way.
(glc) Exodus 9:8-10 God directs Moses and Aaron to have Moses throw soot into the air in front of Pharaoh so boils break out on the Egyptians.
(glc) Exodus 9:13-19 God tells Moses to deliver a message to Pharaoh that if he continues to lift himself up against God’s people a great hailstorm will come. He is also to tell him that Pharaoh is being used by God to show the world God’s power and to increase the respect for God in all the Earth. Egypt was a well known power in the world and the overcoming of Egypt’s power and the freeing of Israel will make an impact on the world.
(glc) v20 Some of Pharaoh’s servants follow God’s direction to bring livestock
inside. Those servants feared God’s message and took it seriously.
God is the same today as in the Old Testament. We must take God’s messages that were given for us in the New Testament, and given to us by the Holy Spirit, and given to us in dreams, seriously and obey God.
(glc) v27,28 Pharaoh sends for Moses and Aaron and asks for prayer for relief from the plague. He again promises to release Israel.
(glc) v29,30 Moses agrees to pray for the storm to stop but Moses has discernment that Pharaoh and the court do not truly fear God. The stopping of the storm is to witness to Pharoah that God is in control of the Earth. We need to caution those who ask us to pray for relief to commit themselves to God and not just look for a quick fix for their problems.
(glc) Exodus 10:1-2 God tells Moses to tell Pharaoh that he is shaming Egypt and the signs testify that he is God.
(glc) v3-6 Moses and Aaron give a message to Pharaoh that if he refuses to humble himself before God and release Israel, a plague of locusts will come to pillage the land. The price to Pharaoh has gone up. Not only must he release Israel he must humble himself before God. Pharaoh would have been humiliated by releasing Israel after the first plague. But now his humiliation is more severe.
Application...When God disciplines us we should submit right away and be humbled. If we resist the discipline and humbling will be more severe.
(glc) v11-15 Pharaoh tries to put limits on who can go and worship God. God tells Moses to extend his hand, and staff, over the land to bring the locusts.
(glc) v16-19 Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron and says he has sinned against God. He asks Moses and Aaron for forgiveness and asks them to pray for relief from the locusts. Moses prays to God and God blows away the locusts.
Exodus 10:20 “20 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not release the Israelites.” (NET)
(glc) This is a difficult verse, at least at the first reading. It appears at first that it is not Pharaoh’s fault that he is not releasing Israel. Rather, I take the meaning of the verse to be that God let Pharaoh continue in his decision to not let Israel go. Pharaoh is being used for God’s purposes. Those who don’t fear God and have mad up their own mind on what is the best decision will reap the consequences of opposing God.
Romans 9:14-24 “What shall we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! 15 For he says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy. 17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh: “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then, God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden.
19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who has ever resisted his will?” 20 But who indeed are you—a mere human being—to talk back to God? Does what is molded say to the molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special use and another for ordinary use? 22 But what if God, willing to demonstrate his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And what if he is willing to make known the wealth of his glory on the objects of mercy that he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us, whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? “ (NET)
(glc) Exodus 10:21-22 God tells moses to extend his hands to cause darkness over the land except for Goshen.
(glc) v24-29 Pharaoh summons Moses and again tries to limit God’s plan for Israel to worship him. Moses does not agree.
Application … It is important to not compromise to man’s plans when God has given a plan.
Pharaoh rants against Moses but Moses tells him he is prophesying that he will not see Moses again.
(glc) Exodus 11:1-2 Moses is still in Pharaoh’s presence at this time. God tells Moses that there will be one final plague on Egypt. Then Israel will leave Egypt with gold and silver from Egyptians.
(glc) v3 Moses was respected by Pharaoh’s servants and people in general in Egypt.
(glc) v5-8 Moses gives God’s message to Pharaoh of the death of the firstborn throughout Egypt.
(glc) Exodus 12:1-20 God tells Moses and Aaron that he is establishing a new calendar for Israel. He also tells them to tell all of Israel to prepare for a sacrifice, when to do the sacrifice, and to put blood on the doorframe. He gives the plan for the meal, the Lord’s Passover, that night. God tells them he will attack the firstborn of the Egyptians. The day is to be a memorial forever.
(glc) Exodus 12:43-49 God tells Moses and Aaron more about Passover, and who can participate.
(glc) Exodus 13:1-2 God tells Moses to set apart every firstborn male for God. v13,14 Moses tells Israel they must redeem the firstborn.
(glc) Exodus 14:1-4 God tells Moses where Israel must camp. He also tells moses that Pharaoh will pursue Israel but this will be to God’s glory.
(glc) v15-18 God tells Moses to stop crying out to him but to get Israel moving. God tells Moses how to part the waters of the sea. He also tells Moses the Egyptians will know he is God because of Pharaoh, the chariots, and horsemen.
(glc) Exodus 14:26 After Israel passed through the sea, God told Moses to extend his hand to make the waters flow back onto the Egyptians.
(glc) Exodus 15:25,26 “ 25 He cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When Moses threw it into the water, the water became safe to drink. There the Lord made for them a binding ordinance, and there he tested them. 26 He said, “If you will diligently obey the Lord your God, and do what is right in his sight, and pay attention to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, then all the diseases that I brought on the Egyptians I will not bring on you, for I, the Lord, am your healer.” (NET)
(glc) Israel complained to Moses about lack of water. Moses brought the problem fervently to God and God provided a solution. Then God gave a promise with a condition to the people. God required them to obey him, do what is right by God’s opinion, and obey his commands. Then they would not suffer the plagues that fell on Egypt.
Exodus 16:4,5 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people will go out and gather the amount for each day, so that I may test them. Will they walk in my law or not? 5 On the sixth day they will prepare what they bring in, and it will be twice as much as they gather every other day.”” (NET)
(glc) God heard the complaints Israel leveled at Moses and Aaron. God tells Moses he will soon cause bread to come from heaven for the people. But the bread will come with a test. Will the people trust and obey God?
Exodus 16:10-12 “As Aaron spoke to the whole community of the Israelites and they looked toward the wilderness, there the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud, 11 and the Lord spoke to Moses, 12 “I have heard the murmurings of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘During the evening you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be satisfied with bread, so that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’”” (NET)
(glc) God heard the murmuring of the people against Moses and Aaron. God gave Moses a message for the people that they would have meat in the evening and bread in the morning. This provision was to confirm to them that God was with them. I don’t know if the people could hear God’s voice from the cloud as he talked to Moses.
(glc) v16 Moses told the people God’s command regarding gathering the bread.
(glc) v23 Moses told the people that God wants them to not work tomorrow. This day will be a Sabbath to the Lord. They are to bake or broil bread today, the 6th day, and keep left overs for tomorrow.
(glc) v27-29 Some people go out on the 7th day to gather bread. God told Moses his complaint that the people are not obeying. God explains he has provided food for 2 days on the 6th day because he has given the people a Sabbath.
(glc) v32 Moses tells Aaron (?) that God has commanded them to keep some manna in a jar so future generations could see how God fed the people.
(glc) Exodus 17:4-6 The people murmured against Moses because they lacked water. Moses fervently called to God that he is in danger of being killed by the people. God tells Moses to stand with his staff before the people with some of the elders. God will be with Moses at the rock at Horeb. Moses is to strike the rock and water will come out. Moses did all this in the sight of the elders so they could see and testify to God’s miracle.
(glc) v14-16 God tells Moses to write about Israel’s victory over Amalek. Moses is to impress on Joshua how God gave the victory.
(glc) Exodus 19:3-6 Moses goes to God on the mountain. God gives him a message for Israel that hey should remember how God helped them, and that if they obey the covenant, they will be God’s special possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
(glc) v8 The people tell Moses they will obey, and Moses tells those words to God.
Moses is an intermediary to God for the people. Today, we have personal access to God because of the sacrifice for sins by Jesus. (Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 Peter 3:12; John 9:31; Philippians 4:6,7; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 John 5:14)
(glc) v9-13 v9 God tells Moses he will come in a thick cloud and speak so the people will hear him talk to Moses. This will help the people trust Moses. We should trust our spiritual leaders (Hebrews 13:17,18).
v10-13 God gives Moses guidelines to prepare the people for God to come near them. Instructions are given to not go on the mountain until the ram’s horn blows.
I can remember Brad Riddle talking (in the 1980s in Fremont) about how he prepared to go to church with Bible reading and prayer. Do you prepare yourself and go in an attitude of respect for God when you go to church?
(glc) v19 The people heard Moses and God speaking.
(glc) v20-22 God tells Moses to warn the people not to try to see God. And the priests who approach God are to be sanctified.
(glc) v23-24 Moses clarifies that the people are not to approach God. Aaron alone is to go with Moses.
Exodus 20:1-17 “God spoke all these words:
2 “I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generations of those who reject me, 6 and showing covenant faithfulness to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold guiltless anyone who takes his name in vain. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day to set it apart as holy. 9 For six days you may labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or the resident foreigner who is in your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, and he rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that you may live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving to you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your neighbor.”” (NET)
(glc) 10 Commandments … God speaks these rules for living to Moses. Honor God. Live well with others.
(glc) v18,19 The people were afraid to speak to God.
We should have a proper respect and awe of God but we have no need to fear. After we accept Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins we are acceptable in God’s sight and he welcomes our conversation (prayer).
(glc) 22-26 God tells Moses to tell the people to remember how he spoke from heaven, don’t make idols, sacrifice burnt offerings on a proper altar in a proper way.
(glc) Exodus 21:1-36 God sets out ordinances for dealing with people, consequences for injuries, dealing with injuries from animals or injuries to animals.
(glc) Exodus 22:1- 31 God sets forth laws about property, morality, ceremonies, care for people in need.
(glc) Exodus 23:1-19 God sets forth laws about justice, sabbaths, and feasts.
(glc) Exodus 23:20-33 God announces his angel will protect and lead Israel. The people are to obey his voice for he carries God’s authority. Obedience will bring God’s help in conquering the land. The people are warned not to take on any part of the religious beliefs of the people they conquer.
(glc) Exodus 24:1-2 God invites Moses Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 elders to worship him at a distance. God invites Moses to come near him.
(glc) v3 Moses communicates God’s words to the people
(glc) v9-11 Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and the 70 elders see God. Some commentators believe they saw the place where God was, or saw some godly phenomena. Later, Moses asks to see God’s glory -to see deeper into the phenomena. The meal they eat is from the sacrifices. From the next set of verses the group was not on top of the mountain.
(glc) v12 God tells Moses to come up to him to get the stone tablets with the law and commandments so Moses can teach the people.
(glc) The next few chapters record God’s direction for setting up the tabernacle for worship.
Exodus 25 Moses is directed to tell the people to collect an offering for God from all who want to give. The valuable items will be used for the sanctuary, tabernacle. Moses is to be careful to make it exactly as God directs.
Directions are given for the Ark, Table, Lampstand, and lamps.
Exodus 26 Directions are given for the Tabernacle with its curtains.
Exodus 27 Directions are given for the Altar, with pots and pans, the Courtyard, oil for lamps.
Exodus 28 Directions are given for the priests’ garments and breastplate.
Exodus 29 Directions are given to consecrate Aaron and his sons, including the offerings. This will be a 7 day long ceremony.
Exodus 30 Directions are given for the incense altar. Directions are given for atonement once a year. Directions are given for the people to give money for the operation of the tent of meeting. Directions are given for the bronze laver and for compounding the sacred anointing oil. The people are never to use this sacred oil for uses other than the religious ceremonies. Directions are given to make incense for use in the tent of meeting. It is not to be made and used outside the tent of meeting.
(glc) We should keep the worship of God as a special activity and not let it become a common, everyday activity.
Exodus 31 God tells Moses that Bezalel has been filled with his Spirit to be able to be a craftsman. Oholiab has also received special skill for constructing the tent of meeting.
Moses is told to tell the people to keep his Sabbaths. This worship is a sign that God sanctifies. This is to be done for all generations.
Moses is given the two tablets of testimony that were written by God.
(glc) Exodus 32:7-14 God tells Moses to quickly return to the people because they are sinning. God will destroy the people unless Moses intercedes. Moses intercedes on the basis of 1) these are God’s people, 2) God did mighty works in bringing the people out of Egypt, 3) destroying them would give God a bad reputation among the Egyptians, 4) God made promises to the patriarchs. God “relented” and did not destroy the people.
(glc) We should intercede for people. Psalm 106:23; 1 Timothy 2:1-6; James 5:13-16; Ephesians 6:18; Job 42:10; Ezekiel 22:30,31; Job 1:1-22; Colossians 4:2,3; Matthew 5:44; Daniel 9:3-19; Philippians 1:19; Acts 7:60; 2 Corinthians 1:11; Psalm 122:6; Acts 12:5; Luke 22:32; Jeremiah 29:7; Genesis 18:23-33; Nehemiah 1:4-11; Exodus 32:11-13; Exodus 32:30-32; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; 1 John 5:14-16; Hebrews 13:18; Joel 2:17; 1 Samuel 12:23; Numbers 12:13; Genesis 20:3-7
(glc) Exodus 32:31-34 Moses confesses the sin of the people and asks God to forgive them. God tells Moses the specific people who sinned will be wiped out of his book and will be punished.
(glc) Exodus 33:1-4 God tells Moses to move the people towards the promised land. God will provide an angel to help drive out the existing peoples from the land. God says that he will not be among them because he might destroy them when they sin.
V5 God has also told Moses to tell the people to remove their ornaments. If they don’t obey God will deal with them.
(glc) v 11 God and Moses had conversations at the tent of meeting. These conversations were like someone talking to someone he knows well.
v12-17 Moses asks for guidance in bringing the people to the promised land. Moses asks that he may know God’s ways that he may continue to find favor in God’s sight. Moses asks for help because it will benefit God’s people. God promises to go with them and give them rest. Moses says they need God to move forward. God grants the request because Moses found favor in God’s sight and he knows Moses’ name. I think this indicates God is saying he knows Moses’ character and his desire to be right with God.
v18-23 Moses asks to see God’s glory. God agrees to pass by Moses and to reveal his character. God reminds Moses that he is in charge of making decisions on being gracious and showing mercy. God warns Moses that no one can see God’s face and live.
(glc) Exodus 34:1-3 God tells Moses to prepare two stone tablets and bring them to the top of the mountain by himself.
(glc) V4 Moses does as God commanded.
(glc) V5-9 God comes in a cloud to the mountaintop and declares his name, his compassion, his character of being slow to anger and his great love and faithfulness, and his willingness to forgive. But he also states he punishes the guilty and the guilt of people will affect 3 and 4 generations after them.
(glc) We need to consider how our decisions and actions will affect us, will affect those around us, and will affect our descendants! I view the consequences not as something God imposes to punish descendants, but rather that the descendants suffer the consequences of decisions made by their ancestors. e.g. If a husband or wife commits a crime and is sent to prison, that causes a loss of companionship with the spouse, a loss of influence on the children, a loss of income for the family, etc., that can put the family and children in a disadvantaged position. e.g. If a husband or wife commits some action that causes a loss of reputation that may lead to a loss of friends, loss of close connection to extended family, loss of standing in the community. This will have a negative impact on the children and their children.
(glc) V 8,9 Moses responds to God’s presence with worship and proper reverence for God. He also makes a request that God go with them , forgive their sins, and keep them as his people.
(glc) Exodus 34 V 10-17 God tells Moses he will make a covenant (promise) with Israel. He will do great works among them. God calls for obedience as he drives out people who live in the land promised to Israel. Israel must be careful to not worship other gods. Israel is not to enter into covenants with the people who live in the land as this will lead them into idol worship.
(glc) This reminds me of James 4:4 … Being the world’s friend makes you God’s enemy.
We must put God first and reject worldly pressures that would lead us away from God.
(glc) V 18-26 God tells Moses the people must keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread to remember coming out of Egypt; they must redeem the firstborn; they are to rest on the seventh day; they must observe the Feast of Weeks (harvest); they must appear before God three times a year (they would come from where they are living to the tent of meeting ); they must handle sacrifices properly.
(glc) V 27,28 God told Moses to write the 10 Commandments on the stone tablets. The words form a covenant with Moses and Israel. Moses was with God for 40 days and 40 nights without food or water.
(glc) note Exodus 35 The people willingly brought precious gifts for the use of constructing a place of worship of God.
V10 Those who had gifts of craftsmanship were to help. Exodus 36:4ff They did help.
(glc) Exodus 40:1-16 God tells Moses when and how to set up the tabernacle, tent of meeting. This includes the placement of the items and that they should be sanctified. Aaron and his sons are to be washed and sanctified.
***done with Genesis and Exodus 1st draft 8/29/2021
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