Exodus 15

I. The deliverance song (1-19)

God is…

• triumphant
• my strength
• my song
• my salvation (victory)
• my God
• my father’s God
• a man of war
• the LORD
• powerful
• great
• controller of wind and sea
• unlike other gods
• holy
• to be praised
• a worker of wonders
• merciful
• redeemer
• guide of His people
• strong
• forever reigning

II. Miriam and the women (20-21)

• Moses’ sister was a prophetess
• Musical instruments and dancing?

III. Bitter water at Marah (22-27)

• The glorious Red Sea deliverance is quickly forgotten as soon as the next life problem arises. Instead of murmuring to Moses, the people should have appealed to the God who mercifully and powerfully brought them out of Egypt.
• The Lord showed Moses how to “treat” the water to make it potable.
• A new promise: live right and you won’t suffer the same consequences as did the Egyptians.

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Exodus 13

I. Passover regulations (1-10)

8, 14:  What do you tell your children?

II. Firstborn regulations (11-16)

12, 15: The males…

III. The journey begins (17-22)

19: Joseph’s bones went, too

Exodus 14

IV. The effects of hardening your heart (1-9)

4, 8: How hard was his heart that Pharaoh still wanted to keep Israel in bondage, even after the firstborn deaths.

V.  The people complain to Moses (10-20)

13: Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord

VI. The red sea divided (21-31)

25: The Lord fights for some and against others

Meditation Points:

• God was always with His people (13:21-22), by night and by day. And He still is.
• One event could have dramatically opposite effects on two different groups (14:20). God’s presence opens the eyes of some and blinds others.

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The First Passover

Exodus 12

1. Although written down some time later, these instructions concerning Passover were given to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt before the law of Sinai.
2. Passover details not to be passed over.
3. The calendar was changed so that Passover would be in the first month.
4. 4 days before the celebration, a lamb was to be procured.
5. The lamb was to be a yearling male without spot or blemish.
6. Each household was to have its own lamb; but two houses might share one lamb.
7. Blood from the animal was to be smeared upon the side and top posts of the home’s doorway.
8. The meat was to be roasted, not boiled or raw, before eating.
9. The meat was to be accompanied by unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
10. Any leftovers must be destroyed and not eaten.
11. Those partaking of the Passover meal were to do so fully clothed and ready to leave the house.
12. At that time, God would be destroying the firstborn throughout the land; but if He would see the blood on the doorposts, the firstborn of that home would be “passed over” and thereby safe.
13. Observing Passover was a perpetual obligation, even after Israel would enter the promised land.
14. Anyone eating leavened bread at this time was to be cut off from Israel–either excommunicated or exterminated.
15. Besides the preparation of necessary food, all human labor was to cease for the week.
16. The annual Passover celebration is to give opportunity to teach coming generations about  God’s passing over Israel and smiting Egypt.
17. At midnight, from palace to dungeon, firstborn sons were killed.
18. The Israelites left in such a hurry that they didn’t have time for their bread to rise.
19. Their Egyptian neighbors gladly contributed to their leaving.
20. There were about 600,000 men with families who left Egypt that night.
21. A mixed multitude accompanied them, too.
22. These things took place 430 years to the day after Israel first dwelt in Egypt.
23. Passover is not open to the uncircumcised.
24. The same law applied to Israelites and foreigners and hired servants.
25. The Passover meal was not to be carried out of the house.

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At the end of the last chapter, we heard Pharaoh saying that he didn’t want to see Moses again about the matter of Israel’s leaving Egypt; and we heard Moses say that such would be the case.

How do we explain the conversation between the two in chapter 11?

Either of two readings will suffice:

1.  Moses never did come again to intercede for Israel. His next, and last, appearance before Pharaoh was as God’s messenger to declare the coming of the 10th plague.

2. The event of chapter 11 is a continuance of the meeting in chapter 10.

Exodus 11

I. A parenthetical summary of what is to follow. (1-3:)

• God will bring one last plague upon Pharaoh and Egypt
• After this, Israel will be free to go; in fact, Israel will be urged to go
• Before leaving, Israel is to ask financial support,
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