Exodus and the LawExodus and the Law

Last Week…Last Week…We saw that God chose a people to be in We saw that God chose a people to be in a special relationship with him—to trust a special relationship with him—to trust him and not in their own ways. This was him and not in their own ways. This was an act of grace—they did nothing to earn an act of grace—they did nothing to earn or deserve it. He chooses to work or deserve it. He chooses to work through messy sinful people (his only through messy sinful people (his only

choice given the state of humanity).choice given the state of humanity).

Last Week… Last Week… We learned that God made a covenant We learned that God made a covenant with Abraham to give him innumerable with Abraham to give him innumerable descendants and that his family would be descendants and that his family would be blessed by God to be a blessing to the blessed by God to be a blessing to the rest of the world—showing them all what rest of the world—showing them all what

he is like.he is like.

Last Week…Last Week…What really stuck with you from What really stuck with you from our last time together?our last time together?

Exodus and the LawExodus and the Law

In what ways can you relate to In what ways can you relate to this pattern that the Israelites this pattern that the Israelites

lived in?lived in?

How quick are you to question or How quick are you to question or submit to authority in your life? submit to authority in your life?

Are you quicker to assume Are you quicker to assume your own authority? your own authority?

Why or why not?Why or why not?

The number of induced abortions The number of induced abortions worldwide in 2003 was approximately 42 worldwide in 2003 was approximately 42 million. About one in five pregnancies million. About one in five pregnancies worldwide end in abortion.worldwide end in abortion.

Voters approved Initiative 1000 in Voters approved Initiative 1000 in November 2008 making Washington the November 2008 making Washington the second state in the union to allow second state in the union to allow medically assisted suicide.medically assisted suicide.

Parting of the Red Sea PaintingParting of the Red Sea Painting

Psalm 81 Psalm 81

Sing praises to God, our strength.Sing praises to God, our strength. Sing to the God of Jacob. Sing to the God of Jacob.Sing! Beat the tambourine.Sing! Beat the tambourine. Play the sweet lyre and the harp. Play the sweet lyre and the harp.Blow the ram’s horn at new moon,Blow the ram’s horn at new moon, and again at full moon to call a festival! and again at full moon to call a festival!For this is required by the decrees of Israel;For this is required by the decrees of Israel; it is a regulation of the God of Jacob. it is a regulation of the God of Jacob.He made it a law for IsraelHe made it a law for Israel when he attacked Egypt to set us free. when he attacked Egypt to set us free.

I heard an unknown voice say,I heard an unknown voice say, “Now I will take the load from your “Now I will take the load from your shoulders; I will free your hands from shoulders; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks. their heavy tasks.You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you;You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you; I answered out of the thundercloud I answered out of the thundercloud and tested your faith when there was no and tested your faith when there was no water at Meribah. water at Meribah.

““Listen to me, O my people, while I give you Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. stern warnings. O Israel, if you would only listen to me! O Israel, if you would only listen to me! You must never have a foreign god; You must never have a foreign god; You must not bow down before a false god. You must not bow down before a false god.

For it was I, the Lord your God, For it was I, the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things. good things.

““But no, my people wouldn’t listen.But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around. Israel did not want me around. So I let them follow their own stubborn So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas. desires, living according to their own ideas. Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths! my paths! How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How quickly I would then subdue their enemies!

How soon my hands would be upon their foes! How soon my hands would be upon their foes! Those who hate the Lord would cringe Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him; they would be doomed forever. before him; they would be doomed forever.

But I would feed you with the finest wheat.But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.”rock.”

If what we learned today is true, If what we learned today is true, how does/should it affect your life?how does/should it affect your life?

Proverbs 14:12 Proverbs 14:12

There is a way that seems right to a There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.man, but its end is the way to death.

How would it affect us as How would it affect us as a community?a community?

How would it affect others…How would it affect others… our neighborhood, our city? our neighborhood, our city?

WALKING IT OUT…WALKING IT OUT…Engage the Story more deeply with each other this week.Engage the Story more deeply with each other this week.