exodus study guide, chapters 1 - 4

EXODUS

1 La Cañada Presbyterian Church

C O N T E N T S

Preface A Letter from Pastor Gareth Icenogle ........................................................................... pg

For Starters .............................................................................................................................. pg

How to Use the Study Guide

“Getting to Know One Another” Small Group Questions

Places to Connect and Study

Sermon and Study Schedule

1 Thriving Together in Stressful Times .................................................................................... pg

2 Caught Between Two Cultures .............................................................................................. pg

3 When God Shows Up ............................................................................................................ pg

4 Power in Knowing the Presence ........................................................................................... pg

LA CAÑADA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

$ 3

EXODUS Leaving the Old Life with a New Leader

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EXODUS

La Cañada Presbyterian Church 3

C O N T E N T S

Preface A Letter from Pastor Gareth Icenogle ........................................................................ pg 4 For Starters .......................................................................................................................... pg 5

How to Use the Study Guide “Getting to Know One Another” Small Group Questions Places to Connect and Study Sermon and Study Schedule

1 Thriving Together in Stressful Times .............................................................................. pg 13 2 Caught Between Two Cultures ........................................................................................ pg 18 3 When God Shows Up ...................................................................................................... pg 23

4 Power in Knowing the Presence ......................................................................................... pg 28

Addendum: Pray for PNC ........................................................................................................ pg 34

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Preface The Book of Exodus is sometimes referred to as the “gospel of the Old Testament” since it at the heart of the rest of Old Testament writings. It finds its New Testament parallel in the gospels, particularly the Gospel of Matthew, which reflects many thematic and symbolic similarities. Moses is often seen as the Christ model in the Old Testament and Jesus is often understood as the fulfillment of Moses’ ministry in the New Testament.

Since Exodus is such a pivotal book of the Bible, it is important for us in the Church to spend significant time studying its themes, purpose and leadership.

Exodus means departure and implies journey from the old to the new. Many sacred and secular writers have used Exodus as a primary paradigm for understanding change and transition.

William Bridges is a business consultant and life coach who has written several books on “transition” and “change”. His quote of the summary dilemma dealt with in Exodus was extracted from other previous authors and made more famous by his use of it: “It was a lot easier to take the people out of Egypt than it was to take Egypt out of the people.” This statement cuts to the heart of the difference between physical change and emotional transition. The actual change can happen quickly but the emotional adjustment to the change is a much slower and painful process.

La Cañada Presbyterian Church is in the midst of a pastoral leadership change. The actual change from one pastor to the next can go very quickly, but the emotional and

organizational transitions around and through this change can take many more months and years. A number of people have asked, “Why does it take so long to make the change to a new pastor?” They think, as is often the case in business, CEO changes are often made quickly with little resistance. But while the church has a business dimension, it is primary a community of people with many divergent emotional connections to the past and present. Emotional communities are like families with complex personalities and relationships (like Israel in Egypt and on the way in the wilderness). The physical journey from Egypt to Canaan could have taken less than two weeks, but the emotional transition took 40 years.

This is why it is important for us at LCPC to consider carefully the context and content of the Exodus. There are important lessons herein for leadership and congregational and organizational changes in light of complex emotional transitions. It is important we all pay attention as participants and shareholders of this church.

For in taking time to consider the depth of God’s message through the Exodus, we will discover some very important truths that ultimately point to Jesus Christ as the author and finisher of our faith and life on the journey from time now and eternity to come.

Gareth Icenogle

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How to Use This Study Guide The following are some suggestions for how to use this Study Guide.

Each chapter of the study guide is written to follow the previous Sunday's Sermon.

The format and content is designed for groups that meet weekly for about 90 minutes. If your group meets for a shorter amount of time or less frequently than once a week, your group may choose which of the chapters to discuss together, and to answer a few select questions in each section and decide. If your group meets longer than 90 minutes, you have the option of answering all of the questions.

The Study Guide can also be used by individuals who would like to study more about the book of Exodus in conjunction with the sermon schedule.

New Group "Getting to Know One Another" Questions: If you are in a new Small Group, it will be worth some time in each session to spend a few minutes asking a question or two that will encourage the members of the group to be "introduced" to one another.

Continuing & Established Groups If you are in a Small Group that has been together for some time you may choose to skip the "Getting to Know One Another Questions." That will depend on whether or not you feel you already have a significant knowledge of one another. (But.... you may find that even these "introductory" questions might be ones that would still help you learn more about each other than you thought you already knew!)

The Three D's: Discuss, Discover, Dig Deeper In each week's study you will find Discuss, Discovery and Dig Deeper sections.

• The "Discuss" questions help the individuals and the group begin thinking about the themes and ideas of the week's study.

• The "Discover" questions provide suggestions for beginning to work with the passage.

• The Dig Deeper Questions provide ways for you and your group to do some Bible exploration.

Personal Reflection & Application These will provide suggestions for you to consider how the material from the book, in addition to group discussion, might have implications for how you live out your faith as "One of Christ's people in the world."

One last word of encouragement: There are some classic questions that are almost always fitting when reading a book or reflecting on a sermon. They are traditionally understood to be coordinated with an "inductive approach to understanding and interacting with written and verbal presentations. Three words summarize their intent: Observe, Interpret, Apply.

Observe: What did you hear the author/speaker saying?

Interpret: What did you think the author/speaker meant?

Apply: What do you believe this might mean to you?

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If individuals in a Small Group all have an opportunity to share their responses to these 3 Basic Questions and interact with one another about those responses, they will have usually wrestled well with the

material. Hence, these are good "fail safe" or "default" questions to use if the other suggested questions don't seem to be working well for your group.

Grace and Peace,

ChuckOsburn Shelley Irvine Associate Pastor, Congregational Care Director of Spiritual Formation & Spiritual Formation

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Getting To Know One Another

1. Where were your parents born? Where were you born? Briefly describe something about your current family. Briefly describe something about your current occupation/career.

2. Briefly describe your “geographical journey” (places you’ve lived). How many siblings did you have? Where are you in the birth order?

3. What were your parents’ occupations? Briefly describe your “vocational journey” (significant jobs you’ve had)

4. Briefly describe your “spiritual journey.” Include … - The faith [if any] of your family growing up. - When faith in Christ first became real to you personally. - Your church/Christian community connections from then until now.

5. Who would be one or two of your most significant “mentors” in your Christian faith? Why them? What did they do for/with you to be that?

6. What 2-3 Christian practices or experiences have been most helpful in growing your Christian faith? Why and how?

7. If your house was burning down, what three objects would you try to save?

8. What comes to your mind when you think about God?

9. Tell me the high point of your week.

10. If you are at a friend’s or relative’s house for dinner, and you find a hair in your salad, what would you do?

11. If you could have dinner with any person alive in the world today, who would that be?

12. If you could ask God one question right now, what would it be?

13. Name one person that is not a family member that has had the greatest influence in your life.

14. If you were banished to a dessert island, would you rather be there alone or with your worst enemy?

15. If you could go back and visit any time period, what time would you travel to and why?

16. If you had to give up one of your senses (hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling, tasting) which would it be and why?

17. What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?

18. What is your favorite TV show and why?

19. If you had to live this week over again, would you change anything? If so, what would that be?

20. Talk about a purchase that you made sometime in your life that you regret.

21. If you were a kitchen appliance, which one would you be and why?

22. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would that be?

23. Tell us about a book or movie that you have watched recently and would recommend to the group.

24. If you could take a vacation right now, where would you go?

25. If you had the power to change one problem in the world today, what would that problem be?

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26. Tell everyone to write on a piece of paper 3 things about themselves which may not be known to the other members in the group. Two of these things are true and one is not. Have each person take turns and read out the three ‘facts’ about themselves. After this is done, have everyone vote as to which of the 3 is not true. There are always surprises when you do this. This activity is not about becoming a good liar but simply a fun ice breaker that helps the group and leaders get to know more about each other.

27. If you could visit heaven right now and talk with one of the people of the Bible (other than Jesus), whom would you talk to?

28. Name a gift you will never forget?

29. What is one thing you really like about yourself?

30. Does your first or middle name have any significance (or were you named after another family member)?

31. Tell me the first thing that you ever remember in your life.

32. If you had a time machine that would work only once, what point in the future or in history would you visit?

33. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

34. If your house was burning down, what three objects would you try and save?

35. If you could talk to any one person now living, who would it be and why?

36. If you HAD to give up one of your senses (hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling, tasting) which would it be and why?

37. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

38. Do you have a pet? If not, what sort of pet would you like?

39. Name a gift you will never forget?

40. Name one thing you really like about yourself.

41. What's your favorite thing to do in the summer?

42. What do you do for fun?

43. What would be your ideal vacation?

44. What is the most memorable activity you did with your family as a child?

45. What quality do you appreciate most in a friend?

46. What is one characteristic you received from your parents that you want to keep and one you wish you could change?

47. What is a good thing happening in your life right now?

48. What makes it good?

49. If you knew you couldn’t fail and money was no object, what would you like to do in the next five years?

50. What would you like said at your funeral?

51. When, if ever, did God become more than a word to you and how did it happen?

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Places to Connect and Study If you are interested in being part of a Bible Study Group or Small Group to go through this Study Guide, here are just a few of the opportunities to connect and study:

Pastor's Bible Study Wednesdays, 6:30 - 7:30 AM Fellowship Hall, DFLC In this weekly study Pastor Gareth Icenogle discusses the coming Sunday's sermon. This is an excellent opportunity to get an in-depth preview! To get on the Pastor’s Bible Study email updates: Gloria Hill, [email protected].

Women in the Word Mondays, 9:30 - 11:00 AM Library This fellowship gathering is open to women of all ages and stages! Pastor Gareth Icenogle will be leading the study. The group will follow the weekly reading schedule in this guide and discuss the previous Sunday's sermon, in addition to questions in the guide. INFO: Martha Brumfield, (818) 952-1374 Janet Eddy, (818) 244-9027 Lee Johnson, (818)7906972 Shirley Myers, (818) 790-1528.

NEW Fall Women’s Bible Study Fridays, 9:00 – 11:00 AM SEPT 18 – NOV 20 Childcare: $5/child We are launching a group to follow along with the church-wide study on Exodus. Exodus is a fascinating book and we will go slowly enough to really dig in a bit and get to know it as well as find truths for our lives today. Led by Heather Henry, Rayni Peavy & Marikay Cuthill. MORE INFO: Heather Henry at [email protected], x252.

Faith Awareness Sundays, 9:15 AM, led by Neil Lindstrom or 11:00 AM led by Wes Beverlin & John Frederich Library These Sunday Adult Classes are open to all men and women. Come and enjoy refreshments and engaging conversation. The group will follow the weekly reading schedule in this guide.

Women’s Cord Fellowship Wednesdays, 7:30 – 9:00 PM LCPC, Room TBD All women are invited to join this group as they study Exodus. MORE INFO: Marian Lamb, [email protected].

Serve Small Groups Returning in October - These groups will work through a different curriculum and are built around serving together at one of the local outreach partners. They meet twice monthly for Bible Study (a custom curriculum), fellowship and prayer. Then twice monthly, they will serve together at one of our local outreach partners. For more information on the Serve Small Groups, contact Megan Katerjian at [email protected], x628

We can also help you start a new Small Group! If you have a day and time that you want to meet, and a few other friends that are available at that same time, let us help you get started. We'll provide you with the training and resources you need! Please feel free to email or call me!

Grace and Peace,

Shelley Irvine Director of Spiritual Formation

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Fall Preaching September 2015 – Exodus I – Leaving the Old Life with a New Leader

DATE EVENT TEXT TITLE BIBLICAL THEMES PREACHER

9/13 Launch Exodus 1 Thriving Together in Stressful Times Israel prospers in oppression Gareth

9/20 Exodus 2 Caught between Two Cultures Moses born into two households: Faith and Fear/Anger

Gareth

9/27 Exodus 3 When God Shows Up God appears to Moses in a peculiar place

Megan

10/4 World Communion Stewardship 1

Exodus 4 Power in Knowing the Presence God gives Moses gifts to lead Natural and supernatural gifts All good gifts are from God

Gareth

10/11 Stewardship 2 Exodus 5 Resistance to Doing Good Doing More with Less

Pharaoh resists God and Moses Making bricks without straw

Gareth

10/18 Exodus 6 Vision during Hard Times In Israel’s despair God sets the dream

Gareth

10/25 Exodus 7 When Leaders Become Like God Moses made like God to Pharaoh

Megan

11/1 Communion Exodus 7-12 A Leader’s Hard Heart God’s presence in clusters of troubles

Gareth

11/8 Stewardship 3 Exodus 12:33 Wealth: Living on God’s Plunder Egyptians gave away their wealth to Israel

Gareth

11/15 Exodus 13:17 God Leads in a Roundabout Way Not by way of the Philistines, but Red Sea

Gareth

11/22 Thanksgiving Stewardship 4

Exodus 14-15 Giving Thanks for God’s Goodness Deliverance and Celebration Gareth

- subject to revisions-

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Advent and Christmas 2015-16 – “Waiting for God to…”


11/29 Advent I Jeremiah 33:14-16

Waiting for God to Send a Leader Waiting for God to Make Things Right

God will fulfill his promises Megan

12/6 Advent II Communion

Malachi 3:1-4 Waiting for God to Send a Messenger

God will send messengers to prepare us

Gareth

12/13 Advent III Zephaniah 3:14-20

Waiting for God to Take Away Fear Waiting for God to Send Joy

God will remove disasters so that we sing

Gareth

12/20 Advent IV Micah 5:2-5 Waiting for God to Send Peace God will send a servant to bring peace

Megan

12/24 Christmas Eve Isaiah 9:2-7 Waiting for God to Send the Great Light

A child has been born for us Gareth

12/27 Christmas I Samuel 2:18-20 Luke 2:41-52

Growing Up in the Presence of the Lord

Jesus grew up in the presence of God

Kristin

1/3 Epiphany Communion

Isaiah 60:1-6 Nations Shall Come to Christ’s Light

They shall bring gold and frankincense

Megan

- subject to revisions-

Winter-Lent Preaching 2016 – Exodus II – The Rough Way to a New Life


1/10 Baptism Exodus 14-15 Death and New Life Going through the water to the other side

Gareth

1/17 Exodus 15:22 Exodus 17:1

Tough Days Ahead Bad water and complaining people

Gareth

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1/24 Exodus 16-17 Daily Bread in Lean & Mean Days A lack of bread and fighting enemies

Gareth

1/31 Exodus 18 Shared Leadership Moses learns to share leadership

Gareth

2/7 Communion Exodus 19:6 Becoming Priests Becoming a priestly kingdom/holy nation

Megan

2/10 Ash Wednesday

Living in the Wilderness Shelley

2/14 Lent I Exodus 19:9 Preparing to Meet God Meeting God in the cloud at the Mountain

Gareth

2/21 Lent II Exodus 20 Purpose of Law: God, People and Practice

Why, What and How of 10 Commandments

Gareth

2/28 Lent III Stewardship 5

Exodus 25-40 Exodus 35:4

Liturgy of the Presence An Offering to the Lord

Ark, Tabernacle, Priests and Artist Investing in God’s Presence

Gareth

3/6 Lent IV Stewardship 6

Exodus 32-33 Sin: Turning Aside from the Way An Offering for Us

Israel makes and worships a golden calf Misuse of wealth; worship of idols

Gareth

3/13 Lent V Exodus 23 God Makes & Keeps Promises Covenant and Promise Megan

3/20 Palm/Passion Exodus 33:7 Meeting God Face to Face Moses and God met as friends in the Tent

Gareth

3/24 Maundy Exodus 12 Dying for Others to Live Passover and Last Supper Jim

3/27 Easter Exodus 40 Living in the Glory God’s Cloud & Glory in Tent and on Way, In Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus

Gareth

Spring Preaching Series, Called, begins April 3 | subject to revisions

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Chapter 1 - Thriving Together in Stressful Times Week 1: Exodus 1, September 13 - 19, 2015

Introduction

Depart. Go. Leave. Sometimes these words are invitational, as in the case of embarking on a long awaited and grand adventure. Sometimes these words are unwelcome, even when leaving behind painful or undesirable circumstances. But in either case they can be fraught with fear and uncertainty. How do we know what to take with us and what to leave behind? How will we know if we're going the right direction? What if we lose our way? Who will be there to guide us?

Exodus is a book whose very name means "exit out of". But in this great narrative of the Old Testament, God doesn't just call the Israelite people to journey away from something; God invites them to journey toward something. God reminds them that the promises to their ancestors have not been forgotten, God reveals God's self in new ways, and God invites this chosen people into a personal, covenantal and intimate relationship.

Discuss Discuss these questions with your Small Group as time permits:

1. Where did you notice God's activity in your life this past week? How does it connect with the insight and/or questions you had in last week's study?

2. Think of a time that you were anticipating a journey of some sort. It could be a physical move, or a life change that is symbolized with the idea of journey. What did you wrestle with? What brought you comfort?

In the Jewish tradition, the book of Exodus is called Shemot, which is the Hebrew word for names. A full list of the names of the 70 family members is in Genesis 46:8-27.

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3. Is there anything you would do differently? Why or why not?

Discover 1. Read the first chapter of Exodus. What

stands out for you in this chapter? Was there something that caused you discomfort or confusion? Was there something that resonated strongly with you? Share your responses and observations with your Small Group.

2. What are the 3 plans the Pharaoh makes to subjugate and eliminate the Israelite population? (See verses 11, 16 and 22) What do you notice about the progression of these plans, e.g., the violence and the participants?

3. The midwives "feared God". How do you understand this phrase? (Consider Exodus 1:15-21, and Luke 12:4-12)

Dig Deeper Chapter 1 of Exodus provides a short transition between the end of Genesis and the main events in Exodus, and it links the history of God's promises to Abraham, and his descendants with what is about to happen.

1. Read Genesis 46:31 - 47:9 as a refresher for how the Israelites left Canaan and came to dwell in Egypt.

2. Verse 7 says, "but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them." This fact is important enough to be named three times in this first chapter (vs. 7, 12, 20). Who did God make this promise to?

Scripture Recipients of the Promise

Genesis 1:28

Genesis 9:1

Genesis 17:2,6; 22:17

Genesis 26:4

Genesis 28:14; 35:11; 48:4

The story of Moses is a story of God's intervening in impossible situations and proving that nothing is impossible with God. Nature and timing are real, but they do not thwart God's promises.

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3. In verse 8 we read, "Now a new king came to power in Egypt who did not know Joseph."

• The phrase “a new king” indicates a king who has different principles or policies from those of his predecessors, and one who came into power in a different way (perhaps other than normal succession practiced to this point).

• The phrase "did not know," means he did not acknowledge Joseph's contribution to Egypt.

• Why are these details important to the story? (See Genesis 41:37-57 and 47:1-12)

4. The king of Egypt believes baby boys are the threat. But who thwarts the king's plans? Who does God use in this chapter to accomplish His purposes?

5. Look at these other examples in scripture. What might you infer about the nature of God's plans? God's promises? The authority of man and the nature of God's will?

Passage Who & What Does God Use?

1 Samuel 16:6-7

Jeremiah 9:23

Luke 1:46-55

1 Cor 1:26-29

Personal Reflection & Application: Being One of Christ's Persons in the World

1. What insight have you gained from this study, and how would you like it to impact or affect you? How can you begin putting this into practice this coming week? (Choose an accountability partner and check in with one another before your Small Group meets again.)

2. Reflect on this past Sunday's sermon. What connections are you making between the sermon and this week's study? What captured your attention and how do you find yourself responding?

3. What do you notice about power and oppression in this story? What are some of the words used to describe the situation of the Israelites?

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4. Where do you see examples of similar evils in our world today?

5. Compare and contrast the role of two midwives in verse 17 and "all his people" in verse 22. What do you notice?

6. Think about times that you have been

pressured to commit acts of injustice. When have you felt more able to act as one of the midwives? When might you have acted as one of "all the people"? What made the difference in being able to act one way or the other?

7. As a Small Group consider supporting one of the many refugee and relief services as you go through this study series. See page sidebar for some ideas of where to begin.

"The female children were considered of such little consequence as to be no threat -- a striking irony, since his plan was ultimately thwarted by two women."

Joyce Hollyday, "Clothed with the Sun: Biblical Women, Social Justice, and

Us(Louisville, KY.: Westminster John Knox Press, 1994), 93

LCPC Outreach - We seek to serve Christ by using our time, talents and resources to love those around us. Go to lacanadapc.org/serve.

Presbyterian Mission Agency - Compassion, Peace and Justice, Making God’s Community Livable For All. Go to presbyerianmission.org.

International Justice Mission - A global organization that protects the poor from violence in the developing world. Go to IJM.org.

Jesuit Refugee Service - A ministry of aid and accompaniment for refugees. Go to JRS.org.

The Burrito Project - Burrito Project is a group of friends that feeds the hungry and homeless in cities around the world, encouraging people “to get together with friends and build burritos to take to the streets”. Go to burritoproject.org.

Mennonite Central Committee - Relief, development and peace in the name of Christ. Go to MCC.org.

World Relief - the Church at work providing comfort to the world’s poor and suffering, and having their lives transformed in return. Go to worldrelief.org.

World Vision - a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Go to worldvision.org.

Doctors Without Borders - Helping people worldwide where the need is greatest, delivering emergency medical aid to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters or exclusion from health care. Go to doctorswithoutborders.org.

UNICEF - In cooperation with governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), UNICEF saves and protects the world's most vulnerable children. Go to unicef.com.

Hand in Hand for Syria - The first to take humanitarian aid into Syria, and remaining at the forefront of emergency aid in Syria, getting aid where other organizations cannot. Go to handinhandforsyria.org.uk.

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Closing Prayer Begin your prayer with these words from Psalm 77:11-15 Common English Bible (CEB):

But I will remember the Lord’s deeds; yes, I will remember your wondrous acts from times long past.

I will meditate on all your works; I will ponder your deeds. God, your way is holiness! Who is as great a god as you, God? You are the God who works wonders;

you have demonstrated your strength among all peoples.

With your mighty arm you redeemed your people;

redeemed the children of Jacob and Joseph.

Continue in prayer, thanking God for providing for your needs. Ask God for the grace you need to live out the message you believe. Pray for the future of LCPC, it's Pastors, Elders, Staff and the Pastor Nominating Committee, asking that God will continue to grant wisdom and strength as they live out their calling to serve here. Pray for the needs of those in exile around the world; if you are willing, pray that God grant you courage to demonstrate in word and deed the good news to those people God brings into your path this week.

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Chapter 2 - Caught Between Two Cultures Week 2: Exodus 2, September 20 - 26, 2015

Introduction The life of Moses is full of the type of high drama and fascinating plot twists that have inspired grand master artists for centuries, including painters, authors, musicians, playwrights, and sculptors. And it begins right with Moses' birth.

There is literary artistry in the scriptural story telling of Moses' birth, beginning with word play around the subject of the Nile River. A place where children were destined to die becomes a place of rescue. We'll see more of this literary artistry in future chapters (Hint: one of the plagues).

Notice, also, that there are already many characters, but relatively few names. The foccus remains Moses and his name, his identity. In its Egyptian form, Moshe means "is born" and we see it in the second part of many famous pharaoh names, e.g, Thutmose. Here we can also see word play with Moses' name, since it sounds very much like a Hebrew word mashah that means "draw out". Moses'

very name gives us a clue into his life lived between two cultures.

Discuss Choose one or two of these questions and discuss in your Small Group as time allows.


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2. Do you remember when you first heard the story of baby Moses placed in a basket? How old were you, and who told it to you? How much of the story are you able to recall now?

3. As you recall (or re-read) chapter 2, which verses stand out to you, and why?

4. Imagine yourself as Moses. How would you feel living as royalty knowing that the Egyptians that rescued you were oppressing your own kinsman?

5. Can you recall stories or situations where your name, or how you were called, influenced how you thought of yourself? Share with the group if you feel comfortable.

Discover: 1. Read chapter 2 of Exodus. What


2. What tribe or "house" are Moses' parents from? Do you have any clues as to why that ancestry might be important later on?

3. Read verses 3-9. What relationship do you see between trusting in God's provision and using our skills, abilities and creativity?

4. What sort of person do you think Moses might have become if he had stayed with his Egyptian family?

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5. How do you think leaving the privileged life as the adoptive grandson of a pharaoh affected him? And how do you think living in the desert as the son-in-law of a shepherd affected him?

Dig Deeper 1. Notice the themes of rescue and

intervention being developed:

Passage Who Rescues Who?

Exodus 2:1-10

Exodus 2:11-15a

Exodus 2:15b-22

2. God seems to use a pattern of isolation or removal -- orchestrating or allowing events that remove people from settings, situations or other people in order to prepare them for something else. Read the following passages and identify the hardship or tragedy, and how God used it.

• Genesis 12:1-6

• Genesis 37:18-28, 50:19 – 21

• Exodus 2:15-21

• Matthew 4:1-10

3. Moses names his son Gershom, meaning "stranger there". Why do you think Moses referred to himself as an immigrant, even though he had connections to three people groups (Egyptians, Israelites, and Midianites)?

4. Compare Exodus chapter 2 to Matthew chapter 2. What similarities and differences do you notice between the stories of Moses' birth and Jesus' birth?

The Hebrew word for basket used in verse 3 is a rare word and it is used only one other place in the Old Testament. In Genesis 6:14-9:18 it is used to refer to Noah's "ark", the large ship that enabled Noah and his family and pairs of animals to escape another type of watery death. Can you see Noah and Moses as archetypes of Jesus? Explain your answer.

There are no gaps in the divine purpose concerning us. God's work in our life is all of a piece.

Percy Ainsworth

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2. Reflecting on this past Sunday's sermon, what connections are you making between the sermon and this week's study? What captured your attention and how do you find yourself responding?

3. What do verses 11 and 12 tell us about Moses' character? How are these same character traits displayed in verse 17? What do you think made the difference in the outcome of these situations?

4. Compare some of your traits to the traits of Moses. How do you react or respond to injustices perpetrated against you or another? Why do you think you react this way?

5. Read verses 23 and 24. What do these verses reveal about God? How does this affect (or not affect) you when you are faced with circumstances that you cannot change?

6. Consider the following:

"My service has always been guided by question marks, chiefly: What would Jesus do in this situation? How can we better serve people who are victims of cruelty? How can we restore their self confidence as free and gifted human beings, and their dignity as children of God? How can we help them feel that, in spite of everything, there is a being who loves them and is manifest in the kindness of others? (Builders of God's Kingdom, Ledys Bohorquez Farfan, JRS Columbia).

What person or situation comes to mind as you read this? What invitation to do or be (or not do or not be) do you sense? How will you engage that invitation this week?

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Closing Prayer

"Lord, we pray not for tranquility nor that our tribulations may cease. We pray for Thy Spirit and Thy love that Thou grant us strength and grace to overcome adversity through Jesus Christ." -- Girolamo Savanarola, Italy, 15th Century.

In silence, talk to God about how this prayer does or does not fit with your mind and heart at this moment. Change the prayer as you need to, and then offer it to God.

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Chapter 3 - When God Shows Up Week 3: Exodus 3, September 27 - October 3, 2015

Introduction In chapter 3 we meet up with Moses forty years after he has escaped Pharaoh's death threat and left behind his life as a Prince of Egypt. The scriptures barely give us a glimpse of what his life was like in those forty years; he got married, had children, and is tending sheep for his father-in-law.

Do you imagine that Moses missed parts of his life as a royal, and wondered with some sadness if tending sheep was all his life would ever amount to? Did he feel like a failure for having thrown away all his education and privilege in one rash moment of anger?

Or do you imagine that the man that named his firstborn after his own sense of being a stranger and a foreigner was finally at peace and at home amongst the second group of people that adopted him,

and he was contentedly enjoying "the simple life"?

What we can see from scripture is that in either of the possible scenarios above, or in another that plays our in your imagination, Moses surely did not expect God to show up in the way that God did! This week's study invites us to look at how we respond to God's invitations as we look at Moses' responses.

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Discuss


2. Read and discuss the following quote: Do you agree, and why or why not?

True Christian experience must always include a genuine encounter with God. Without this, religion is but a shadow, a reflection, a cheap copy of the original once enjoyed by someone else of whom we have heard. A.W. Tozer, Renewed Day by Day (Christian Publications, 1980)

3. Think about a time in your life when you said “no” to something because you thought you didn't have the right set of skills, gifts or talents. This can be a sense of call, a desire or wish, or even a direct invitation. What happened because you said no? Can you imagine a set of circumstances that would have made it possible for you to say yes?

Discover 1. Read Chapter 3 of Exodus. What


2. In Exodus 3:1-3 Moses notices the bush and decides to approach. What might that say about Moses?

3. God could have created a great pyrotechnic display, reflective of his full glory, but he didn't. What might that tell you about the nature of God?

4. Notice that as Moses approaches, God says his name twice. Now look at the following stories about how God speaks to those whose attention and company he desires. What do you notice about God in these verses?

• 1 Samuel 3:8-10

• 1 Kings 19:11-13

• Genesis 3:8

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Dig Deeper 1. What are the excuses that Moses gives

to God? • Exodus 3:11

• Exodus 3:13

2. How does God reply to Moses' excuses? • Exodus 3:12

• Exodus 3:14-15

3. Look back on Exodus 2:14-15. Do you think this may have been part of Moses' objections and hesitations? Why or why not?

4. There are many other names that help us know who He is. Take the time as a group to meditate on the names of God. Start with some of the names listed below and then move to other names that come to your heart and mind. Which of these have been meaningful and comforting for you? Why?

Rock Shepherd

Deliverer Might Fortress

Comforter Prince of Peace

Provider Lord of Lords

Savior

The spiritual giants of old were people who at some time became acutely conscious of the real Presence of God and maintained that consciousness for the rest of their lives. The first encounter may have been one of terror, as when a "thick and dreadful darkness" came over Abram, or as when Moses at the bush hid his face because he was afraid to look upon God. Usually this fear soon lost its content of terror and changed after a while to delightsome awe, to level off finally into a reverent sense of complete nearness to God.

AW Tozer, Renewed Day by Day (Christian Publicaitons, 1980)

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2. Reflect on this past Sunday's sermon. What captured your attention, and how do you find yourself responding? What connections are you making: • Between the sermon and this

week's study?

• Between your life and the sermon and/or study?

• For the future of LCPC and your part in that?

3. What are moments of revelation in your life? Recall or describe a "burning bush" experience where God revealed himself gently yet personally to you?

4. How did this experience change the intimacy of your relationship with God?

What's in a Name? In ancient times, someone's name expressed his or her character or identity. Although the Lord's name was in use before now (it is found throughout Genesis), God now begins to reveal what that name means through what God does and will do. Most commentators agree that in Hebrew the emphasis in "I AM" is not on God's abstract existence but on God's active presence.

"Specifically, the stress is upon God's presence with Moses and Israel, his "being" is a "being with", a divine presence. "I am" in 3:14 is the same Hebrew word as "I will be" in "I will be with you" (3:12). J.P. Hyatt suggests the translation, "I will be what I will be" in the sense that God "will disclose his name and nature to Moses and Israel as he is active in their life and history"

J.P. Hyatt, Exodus (London: Oliphants, 1971), 76

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5. Moses notices. Moses stops. Moses decides to go and see. How well are you doing at turning aside, slowing down, and responding to God's presence and invitation? Take time this week to pay loving attention to God's activity: • Go for a walk and enjoy the beauty

of God's creation. Slow down and notice what he has made.

• Notice God's presence and activity in the life of a friend. Make a point of encouraging them and telling them what you see.

• Take five minutes in the midst of your work day to be still and listen to God.

Closing Prayer Consider the following: "A name is a precious gift. It is something to be lived into.....Call people by name shortly after you've met them and see how they come alive....Sometimes we are given a new name to celebrate a call to a more radical way of life. The new name is a reminder of the new person we are to become. Abram becomes Abraham. Sarai becomes Sarah. Jacob becomes Israel. Saul becomes Paul." Macrina Wiederkehr, A Tree Full of Angels, Seeing the Holy in the Ordinary. Harper Collins 1990, pg. 1

In silence, begin your conversation with God using the name for God that best expresses your desire for God. Then, talk to God about how you'd like to be known. Is there a name you'd like to be called by God, a new name that symbolizes a growing sense of who you are to become?

Continue in prayer, giving thanks for the blessings that come to mind. Ask God for the grace you need to step into and live out what you have learned this week. Pray for:

• The Pastors, Elders, Staff and the Pastor Nominating Committee, asking that God will continue to grant wisdom and strength.

• The needs of those around the world experiencing homelessness, hunger, war and other suffering.

• One another.

Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees, takes off his shoes- The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries. . . .

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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Chapter 4 - Power in Knowing the Presence Week 4: Exodus 4, October 4 - 10, 2015

Info about image: Eugene Plachart -- (French Painter,1808-1880). "God Appears to Moses in Burning Bush" 1848. St. Isaac of Dalmatia Cathedral, St. Peterburg

Introduction Last week we left God and Moses in mid-conversation, or some could say, mid-argument. God has proclaimed to Moses, "I've come down to rescue them [the Israelites] from the Egyptians in order to take them out of that land and bring them to a good and broad land, a land that's full of milk and honey (3:7-8)." It sounds like a good plan until Moses hears the next part, "So get going, I'm sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people...out of Egypt" (3:10)

We begin this chapter listening to Moses continue with his explanations of why he cannot be the one to go. He's already given two excuses, and God has already given two replies. And still Moses keeps

talking! He's either really bold, really desperate, or really afraid. Chances are it's some combination of all three.

It's pretty likely you can relate to much of this exchange between God and Moses. Moses is at least 80 years old at this point, and as far as we know, God had not appeared to any other person in over 400 years. When God calls us, God calls us to big things, things that we cannot accomplish on our own, and usually without all of the details we'd like to have. We may not get what we think we need, but we will always have Who we need.

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What we will see in this study is that God promises to accomplish what God has begun, and God will walk with those whom God calls: 9b I am God, and there is no one like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning

and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, “My purpose shall stand, and I will fulfill my intention,”

11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man for my purpose from a far country.

I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have planned, and I will do it.

Isaiah 46:9b-11

Discuss 1. Where did you notice God's activity in

your life this past week? How does it connect with the insight and/or questions you had in last week's study?

2. Describe an experience that most convinced you of God's love for you. What questions did you have for God during that time?

3. Have you ever felt God asking you to do something that didn't make sense at the time? What did you do, and what did you learn from the experience?

Discover 1. Read Chapter 4 of Exodus. What


2. Review the two excuses that Moses has already given and God's responses in 3:11-15.

Beginning well or beginning poorly, what is important is simply to begin, but the ability to make a good beginning is also an art form, beginning well involves a courageous clearing away of the confusing, the cluttered and the complicated to find the beautiful, often hidden lineaments of the essential and the necessary.

David Whyte, from CONSOLATIONS

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3. What are the 3 additional excuses that Moses gives to God?

• Exodus 4:1

• Exodus 4:10

• Exodus 4:13

4. How does God reply to Moses' excuses?

• Exodus 4:2-9

• Exodus 4:11-12

• Exodus 4:14-17

God Tries to Kill Moses Why does God try to kill Moses? And how does the circumcision performed by Moses’ wife Zipporah help to rescue Moses’ life? Many explanations have been offered for this strange story.

First, this story may be a sign about the importance of the ritual of circumcision (cf. Gen 17).

Second, this story may be related to the Passover. In the previous verse, God predicts that Pharaoh’s son will eventually be killed (Exod 4:23). In Exodus 12, God’s destroyer kills the oldest male offspring of every house except those whose doorposts have been touched by the blood of the Passover lamb (Exod 12:12, 22-23). Zipporah’s action with the blood here in Exodus 4:24-26 may be a sign that points forward to this greater event involving blood and deliverance from death.

Third, this story has similarities with other stories where God attacks or nearly attacks people chosen for a special mission. God (or God’s messenger) threatens Jacob in Genesis 32:22-32, Balaam in Numbers 22:22-35, and Joshua in Joshua 5:13-15. The threat of the attack reminds those whom God has chosen to be very careful. They shouldn’t assume that God will always be on their side. They remain subject to God’s judgment and may be punished for disobedience. (See Num 20:9-13, 24; 27:12-14; Deut 32:48-52; 34:1-12.)

From The CEB Study Bible, Joel B. Green, General Editor

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Dig Deeper 1. How is Moses' answer to God in verse

13 different from the 4 previous reasons he has given?

2. What do these verses reveal about

Moses at this stage of his life? What do these verses reveal about God?

3. Who does Moses go to see before setting out for Egypt? Why do you think he does this?

4. Look at the lives of these men and women of God in the Old Testament and New Testament. What similarities and differences do you see with Moses? Their conversations and relationship with God? (Add others as you think of them!)

Scripture Who God’s Call Their Responses

Genesis 6-9

Genesis 12:1-5

Judges 7-8

Matthew 4:18-22

Mark 6:37-44

Luke 1:26-38

Acts 9:10-20

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2. What excuses do you tell yourself, others, or God about why you cannot do what God is inviting you to do? Where do you use past failures as an excuse for not following God in a particular path, direction or action?

3. After reading about how God answered Moses, how do you imagine God responding to you?

4. Ultimately, Moses' ability to follow God comes out of relationship with God -- God reveals himself and even reveals His name. Have you had an experience like this? What are you doing now to continue in that deepening intimacy with God?

5. Who has God given you as an "Aaron" in your life, to walk with you and support you in living out your call?

6. Who is one person you can be an "Aaron" for? What can you do this week to encourage, uplift and support?

"We forget that when God speaks He always reveals what He is going to do -- not what He wants us to do for Him. We join Him so He can do His work through us. We don't have to be able to accomplish the task within our limited ability or resources. With faith, we can proceed confidently to obey Him; because we know that He is going to bring to pass what He purposes."

Henry T. Blackaby and Claude V King Experiencing God

LifeWay Press, 1990

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7. What are the things "in your hand" right now?

• Your time

• Your finances

• Your personal energy

• Your Spiritual Gifts


Closing Prayer

In silence, begin your conversation with God. Talk to God about any sense of call or invitation that you have become aware of during this study. Tell God your fears and concerns. Ask God for what you need to take the next small step.

Continue in prayer, giving thanks for the blessings that come to mind. Ask God for the grace you need to step into and live out what you have learned this week. Pray for:

• The Pastors, Elders, Staff and the Pastor Nominating Committee, asking that God will continue to grant wisdom and strength

• The needs of those around the world experiencing homelessness, hunger, war and other suffering

• One another

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Addendum: Pray for PNC


Adaptations from the following sources:

Exodus, Interpretation Bible Studies, Louisville, Westminster John Knox Press, 1998 Exodus: Journey toward God, Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 1999 Exodus: Learning to Trust God, Downers Grove, IVP, 2000 Exodus: Life Change Series, Colorado Springs, NavPress, 2013 The Journey, Exodus, Nashville, Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2006


626 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada, CA 91011 www.lacanadapc.org

Written by Shelley Irvine Director, Spiritual Formation

Designed by Barbara Pettit & Shelley Irvine

exodus study guide, chapters 1 - 4

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