Exodus 17:1–12 — The Sin, the Stain, and the Savior

Israel has seen the Red Sea split, bitter water turned sweet, manna fall from heaven, and the very presence of God in a pillar of cloud and fire. Yet as they enter Rephidim—“the place of rest”—they find no water. Once again, the wilderness exposes their hearts.

Instead of trusting God, they grumble, complain, and finally quarrel. Their physical thirst reveals a deeper spiritual condition: unbelief. In Exodus 17 we see the anatomy, form, and function of sin, but we also see the Savior—Christ, the Rock struck for His people.

1. The Anatomy of Sin: A Heart of Unbelief

“Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” (Exodus 17:2)

At its core, sin is a lack of faith flowing from a heart of unbelief. Israel’s real problem was not thirst—but mistrust. Beneath every sinful action there lies an unbelieving heart that doubts God’s goodness, presence, and provision.

Discussion Questions

  • What particular need, desire, or fear has made it hardest for you to trust God lately?

  • How does remembering “Is the LORD among us or not?” expose the root of Israel’s sin—and ours?


2. The Form of Sin: From Grumbling to Quarreling

“And the people quarreled with Moses…” (Exodus 17:2–3)

Sin rarely stays internal. First Israel grumbles. Then they quarrel. Then they rise up in violence—Moses fears they will stone him. Sin grows: thoughts → words → actions. If left unchecked, it spreads like a contagion within a community and within a heart.

Discussion Questions

  • Where have complaining, frustration, or negativity begun taking physical form in your relationships?

  • How does pressure (stress, scarcity, fear) tend to intensify your temptations?

  • Why is prayer such a powerful weapon in stopping sin as it grows?


3. The Function of Sin: Fractured Vision & Memorialized Failure

“He called the name of the place Massah and Meribah…” (Exodus 17:7)

Sin confiscates truth, eradicates it, and leaves us blind. Israel rewrites reality:
• Moses becomes the enemy.
• God becomes untrustworthy.
• Deliverance is viewed as destruction.

The “place of rest” becomes a monument of unbelief. Sin fractures their vision, fractures their future, and memorializes their failures.

Discussion Questions

  • Where has sin distorted your perception of God, yourself, or people in your life?

  • Why does sin make us rewrite the story into something false?

  • How can we prevent moments of failure from becoming monuments in our lives?


4. The Savior in the Text: The Rock Who Was Struck

“Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock…” (Exodus 17:6)

God Himself stands on the rock. Judgment should fall on Israel—but it falls on the rock instead. Moses lifts the wooden staff, the tool of judgment and deliverance, and strikes the rock. Life-giving water flows out.

Paul reveals the mystery:
“The Rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:4)

Christ is struck in our place. Judgment falls on Him so life may flow to us.

Discussion Questions

  • How does seeing Christ as the Rock reshape your understanding of this passage?

  • In what ways have you recently experienced Jesus absorbing what should have fallen on you?


5. Living Water: The Greater Provision We Need

“They drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them…” (1 Corinthians 10:4)

Israel thinks their deepest need is water. But their greatest need is salvation—from sin, from unbelief, from spiritual blindness. Just as water flowed from the struck rock, life flows from the crucified Christ. His side was pierced, and water flowed out—a sign of the living water He gives.

Discussion Questions

  • What is a “momentary need” in your life right now that may be overshadowing your deeper need for Christ?

  • How does the cross show that “the consequences of sin cannot hide from the holiness of God”?

  • What would it look like this week to drink deeply from Christ rather than from lesser things?

Exodus Chapter 16

Israel has crossed the Red Sea and now stands in the wilderness — a barren, scorching place with no food, no water, and no comfort. The wilderness is not where you go to; it is where God brings you through to refine, grow, and reveal His glory. But instead of trust, Israel responds with grumbling.

In Exodus 16 God teaches His people dependence: daily manna, daily trust, daily submission. And this daily bread points forward to Jesus in John 6 — the true Bread of Life who gives not temporary relief but eternal life.

1. The Wilderness: God’s Classroom of Transformation

“God has led the people of Israel out of Egypt and directly into the wilderness.”

How does seeing the wilderness as God’s intentional tool for growth change the way you view difficult seasons in your life?

What “comforts, resources, or control” does the wilderness strip away from us today?

Where have you experienced God’s presence most clearly in a season that felt barren or overwhelming?

2. The Problem Beneath the Problem

“And the whole congregation of Israel grumbled…” (Exodus 16:2)

What does Israel’s grumbling reveal about their hearts more than their circumstances?

Miguel Núñez said: “Grumbling is the external expression of an internal ungratefulness.”
Where do you see this dynamic in your life right now?

How does remembering that God hears every word (Ex. 16:7–9) reshape the way you speak about your struggles, leaders, or circumstances?


3. Daily Bread & Daily Dependence

“Each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day…” (Exodus 16:4)

What does the “one day at a time” nature of manna teach us about trust and dependence?

Where is God asking you to stop trying to control tomorrow and instead depend on Him today?

Why do you think God refused to let Israel store manna except before the Sabbath?
What does that reveal about His desire for relationship with His people?


4. Jesus, the True Bread of Life (John 6)

“For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:33)

How does Jesus fulfill and surpass the manna in Exodus 16?

What does it practically look like to “feed on Christ” (John 6:51–57)?
How does this deepen your understanding of communion?


5. Communion: Celebrating Our Helpless Dependence

“This is my body… this is my blood…” (Luke 22)

How does communion remind you that your greatest need is not physical provision but a Savior?

In what ways does the Lord’s Supper declare, “I am helpless and fully dependent on Christ”?

Exodus Chapter 15

The first song ever sung by the gathered people of God is found in Exodus 15, Moses and Israel stand on the banks of the Red Sea, singing as a response to what God had done. They sing because salvation has become personal — “The Lord is my strength, my song, my salvation.” This is where worship begins: when the redeemed, remembering what God has done, lift their voices together in praise.

1. What is Worship?

“Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord…” (Exodus 15:1)

  • How does understanding worship as response (not initiation) change the way you approach Sunday gatherings?

  • What are some ways you can prepare your heart before corporate worship — to “show up redeemed and ready to respond”?


2. Personal Before Corporate

“The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.” (Exodus 15:2)

  • Moses and Miriam each had personal encounters with God’s salvation before joining the song of the people. How does your personal story of redemption shape your participation in corporate worship?

  • What happens to corporate worship when individuals forget the personal nature of their salvation?

  • How could your personal “song” strengthen and encourage others in your church community?


3. The Role of Music in Worship

“Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord…”

  • In what ways can music prepare us for worship without replacing it?

  • How can churches today guard against worship that appeals only to the senses but bypasses the truth of Scripture?


4. Teaching Through Song

“Through song, the oracles of God, the truths of God will be preserved.”

  • The lyrics of the Song of Moses are full of theology — who God is and what He has done.
    What are some truths about God that your favorite worship songs teach or remind you of?

  • Why is it important that the songs we sing are biblically accurate and theologically rich?

  • How do our church’s songs help shape what we believe about God over time?

Exodus 14 – God Delivers His People

When the Israelites reached the Red Sea, they faced an impossible situation—water before them, an army behind them, and fear within them. Yet in this very moment, God revealed the heart of His salvation: that deliverance is not achieved by human strength, but by divine grace. Through the intercessor Moses, God parted the waters, led His people through on dry ground, and defeated the enemy. This story reminds us that we, too, have a Deliverer who parts the waters between death and life—Jesus Christ.


1. God Reveals Our Hearts in the Face of Fear (vv. 10–12)

“Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?”

When Israel saw the strength of Egypt, their faith faltered. They questioned God, Moses, and even the very freedom they had prayed for. Fear exposed what was already hidden in their hearts: a struggle to trust God when control is gone.

Main Thought:
God often brings His people to places where faith must replace control. Fear reveals what we truly believe about God.

Discussion Questions:

  • Why do you think it’s easier to trust God when things are comfortable than when they’re uncertain?

  • How can fear actually become an opportunity for deeper faith?


2. God Fights for His People (vv. 13–14)

“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will work for you today… The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Moses tells Israel to stand still. God would do the fighting. Salvation is God’s work, not ours. There are moments when the greatest act of faith is not striving, but standing still—trusting the Deliverer to do what only He can.

Main Thought:
We battle not for salvation, but from salvation. The victory is the Lord’s.

Discussion Questions:

  • What does it mean in your life to “stand firm” and “see the salvation of the Lord”?

  • How do you discern when to act and when to be still?

  • What battles are you trying to fight in your own strength instead of trusting God to fight for you?


3. God Uses Creation as a Tool of Deliverance (vv. 19–29)

“The angel of God… moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them.”

Creation itself responds to the command of God. The cloud moves. The sea parts. Light separates from darkness. The same God who spoke in Genesis 1 now speaks again, using creation to bring new life to His people. The Red Sea crossing mirrors creation and baptism—water separating life from death, darkness from light.

Main Thought:
God is the Creator and Redeemer. The same power that formed the world now forms His people into new life.

Discussion Questions:

  • How does seeing creation as part of God’s redemption story deepen your understanding of His power?

  • In what ways has God “parted the waters” for you—opening a path where there seemed to be none?

  • How does baptism remind us of this deliverance story?


4. God Judges Evil and Delivers His Own (vv. 26–31)

“Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians… so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses.”

The same waters that saved Israel brought judgment on Egypt. God’s justice and mercy are displayed side by side. The people, once fearful and doubting, now believe. Their salvation came entirely by the hand of God.

Main Thought:
Deliverance always involves both judgment on sin and salvation for the redeemed.

Discussion Questions:

  • How does God’s judgment reveal His mercy?

  • What emotions do you think the Israelites felt as they watched God’s power displayed in the sea?

  • How does seeing God’s justice deepen your gratitude for His grace in Christ?


5. God Redeems Through a Divine Intercessor (vv. 1, 13–15)

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to me?’”

God’s conversation with Moses shows something beautiful: the people’s cries and Moses’ faith are intertwined. God deals with His people through His chosen intercessor. Moses stands between God and Israel—just as Christ stands between God and us. Through Him we are delivered, reconciled, and made new.

Main Thought:
Salvation comes through relationship—through a divine Deliverer who stands in the gap between God and humanity.

Discussion Questions:

  • How does Moses’ role as intercessor point us to Jesus?

  • Why do you think God chooses to work through mediators instead of speaking directly to everyone?

  • What does your personal relationship with Christ look like in light of this truth?


6. Living It Out: Trusting the Deliverer Who Parts the Waters

Like Israel, we are called to trust the Deliverer—to walk in light, to leave behind Egypt, and to step into new life. The same God who parted the waters for them still parts the waters for us through Jesus Christ.

Application Questions:

  • What “waters” stand before you right now that require God’s intervention?

  • What might it look like to “stand still” and trust the Lord this week?

  • How can your story of deliverance encourage someone else who’s still standing at the shore?


Closing Reflection:

“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD.”

God has sent His Deliverer. Jesus Christ has parted the waters between death and life. He leads us through—away from darkness into light, away from slavery into freedom, away from death into life.
Now our calling is simple: follow Him.

Exodus 13 - God Leads His People

We all believe in something—but the power of belief isn’t in believing hard enough, it’s in what (and who) we believe in. In Exodus, Moses believed God was who He said He was and would do what He said He would do—and through that belief, millions were led to freedom. When our belief is anchored to the living God, it becomes a force that moves mountains and transforms lives.

1. God Leads His People in Wisdom (vv. 17–18)

“God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near… But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea.”

Israel wanted the short route, but God chose the wise one. He saw what they couldn’t—their weakness, fear, and fragility—and led them a different way. Faith in its infancy is fragile, and God, like a loving Father, protects and grows His people at the pace they can handle.

Discussion Questions:

  1. When has God led you on a path that didn’t make sense at first?

  2. How can detours in life actually strengthen our faith?

  3. What does it look like to “trust that if it’s God that’s leading you, He leads in wisdom”?

2. God Leads His People in Faithfulness (v. 19)

“Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, ‘God will surely visit you…’”

Joseph’s bones were a testimony—a reminder that God keeps His promises. Generations later, Moses carries those bones out of Egypt, declaring to the people: The God who promised deliverance has done it. Like Joseph, we live as foreigners in this world, waiting for the day when God will lead us home.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does Joseph’s request to carry his bones reveal about his faith in God?

  2. In what ways can we remind ourselves (and others) of God’s faithfulness today?

  3. How might being “too comfortable” in this world distract us from longing for God’s Kingdom?

3. God Leads His People in Power (vv. 20–22)

“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud… and by night in a pillar of fire… The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.”

In their weariness and weakness, Israel had a visible reminder of God’s presence. The pillar of cloud and fire symbolized His protection, presence, and power—He was with them and before them. From Genesis to Revelation, God’s story is one of dwelling with His people: walking with Adam, dwelling in fire and cloud, living among us in Christ, and now within us through His Spirit.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does God’s presence mean to you personally in seasons of wilderness or uncertainty?

  2. Why do you think God chose visible symbols (cloud and fire) to lead Israel?

  3. How does the Holy Spirit serve as our “pillar” of guidance and presence today?

4. Living It Out: Trusting the God Who Leads

Like Israel, we’re called to trust God’s leadership—in wisdom, in faithfulness, and in power. When we truly believe that God has a distinct plan and purpose for our lives and for others, everything changes:

  • How we pray and study

  • How we serve and spend

  • How we relate and lead

Application Questions:

  1. What would change in your life if you truly believed that God has a distinct plan and purpose for you?

  2. How can you better follow God’s leading instead of your own desires or fears?

  3. How can we help others discover and follow God’s leading in their own lives?

Exodus 12 — The Passover Lamb

Exodus 12 reveals the moment God provided deliverance for His people through the blood of the lamb. The Passover story centers on God’s judgment, mercy, and redemption. A spotless lamb was chosen, its blood placed on the doorposts, and through that blood, God’s people were saved. This was not merely a historic event—it pointed to Jesus Christ, the true Passover Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.
For believers today, Exodus 12 calls us to remember that salvation comes only through the Lamb God has provided—Jesus—and to live as people marked by His blood, proclaiming faith and belonging to God.

1. The Blood Saves (vv. 7, 21–23)

Moses commands the people to kill the Passover lamb and spread its blood on the doorposts as a visible proclamation of faith.

“When He sees the blood on the lintel and the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.” (v. 23)

The blood was not symbolic sentiment—it was life given in place of death deserved.

  • Blood represents life.

  • Blood shed represents death.

In Leviticus 17:11, God declares, “The life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement.”

This was God’s mercy: sin demanded death, yet through substitution—the lamb’s life for the sinner’s—atonement was made.

Discussion Question:
How does understanding the seriousness of sin deepen your gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice?

2. The Command to Remember (vv. 24–27)

God says to Moses:

“You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever.”

Do not forget what God has done:

  • He passed over your sin and spared your life.

  • He kept His promise to deliver and preserve you.

  • He redeemed you by the blood of a lamb.

Israel would remember through the annual Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread—a continual reminder of God’s faithfulness and redemption.

Discussion Question:
What practices help you remember God’s faithfulness in your own life?

3. The True Lamb of God (John 1:29; Matthew 26:17–30)

After centuries of remembering, a new voice broke the silence—John the Baptist saw Jesus and declared,

“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

The pattern was being fulfilled.

  • The lamb was no longer chosen by man, but by God.

  • This Lamb would not cover sin temporarily, but remove it completely.

  • The blood of animals would be replaced by the blood of Christ.

On the 10th day of Nisan, the same day when Israel would select their Passover lamb, Jesus entered Jerusalem—the people shouted “Hosanna!” not realizing they were choosing their Lamb.

Four days later, on the 14th of Nisan, He stood before the people. They chose Him to die, crying, “Let Him be crucified.”
The innocent Lamb bore the guilt of humanity.
His blood became the eternal sign of faith and belonging to God.

Discussion Question:
Why do you think God chose to reveal Jesus as “the Lamb”? How does that image shape your view of His love and sacrifice?

4. The New Covenant and Our Proclamation (Matthew 26:26–29)

At the Passover meal, Jesus took the bread and wine—symbols of God’s old redemption—and redefined them:

“This is my body, broken for you… This is my blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

For 1,400 years, the people looked back to God’s deliverance in Egypt.
Jesus said, Now look to Me.
He became the fulfillment—the Lamb whose sacrifice establishes a new covenant of eternal redemption.

We no longer mark our doors with blood; we mark our lives with faith in Christ.

  • We live as those redeemed.

  • We love as He loved.

  • We proclaim through our obedience that we belong to God.

Discussion Question:
What does it mean for your life to be a visible “proclamation” of faith and belonging to God?

5. Our Response — “Yes, Jesus”

The work has been finished. From the cross, Jesus declared, “It is finished.”
And before His ascension He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”

So the question remains:
Will Jesus be your Passover Lamb?
Will you turn from sin and trust fully in His blood for your belonging to God?

Maybe today that means surrendering your life to Him for the first time.
Maybe it means repentance—cutting off sin that defiles and destroys.
Maybe it means obedience to His calling in your life.

Let this be your prayer:

“Yes, Jesus. I will. Show me how.”

Exodus 12 — A Reset Through Redemption

Exodus 12 marks a major turning point in Scripture. God doesn’t just deliver His people from Egypt—He resets their entire way of life. Time itself starts over. “This month shall be for you the beginning of months.” The God of creation becomes the God of redemption, and redemption brings a new beginning.

1) God’s Reset of Time (vv. 1–2)

Israel had lived under Egypt’s rule for 400 years. Their days, labor, and rest were dictated by Pharaoh. But God steps in and gives them a new calendar. Time no longer belongs to their oppressor—it belongs to Him. Redemption always reorders time around God’s purposes.

Discussion: How does God’s control of time remind us that our schedules and seasons belong to Him?

2) Judgment and Mercy at Midnight (vv. 29–30)

At midnight, judgment falls. Every firstborn in Egypt dies—the future of oppression is cut off. Yet God’s people are spared under the blood of the lamb. The cutting off of Egypt’s firstborn brings life to God’s firstborn, Israel. God redeems through both judgment and mercy.

Discussion: What does this moment teach us about how God’s deliverance often requires a death or ending first? What are the things in our lives today that create beliefs and habits that keep our lives opposed to God’s will and design?

3) The Greater Reset in Christ

Centuries later, Jesus takes that same pattern to the cross. At midnight in Gethsemane, He bears judgment for all humanity. Covered in blood, He becomes the greater Passover Lamb. Through His redemption, a new beginning dawns—not just for a nation, but for the world.

Christ Jesus brought the greatest reset through redemption and when we are redeemed by Jesus it changes everything.

Discussion: How does God change us? (John 15:5, 1 Peter 2:2, Hebrews 10:24-25) How has God grown you over your christian life? How has God changed you lately?

Exodus - The Purpose of the Plagues

Exodus 6–10 reveals how God displays His power not only to rescue Israel from Egypt but to reveal His supremacy to all nations. Through the plagues, God shows that He alone is Lord over creation, nations, and human hearts. Each act of judgment is purposeful—meant to bring both Israel and Egypt to know that He is the LORD. God’s power is not random or cruel; it is redemptive, revealing His glory and faithfulness to His covenant people. For believers today, these chapters remind us that God displays His power to us so that His power may be displayed through us, bringing faith and freedom to others.

1. God Displays His Power to Us (Exodus 6:1–8; 7:1–7)

Before the plagues begin, God reveals His identity to Moses: “I am the LORD.” He reminds Moses of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, promising to redeem Israel with mighty acts of judgment. God’s first display of power is not to Pharaoh—but to His own people, reassuring them that He has not forgotten them. When Pharaoh seems too strong and Moses feels too weak, God’s revelation of Himself anchors His people in faith.

  • God’s power is first revealed to His people so they may trust His promises before He acts through them.

  • The plagues will not be random events, but covenant acts rooted in His identity as Yahweh, the faithful Redeemer.

Discussion question:
Where has God reminded you of His faithfulness before a season of testing or deliverance?
How does remembering who God is strengthen your trust in what He will do?

2. God Displays His Power through Us (Exodus 7:8–10:29)

God uses Moses and Aaron as His instruments of power before Pharaoh. Through them, He sends ten plagues—each one exposing Egypt’s false gods and revealing Yahweh’s sovereignty over every realm: the Nile, the land, the sky, and even life itself. Each plague increases in severity, and yet God’s precision remains clear—He spares Israel, showing that His judgments are purposeful and controlled.

  • God’s power through His servants confronts idols and exposes the limits of human power.

  • Even Pharaoh’s magicians can imitate some signs but cannot reverse them; only God has authority to command creation.

  • God’s acts through Moses reveal His glory to the world: “That my name may be proclaimed in all the earth” (Exodus 9:16).

Discussion question:
How can God display His power through your obedience and faithfulness today?
What “Pharaohs” or false powers might He be confronting through your witness?

3. God’s Power Brings Faith and Freedom (Exodus 9:13–10:29)

As the plagues intensify, Pharaoh’s heart grows harder, yet God’s purpose stands firm. Through judgment, He shows both His justice and His mercy. The distinction between Egypt and Israel becomes clear—God’s people are protected, while Egypt’s pride is humbled. By the end of these chapters, even Pharaoh’s officials recognize that God’s power is unstoppable. Israel learns that freedom comes not by human revolt but by divine redemption.

  • God’s power humbles the proud and strengthens the faith of the humble.

  • The result of God’s display of power is faith, worship, and eventual deliverance.

  • The plagues reveal that God’s mission is not destruction, but redemption—that all may “know that I am the LORD.”

Discussion question:
How has God’s power in your life led to deeper faith and freedom?
Who around you might come to know God’s greatness through your obedience and testimony?

Exodus Chapter 4


Exodus 4 shows how God reveals His power to Moses, not just for his own assurance, but so that God’s power might work through him to bring faith and freedom to Israel. God equips Moses with signs, answers his fears, and even provides Aaron as a partner. Yet the focus remains clear: deliverance is God’s work, and His power displayed through His servants leads His people to worship. For believers today, this chapter reminds us that God shows His power in our lives so that we can be instruments of His power for the faith and freedom of others.

1. God Displays His Power to Us (vv. 1–9)

  • Moses doubts that the people will believe him.

  • God gives three signs: the staff becoming a serpent, the leprous hand healed, and water turned to blood.

  • These are not magic tricks but demonstrations of God’s power over the oppressor, disease, and life & death.

  • God reveals His power to Moses so that he can trust God’s authority before displaying it to others.

Discussion question: Where has God shown His power in your life personally? How do these encounters strengthen your faith for His mission?

2. God Displays His Power through Us (vv. 10–17)

  • Moses fears his weakness: “I am slow of speech.”

  • God reminds him that He created the mouth and promises, “I will be with your mouth.”

  • God’s power works through human weakness, equipping His servants beyond their natural abilities.

  • Even when Moses resists, God provides Aaron—but the message and power still come from God.

Discussion question: What weaknesses do you feel keep you from serving God? How does this passage remind us that God works through weakness, not apart from it?

3. God’s Power Brings Faith and Freedom (vv. 18–31)

  • Moses returns to Egypt under God’s command.

  • God declares His sovereignty over Pharaoh’s hardened heart—showing that His purposes cannot be stopped.

  • The signs performed before Israel’s elders lead to faith, worship, and hope of freedom.

  • God’s power is displayed not just to confront Pharaoh but to bring His people into faith and freedom.

Discussion question: How does God’s display of power in your life point others to faith and freedom in Christ? Who might God be calling you to strengthen through your obedience?

Exodus Chapter 3

Exodus 3 marks a turning point in Moses’ life and in God’s plan of redemption. From the quiet obscurity of tending sheep in Midian, Moses encounters the holy God in a burning bush. God captures his attention, reveals His holiness, and commissions him to lead Israel out of Egypt. In this sacred moment, God declares His eternal name, “I AM WHO I AM,” showing Himself as the self-existent, covenant-keeping God. For believers today, this points us to Jesus—the great “I AM”—who calls us to follow Him with reverence and surrender.

1. God Gets Moses’ Attention (vv. 1–6)

  • While shepherding, Moses notices a bush engulfed in flames but not consumed.

  • His choice to “turn aside” opens the way for God to speak.

  • God calls Moses by name, then commands him to remove his sandals as a sign of reverence.

  • Divine presence requires reverence—God is holy and must be approached with awe and respect.

Discussion question: How does God get our attention today? What distractions keep us from noticing Him, and what does it look like to “turn aside” in reverence?

2. God’s Call and Authority (vv. 7–12)

  • God declares He has seen the misery of His people and will deliver them.

  • He calls Moses to be His messenger, though Moses feels inadequate.

  • The promise of God’s presence—“I will be with you”—is what makes the mission possible.

  • Following Jesus requires giving God ultimate authority and attention, trusting His presence over our abilities.

Discussion question: In what ways do we make excuses like Moses when God calls us to serve? How does God’s presence change the way we respond to His authority?

3. The Holiness of God’s Name (vv. 13–15)

  • Moses asks, “What is Your name?” and God reveals Himself as “I AM WHO I AM.”

  • This name shows God’s eternal, self-existent nature: He depends on no one, yet all depend on Him.

  • God’s name is His covenant pledge to be present and faithful to His people for generations.

  • In the New Testament, Jesus identifies Himself with this name, declaring, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58).

Discussion question: Why is God’s name, “I AM,” so significant for our understanding of Him? How does seeing Jesus as the “I AM” deepen your trust in following Him?

4. God’s Plan for Deliverance (vv. 16–22)

  • God instructs Moses to gather the elders and announce His plan to rescue Israel from Egypt.

  • Pharaoh will resist, but God promises to act with power and signs.

  • The people will not leave empty-handed—God ensures they will depart with favor and provision.

  • God’s deliverance is not only about freedom from bondage but about being led into worship and covenant with Him.

Discussion question: How does this passage remind us that God’s plans are greater than human resistance? How can this encourage us when facing obstacles in our own walk of faith?

Exodus Chapter 2

Exodus 2 moves from the broad suffering of God’s people to the personal story of one child—Moses. Out of a river of death, God preserves the very one who will become the deliverer of Israel. This chapter reminds us that God’s plans are not hindered by human evil or weakness; He works through ordinary people, even unlikely circumstances, to bring about His purposes. God is preparing His chosen servant, even in exile, for the mission ahead.

1. God’s Deliverance Through One Child (vv. 1–10)

  • A Levite woman gives birth to a son and hides him for three months.

  • When she can no longer conceal him, she places him in a basket on the Nile—ironically the very place of Pharaoh’s command of death.

  • Pharaoh’s daughter finds the child, shows compassion, and unknowingly raises Israel’s deliverer in her own household.

  • God orchestrates that Moses’ own mother nurses and raises him in his earliest years.

Discussion question: How does God’s providence shine through the details of Moses’ birth and rescue? What does this teach us about trusting Him in desperate circumstances?

2. Moses’ Identification with His People (vv. 11–15)

  • As an adult, Moses sees the suffering of his people.

  • He kills an Egyptian who is beating a Hebrew, but his act is discovered.

  • Rejected by Pharaoh and distrusted by his own people, Moses flees into exile in Midian.

  • Moses’ desire for justice is sincere, but his method is flawed—deliverance will not come through human strength or violence.

Discussion question: What does Moses’ failure here reveal about human attempts to fix injustice apart from God? How can our zeal for justice be directed by God’s wisdom instead of our own strength?

3. God’s Preparation in the Wilderness (vv. 16–22)

  • In Midian, Moses defends the daughters of Reuel (Jethro) at a well.

  • He is welcomed into their family, marries Zipporah, and has a son, Gershom.

  • The wilderness becomes a place of preparation, humility, and hiddenness before God uses Moses.

Discussion question: How might God use seasons of obscurity, waiting, or wilderness in our lives to prepare us for future calling?

4. God Hears and Remembers His Covenant (vv. 23–25)

  • Israel groans under slavery and cries out to God.

  • God hears their cry, remembers His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and looks on them with compassion.

  • The chapter closes not with Moses’ action, but with God’s initiative—He has not forgotten His people.

Discussion question: What encouragement can we draw from knowing that God hears the cries of His people? How does this truth shape the way we endure suffering or pray in times of need?

Exodus Chapter 1

Exodus begins with a new Pharaoh rising to power in Egypt. Forgetting God and the ways He had blessed Egypt through Joseph, this king seeks only to build his own kingdom. But the outpouring of God’s blessing and faithfulness upon His people becomes a direct threat to Pharaoh’s plans. Out of fear, he inflicts suffering, slavery, and eventually death on the Israelites. Yet even in the midst of oppression, God’s purposes cannot be stopped—He is preparing the road that will lead His people to freedom and deliverance.


1. God’s Faithfulness Despite Changing Circumstances (vv. 1–7)

  • The descendants of Jacob move from a family to a nation.

  • Israel grows “fruitful and multiplies greatly,” echoing God’s covenant promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:2, 15:5).

  • Even in a foreign land, God’s promises are still being fulfilled.

Discussion question: Exodus 1 begins with God’s covenant and promises to Abraham being fulfilled, what does this reveal about God’s nature?

2. The Threat of Fear and Power (vv. 8–10)

  • A new Pharaoh arises “who did not know Joseph.”

  • He fears the growth of Israel and sees them as a political and military threat.

  • Fear of “the other” leads to oppression.

Discussion question: How do we see “fear of others” leading to injustice or oppression in our world today?


3. Oppression as a Tool of Control (vv. 11–14)

  • Pharaoh enslaves the Israelites with forced labor.

  • The more they are oppressed, the more they multiply.

  • God’s blessing cannot be stopped by human schemes.

Discussion question: What does this teach us about God’s sovereignty versus human power?


4. The Courage of the Midwives (vv. 15–21)

  • Pharaoh commands the Hebrew midwives (Shiphrah and Puah) to kill newborn Hebrew boys.

  • They fear God rather than Pharaoh, and spare the children.

  • God blesses their courage with families of their own.

Discussion question: When should God’s people resist unjust authority? What does it look like to “fear God more than man”?


5. Pharaoh’s Escalating Evil (v. 22)

  • Pharaoh orders all Hebrew boys to be thrown into the Nile.

  • Evil is becoming more public and systemic.

  • This sets the stage for God’s intervention in raising up Moses.

Discussion question: How do we see evil grow when it goes unchecked? How should Christians respond to injustice?