Exodus 17:8-16 (ESV)

8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner, 16 saying, “A hand upon the throne[a] of the Lord! The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

The people of Israel find themselves in their first battle since leaving Egypt.  Amalek had come out to fight Israel at Rephidim.  Moses calls Joshua to find men to fight, while Moses stood at the top of a hill with staff in hand.  With his hands raised high the people of Israel would prevail, but as Moses tired and lowered his hands, Amalek prevailed.  So Aaron and Hur had Moses sit on a stone while they held his arms up high.  In the end, Joshua and his army won! Moses built an altar and called it “The Lord Is My Banner.” 

A banner serves as the rallying cry in war, a symbol of God’s presence.  Perhaps we may think of a flag on a pole held by one of the soldiers.  But for Israel the banner was Moses with his hands lifted high, supported by Aaron and Hur.  Some of us may have a cross to help remind us of God’s presence, but Jesus had instituted something perfect for His people, bread & wine.  Communion is the banner that reminds us that God has won the battle and will fight for His people until His return. 

1. How long did Moses have his arms up?
   
2. How has your understanding of Communion/Lord’s Supper grown over the years?

Exodus 18:1-18 (ESV)

​1 Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home, 3 along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner[a] in a foreign land”), 4 and the name of the other, Eliezer[b] (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). 5 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. 6 And when he sent word to Moses, “I,[c] your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,” 7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

10 Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.”[d] 12 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.

13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” 17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.

Moses would sit as the leader of Israel, judging disputes between the people.  But his greater role would be the teacher of the “statutes and laws of God.”  Moses would be the one who receives the Ten Commandments and teach the people of God how they should live before God and how they should treat one another and the sojourner. 

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, offered him counsel to lighten his role.  Instead of being the only judge, to choose capable and upright men to judge over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.  Only the most difficult matter would be brought to Moses. 

We have here the first mention of a structure for the nation of Israel.  The patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would lead as heads of their fledgling tribe.  In Egypt, they were enslaved and under the thumb of Pharoah.  Here, Moses has given authority to others to judge matters among themselves.

Many people see institutions & governing structures as unnecessary for Christian growth.  How has your understanding of church grown over the years?

**Pray for CCPC as we seek to be a church that grows and governs according to God’s Word.

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (ESV)

1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,[a] that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown[b] in the wilderness.

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ[c] to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Paul calls the people of God back to the Exodus story to remind us that Christ is the Rock that followed them.  Christ was the Rock who provided the spiritual drink they needed.  Paul also uses the story as a warning for us today.

Although all were baptized through Moses, most of them were “overthrown in the wilderness.”  They did not see the Promised Land.  Although we are baptized in Christ, we must be careful not live a life of idolatry, not to put Christ to the test, not to grumble before God.  Unlike most of Israel who perished in the wilderness and whose hearts seemed nothing but rebellious, the new covenant in Christ has given us a new heart.  “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”   God has given the full promise of His presence through the Spirit.  He granted us the full ability to say “no” to sin and “yes” to Him.  And we do so with joy, knowing that as we follow Him faithfully, God’s loving and perfect presence will follow us all the days of our lives.

1. What is the spiritual food and water we eat and drink today?
   
2. How does knowing that God will always give you a way out of temptation give you hope on some of the hardest days? 

Exodus 15:1-21 (ESV)

1 Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying, “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider[a] he has thrown into the sea. 2 The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3 The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name. 4 “Pharaoh's chariots and his host he cast into the sea, and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea. 5 The floods covered them; they went down into the depths like a stone. 6 Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy. 7 In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries; you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble. 8 At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up; the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake,I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.’ 10 You blew with your wind; the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11 “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? 12 You stretched out your right hand; the earth swallowed them. 13 “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode. 14 The peoples have heard; they tremble; pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia. 15 Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed; trembling seizes the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. 16 Terror and dread fall upon them; because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone, till your people, O Lord, pass by, till the people pass by whom you have purchased. 17 You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain, the place, O Lord, which you have made for your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established. 18 The Lord will reign forever and ever.” 19 For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the people of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea. 20 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. 21 And Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.”

Singing has always been an integral part of the Christian faith.  God’s people are commanded to joyful sing to one another (Ephesians 5:19).  But what do we sing about?  In Exodus 15, Moses sings of the destruction of Egypt and Israel’s deliverance.  He sings of the God’s power and steadfast hand.  Yet, this song was not only for Moses to sing.  Miriam and the women, with tambourines and dancing repeated this song with great joy!  Christians should also sing by responding to the great work of redemption in Christ.  Sing loudly and sing to one another!

1. Which line in the song do you like the most?
2. What Christian song/hymn do you like to sing the most?

Exodus 15:22-27 (ESV)

22 Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah.[a] 24 And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log,[b] and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord[c] made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, 26 saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.” 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.

The people of Israel are at the beginnings of their wanderings in the desert.  They have not yet trusted fully in God and begin to grumble.  They are thirsty and finally come to drink water from Marah.  But because it was bitter, the Lord showed Moses a log.  When he threw the log in, the water became sweet.  Afterwards, God brought them to Elim, an oasis in the middle of the desert, with twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees! 

We know that water is essential for survival.  But more important than water is our faith in our God who will supply that water.  Our faith is often tested when the Lord seems to take away what is precious or essential to our daily living.  How are some ways God has tested your faith?  How did you respond?

Exodus 16:1-31 (ESV)

​1 They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” 

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “At evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against the Lord. For what are we, that you grumble against us?” 8 And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.”

9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, ‘Come near before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’” 10 And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 And the Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’”

13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. 14 And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?”[a] For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer,[b] according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’” 17 And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. 18 But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. 19 And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” 20 But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. 21 Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.

22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23 he said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’” 24 So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. 25 Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.”

27 On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. 28 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? 29 See! The Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 Now the house of Israel called its name manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

The grumbling of Israel will become the theme of this nation’s wanderings in the wilderness.  The Lord proved that he would supply water, now he demonstrates His power by providing Manna (what is it?) in the mornings and quail in the evenings.  But God commanded them not to store any food, but to trust that He would provide each day’s meal.  The only day they were to store food was the day before the Sabbath, for on the Sabbath they were not to work. 

1. The Israelites grumbled again thinking that their lives were better off in Egypt (v. 3). Why did the Israelites have such a hard time trusting in God’s provision?  Can you relate?
2. Moses and Aaron are intercessors between God and Israel.  What Israel tells Moses and Aaron; they report to God.  And what God says to them; they report to Israel.  In many ways we are intercessors between God and our families, church, and friends.  Would you say this role is easy or difficult? ​

Exodus 12:33-40 (ESV)

33 The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders. 35 The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. 36 And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

37 And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.
​
40 The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years.

Pharoah and the Egyptians were urgent to send out the people of Israel.  If Israel stayed longer perhaps their entire nation would be wiped out.  Israel left not only with their own possession, but they had plundered the Egyptians by taking their silver and gold!  God not only rescues his people, but they leave with more than they had before!  A beautiful picture of our redemptive story as well.  When we come to Christ, we are not simply rescued from our sins, but we are given the status of children and inheritors of God’s future kingdom.  God blesses His people abundantly!

1. Can you name the ways that you have been abundantly blessed when Christ saved you?
   
2. Israel lived in Egypt for 430 long years.  Do you remember why they moved to Egypt?  How was this all a part of God’s plan? (Genesis 46:1-7)

Exodus 12:43-51 (ESV)

43 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, 44 but every slave[a] that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. 45 No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it. 46 It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. 49 There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”

50 All the people of Israel did just as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that very day the Lord brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.

God instituted Passover exclusively for the nation of Israel.  No other people nor nations were to partake of it.  However, if they were willing to forsake their former identity and worship the God of Israel, then they would be welcomed as one of them.  The sign of their new identity would be the circumcision of every male, the covenant of Abraham.  Today, Christ has instituted the Lord’s Supper.  As Pastor Keedai rightfully states each Communion Service, it is His table and entrance to the table is offered only to those who confess their sins and trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and their salvation.

Passover and Communion are similar.  They both feature bread and a lamb.  What does the bread and lamb mean in Passover?  What does it mean in the New Covenant (Jesus)?

Exodus 13:1-16 (ESV)

​1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”

3 Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. 4 Today, in the month of Abib, you are going out. 5 And when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this service in this month. 6 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen with you, and no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory. 8 You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 9 And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. 10 You shall therefore keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year.

11 “When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, 12 you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord's. 13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. 14 And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. 15 For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ 16 It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes, for by a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.”

Feasts and other days of remembrance are an important part of the life of Israel.  Each event is a reminder of God’s work of salvation for His people.  The Feast of Unleavened Bread reminds the people of Israel that their rescue from Egypt was done in haste.  They had no time to make proper bread and so had to eat the cracker-like substance.  For seven days they ate unleavened bread and each day the fathers and mothers would remind their children of how God rescued them from Egypt.  The people of God were also to consecrate their firstborn male and the firstborn of all animals.  These two actions were to be married with reciting the law of the Lord (v.9).  Moses’ charge to the people, especially the parents, of Israel was to be faithful in both word and action; to teach of God’s faithfulness in the past so that they may trust in Him for their future.

How did (or does) your parents remind you of God’s faithfulness?  What are some practical ways we can continue to teach our children the gospel?