Key Verse for 2025, “Watch your life and doctrine closely.” 1 Timothy 4:16
Intro: Human History is important to read and understand. But there is no such thing as a purely objective history. It is written from human perspectives and contains human errors. It teaches us truths about what happened and why it happened.
However, one historical account stands out because it is free from errors, and human shortcomings do not limit its perspective—the Bible. The Bible is a single story that points all of human history to Jesus. We see this in the book of Exodus, where God reveals His actions across three historical levels: His plan for the world, His people, and individuals—His will influences everything, from nations to personal experiences. As we read the stories of individual people, like Job or Moses, we remember that the larger story is the work of God through the ages to bring about the accomplishment of his purposes in Christ.
Note: As we read through Exodus over the next two weeks, it will be helpful to keep this simple outline in mind:
1. God Saves Israel from Egyptian Bondage (1-18)
2. God Gives Israel His Law (19-24)
3. God Commands Israel to Build the Tabernacle (25-40)
Discussion: Our passage, Exodus 2:23-15, displays three levels of history: God’s plan for the world, God’s plan for His people, and God’s plan for a single man. In these three levels, God is acting to bring about his plans.
Read Exodus 2:23-3:15
Q1: What is God doing here? What actions is he taking regarding his world, his people, and a single man?
Q2: Read 2:24. “God remembered His covenant with Abraham.” What was the covenant? What action is God taking regarding the world? Note: Look back at Gen. 15:13-16 to see why Israel had been in Egypt for 400 years. Note God’s plans for the nations as well.
Q3: Read 3:1-6 How does God reveal himself to Moses, and what was Moses’ response?
Q4 Read 3:7-15. Here, we see a conversation between Moses and God (it continues all the way through Chapter 4). Take a minute or two and talk about what you see happening here. Look at what God is saying and what Moses’ response is. Share your thoughts with the group.
Note: Terry’s sermon reminded us that Moses is terrified and not inspired despite his encounter with God. In chapter 4, he tells God, “O Lord, I’ve never been eloquent. I am slow of speech.” The Lord responds, “Who gives man his mouth? Now go; I will help you speak.” Moses then says, “O Lord, send someone else.” Don’t miss How this encounter is both incredible and encouraging. Consider sharing how this passage encourages you.
Q5: In God’s plan for the world, God’s plan for his people, God’s plan for a single man, who is the common denominator in all this? Why is this important? Note: The common denominator is God. Verses 3:14 and 15 make this clear: “I am who I am.” He is the only fully independent being. He is uncreated, always constant, present, and sufficient.
Q6: Now Read Luke 24:13-27. What does Jesus say the purpose of Exodus is? Why is this important to us? Note: We need God to tell us what everything—life, death, salvation, history, and purpose—means.
Q7: Terry briefly surveyed how the historical events in the Exodus prefigure or point us to Jesus (the temptation in the wilderness, Jesus’ sermon on the mount, the new covenant written on hearts, the transfiguration in Luke 9, the Passover lamb foreshadowing Jesus’ shed blood in John 1 and 1 Peter 1, and Hebrews 2:14-3:3 illustrating Jesus as the new and better Moses). Take time to contemplate these prefigures and their meaning.
Q8: What does it mean for you that God cares and is engaged with all levels of history—even at your level and mine? Does it encourage you? How does it help you to live in the tensions of life?
Main Takeaway: The Bible tells a unified story with Jesus at its center, with God guiding history toward His purpose. In Exodus, God reveals His plan through three levels: for the world, His people, and individuals, revealing the impact of His will on nations and individuals. Jesus is the new and better Moses. Moses was a real guy; he did real things, and God revealed the truth about his life. God also explained what it all meant. It was all part of one story, a story that begins and ends with Jesus.
Application: After reflecting on this passage and the sermon, is there anything that needs to change in your life? How can we help?