Page 49 - Pentateuch - Student Textbook

Section 7: Pentateuch Part III:
The Old Covenant: Exodus 15:22-24:18

7.1 Connect

The task of understanding any ancient text is difficult. We are separated from the
exodus events by several thousand years and several thousand miles. We are
separated by language (even though the original Hebrew has been translated into
English) and culture. The separation tends to make us rush through passages, hitting
the highlights, perhaps just remembering the main actions.

The Holy Spirit who inspired Moses to write is the same Holy Spirit who directs us to read and
illumines us when we read. As we work through Exodus, we are reminded by the New
Testament of the importance of what we are reading and discussing. “Now these things
occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did (1 Co. 10:6).”
The thought is both striking and sobering. “These things happened to them as examples and
were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come (10:11).”
Part of God’s intention in allowing Israel to go through their wilderness wanderings was actually
for us. Knowing that he would bring many millions of others to himself who were not part of
Israel, God planned for these things to happen to teach us today.

From the beginning of human life, God has planted in our consciences at least a dim
understanding of right and wrong. “The requirements of the law are written on [our] hearts,
[our] consciences also bearing witness, and [our] thoughts sometimes accusing [us] and at
other times even defending [us] (Ro. 2:15).” This includes the ability to discern right from wrong
and some sense of what might be right or wrong. The law given to Israel simply makes clear in
words on papyrus and stone what had already been implanted in every human on earth.

7.2 Objectives

1. You will put yourself at the foot of Mount Sinai and imagine what it would be like
to see God’s glory from a distance.

2. You will “feel” the drops of animal blood hit your head in a ceremony of
commitment to the covenant.

3. You will evaluate the heart-felt words of people, “We will obey!”

4. You will learn how life under Yahweh was to be different than life under any other god.

5. You will see the connection between the Ten Commandments and other laws.

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