EXODUS 6
Lesson #06
VERIFICATION OF LEADERSHIP
- Memory verse: Exo 6:29
Gods Tests | Scripture | Lesson # |
Test #1 == The Test of Circumcision | Exo 4:18-31 | #04 |
Test #2 == The Test of Criticism | Exo 5:1-23 | #05 |
- Exodus 6 is Gods answer to Moses.
- In what way did God encourage Moses in his leadership of Gods people?
- God immediately told Moses that He will deal with Pharaoh. It will not be by Moses power that Gods plan will be accomplished.
- God will use a powerful hand to deal with Pharaoh. (1)
- Gods power is the basis and purpose of the ten plagues that will force Pharaoh to let the Israelites go.
- The hand of God will be so strong against Pharaoh that Pharaoh will use a strong hand to force the Israelites out of Egypt. He will not be able to get them out of Egypt fast enough! (1)
- God, the self-existent one, identifies himself again to Moses. He uses the name that God revealed to Moses at the burning bush.. That name is “I am”. (2)
- When in doubt, look back! Then look forward!
- There is a principle that we find throughout the Bible in Gods dealings with the leaders of His people.
- That principle is this: when in doubt look back at what God did in the past. Why?
- There is great encouragement when the believer considers how God worked with His people in the past and brought them victoriously through the trials.
- This encouragement gives the believer hope for the future, that God will continue to work in the future as He has faithfully done in the past.
- “ I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty ”
- Of what significance are the names of God in this chapter?
- In the Old Testament, the names for God are extremely important in understanding who God is,.because He revealed himself to the Israelites gradually by experience over time by the use of different names. In fact, He tells us this in verse 3.
- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew God by the name, God Almighty, but He will reveal a new aspect of His name to Moses.
- The name, God Almighty (el shaddai)
- The name, el, is a general term for any God.
- The name, shaddai, means all powerful. This is the God of creation.
- “ but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them..”
- God began to reveal himself by experience to Abraham as Jehovah in Gen 22 when Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice. “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh” (God will supply) (Gen 22:14)
- Why does God say that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did not know God by the name Jehovah?
- There are many aspects to the name Jehovah, many of which were revealed after Abraham. Therefore, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did not know God as a redeemer. It is this aspect of redemption that God will reveal to Moses.
- Aspects of redemption that God reveals through His name, Jehovah:
- God will deliver from bondage.
- God will guide to the promised land.
- The Seven Aspects of “I will” in redemption:
(3)
(3)
“I will” |
Scripture |
Significance today |
=1= “I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians” | Exo 6:6 | All humans carry a burden of sin because we live in a sinful world inherited from Adam. Jesus Christ frees us from our burden of sin through His shed blood on the cross. |
=2= “I will rid you out of their bondage” | Exo 6:6 | Sin is bondage because once you are in it, it drags you down to the pit. (Rom 8:21 Gal 4:3-5) |
=3= “I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments” | Exo 6:6 | The power of the Holy Spirit reaches down into the soul of man, touches the heart, and brings redemption to him. The heart that does not yield to the Holy Spirit will stand before God one day and receive judgment exactly like Pharaoh. |
=4= “And I will take you to me for a people” | Exo 6:7 | When the sinner is born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, he becomes a child of God, part of Gods kingdom. (Rom 8:15) |
=5= “I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God” | Exo 6:7 | God promises never to leave the believer who is trusting in Jesus Christ. Instead, the believer will experience the presence and power of God in his life. |
=6= “And I will bring you in unto the land,” | Exo 6:8 | God will guide the believer in his life so as to experience the fullness of blessings in this life and then in eternity. |
=7= “I will give it you for an heritage” | Exo 6:8 | The believer is now a joint-heir with Jesus Christ.
(Rom 8:17 Gal 3:29 Gal 4:7 ) |
- TEST #3 The Test of Rejection
- Moses told the Israelites what God would do for them in the future. Would they believe it and trust God by faith to bring it about?
- No. They rejected the message of hope that Moses brought to them from God.
- God frequently tests a leader in regard to rejection.
- How should a leader handle this kind of rejection?
- He must remember that the people are not rejecting him as a person. They are rejecting God and Gods plan.
- He must remember that he is serving God and pleasing God. Therefore, he must determine not to be one who pleases only men.
- Read Gal 1:10-12
- After another rejection by the Israelites, Moses again appeals to God with his own doubts. (12-13)
- Moses doubts:
- If the people are not behind him, how can Moses have any influence with Pharaoh?
- Moses uses an interesting phrase, “uncircumcised lips”, in verses 12 and 30. What does this mean?
- Circumcision represents a cutting away of the flesh nature. In other words, anything that is “circumcised” is pure in motive without worldly influence.
- Moses was to speak to Pharaoh on behalf of the people of Israel. If the people were not behind Moses and not unified with Gods plan, the words he spoke were not without worldly influence of the flesh nature.
- Notice that God does not answer Moses doubts.
- Principle #1
- Moses is commanded to go back to Pharaoh with a new message.
- What is the new message?
- God does not just want the people to worship in the wilderness, He wants the people to leave Egypt completely. (13)
: God often does not reveal the full details of Gods plan to a leader. The leader is expected to use his faith, to be obedient, and to trust God for the details and the perfect timing.
- Of what significance is this long genealogy?
- The genealogies in the Bible are part of the inspired Word of God. Therefore, they are placed there by God for His purpose.
- They tell us that individual people are important to God. God knows each one by name, who they are, and where they are spiritually in relation to Him.
- What does this particular genealogy, placed here in this chapter, tell us?
- God knows His people personally. He puts people in leadership. He knows their personalities, their weaknesses, and their strengths.
- God promised in Gen 15:16 that He would bring the Israelites back to the promised land in the fourth generation. This genealogy presents Moses and Aaron as the fourth generation.
- This genealogy presents only the first three tribes of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, and Levi. Moses and Aaron belong to the tribe of Levi.
- God is going to make a difference between the Egyptians and the Israelites.
- He will bring judgment on the Egyptians and surround the Israelites with protection, even though all the tribes are not represented in the genealogy. Therefore, this genealogy is Gods recognition of who are His people that He will protect, eventually redeem, and bring them back to the promised land.
- According to these verses, God tells us the purpose of the genealogy. It verifies Moses and Aarons leadership and Gods plan to use them to bring freedom to Gods people.
- Principle #2
: God places people in leadership in His timing, and verifies His choosing.
- God continually encourages Moses in his leadership, especially with the statements of “I am” that Moses experienced at the burning bush. (verses 2, 6, 7, 8, 29)
- God does the same for the New Testament believer who, like Moses, is trying to do Gods will.
- Discussion:
- Read 1Pet 5:5-6 and Heb 13:17
If God places people in leadership, then how should the people under that leadership respond to leaders?
HOMEWORK
EXODUS 7
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.
- Application of Exo 6
- In what ways do the principles and tests in this chapter relate to your life personally?
- Read Exo 7:1-7
- If God hardened Pharaohs heart, how can Pharaoh be held personally responsible for his rejection of God?
- How could the sorcerers perform the same miracles that God told Moses to perform?
- Of what significance is the river that turned to blood?
- How did the Israelites escape this judgment if all the water was turned to blood?